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Home A Beach Bum on Domincan Republic's Latest Resort Area

A Beach Bum on Domincan Republic's Latest Resort Area

By TravelTube - May 14, 2025
0:00  /  0:00

Interview Summary: Mark Murphy and Robert Whorrall

 

Beach Bum Vacations

Beach Bum Vacations is a travel agency founded by Robert Whorrall and his wife 25 years ago. They have 26 advisors who focus on matching clients with appropriate resorts, destinations, and room categories. Their business thrives on repeat customers and referrals, with customer service as their top priority.

 

Dominican Republic Tourism Developments

* Robert discussed new developments in Miches, an area about an hour past Punta Cana that's experiencing rapid growth. Major hotel chains investing there include Marriott with their first all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic, Hilton with their higher-end Zemi brand, and AMR Collection with side-by-side Secrets and Dreams resorts that share facilities.
* The beach in Miches is described as beautiful with a gradual slope into the water. The drive there showcases the Dominican Republic's countryside landscapes not typically seen when staying in resort areas.
* They also discussed a new St. Regis property opening in Cap Cana on May 1st, which Robert describes as beyond five-star luxury.
* Other upcoming brands in the Dominican Republic include Moon Palace, with Robert noting that many new developments are four or five-star properties.
 
 
 

Tourism Industry Challenges

They discussed a 2019 media controversy where reports of suspicious deaths at Dominican Republic resorts caused tourism to drop by about 95%. Both men criticized the media for poor fact-checking and sensationalism, noting that many of the stories fell apart under scrutiny.

 

Value of Travel Advisors

Robert emphasized that travel advisors provide value through their research and expertise. He noted that suppliers pay travel advisors, not customers (in most cases), making their services effectively free to travelers.

He observed that during economic downturns, people often shift to fewer but higher-quality trips, making them more likely to use travel advisors to ensure their money is well spent.

Robert mentioned seeing travelers with larger travel budgets than ever before, especially since 2022, with people taking dream trips they've always wanted to take.

 

Travel Documentation and Misinformation

They discussed upcoming Real ID requirements and how Robert handles client confusion. He noted there was misinformation circulating on TikTok about needing visas to visit Mexico, which caused an influx of concerned client inquiries.

 

Business Ventures

Beyond Beach Bum Vacations, Robert mentioned two other business ventures:

1. Consortia X: A group for travel agency owners and advisors to share best practices.
2. Vacation CRM: A customer relationship management system specifically designed for travel advisors.
 
 

Robert explained they developed Vacation CRM after finding existing systems were inefficient. Their system reduced the process from 17 screens to a streamlined experience, saving travel advisors approximately two hours per day.

The CRM automates client communications like payment reminders, pre-trip information, welcome home messages, review requests, and passport expiration notifications.

The conversation also included tangential discussions about media bias, climate change, and politics, along with Robert's insights about upcoming developments in the Dominican Republic tourism industry, including potential political developments.

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