This reference is being provided for Ms Gerlinde Hofbauer, our Director of Sales and Marketing in Europe. Spice Island Beach Resort has been associated with 'Exclusive and Different', Gerlinde's Marketing company for over 15 years. Her company has done excellent work for my resort over the years and has certainly positioned us to be more visible in the European Marketplace. Gerlinde's main responsibility, apart from contracting tour operators, is the development of relationships with our industry partners. She has done this effectively since working with us and we are now in collaboration with all key tour operators in Europe. Even though media work was not part of her duties, over the years she has, on her own initiative, sought out public relations opportunities which afforded us lucrative press coverage in some prestigious publications. Through these initiatives, Exclusive and Different has assisted us in reaching our marketing goals which included raising our profile in several parts of Europe. Gerlinde's experience in her field is demonstrated by the high quality work produced and her dedication to promoting my resort at every opportunity, including the use of the electronic and social media for promotional work on our behalf.  Gerlinde herself is a hard working professional who is extremely easy to work with. She would always seek her clients' interests and even though she gives sound advice from her perspective, she is always very open to her clients' opinions and preferences. In general, Exclusive and Different has proven to be a great asset to and resource for my resort in the past sixteen years. I therefore unhesitatingly recommend Gerlinde and her team.

 

Sir Royston O. Hopkin KCMG / CHAIRMAN & MANAGING DIRECTOR /

SPICE ISLAND BEACH RESORT

 

Our association dates back to 20 years when I first met her working as a product manager for two reputable wholesalers in Germany/ Austria and subsequently as a sales representative for a leading marketing company. From the experience gained in the field of sales and marketing she saw it fit to open her own company, Gerlinde Hofbauer Marketing and Representation Services. The establishment of her company could not have been more fitting as around the same time Blue Horizons Garden Resort was seeking representation services for the German speaking market. As a result of our association over the last 18 years, she has promoted and established our resort as one of the forerunners in Grenada and the Caribbean in the German speaking market, namely, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The unique service offered has been cost effective for us and has increased the number of tangible bookings, highlighted the awareness of our fine product and reduced the communication costs between ourselves and our client base in Europe. Her aggressive sales and marketing strategies which specialize in the upper scale tourism market with the corresponding clientele have been one of the benefits of our working relationship. She has excellent contacts with wholesalers, travel and incentive agencies, the press and several key personalities in the tourism industry. This has also proven to be a great asset to our establishment. She has targeted various segments of the market, namely consumers, travel agencies, wholesalers/ tour operators and developed packages and incentives which has enhanced our revenues in Continental Europe. Her outgoing personality and friendly demeanor, highly self-motivated and positive approach has been an invaluable asset to the development and success of Blue Horizons Garden Resort. It is with great pleasure to work with her. I am delighted to endorse Gerlinde as a leading professional in her field and would highly recommend her services.
 

Arnold Hopkin
Owner/Manager – Blue Horizons Garden Resort, Grenada