On February 10, Hyatt announced its plan to purchase Playa Hotels & Resorts for $2.6 billion.?

Playa Hotels & Resorts has over 20 all-inclusive resorts located in Mexico and the Caribbean, including Sanctuary Cap Cana, the Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara brands and Kimpton Tres Rios Riviera Maya.?

We asked travel advisors their thoughts on the new acquisition. Some advisors that were contacted declined to comment.?

John K. Hawks, Executive Director of the Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Specialists Association (DWSHA)

¡°Playa has built a stellar reputation as an agent-friendly all-inclusive supplier,¡± said Hawks. ¡°Our primary concern with any purchase of Playa is keeping the company's sales teams and properties in place so we'll know our clients can continue enjoying Playa stays for years to come."

Kim Cook, Owner of Love to Travel

"We have had a longstanding relationship with Playa and always appreciated the personal service of our account managers and the management teams on the resorts. They truly know how to make the client feel special with their ¡°Service from the Heart¡± philosophy. They also work hard to have good relationships with the travel advisor community through their incentives and reward trips. Our hope is that does not change when they are acquired by Hyatt,¡± said Cook.

¡°The one big benefit will be all the Playa resorts will now be available on VAX which is our primary booking engine. That will be a game changer for our agency as it will make it a lot easier to promote the resorts with the VAX sales email technology. Playa has some of our favorite resorts including Hyatt Ziva Cancun, Sanctuary Cap Cana and Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Cap Cana. Both of our sons got married at Playa resorts so they hold a special place in our family."

Adam Duckworth, President & Founder, Travelmation

"This is huge news in the travel industry,¡± said Duckworth. ¡°Playa Hotels & Resorts is a major player in the all-inclusive space and one that is highly regarded at our company. What this acquisition proves is that the demand for an all-inclusive vacation is at an all-time high. We are seeing it at Travelmation - more and more clients want a getaway where they can put their wallets away and enjoy the trip to the fullest extent. Our travel advisors will be anxious to see what this all means for both of these iconic brands and they will adapt as necessary."

Tyson Wharton, Owner of Sioux Empire Travel

"I am sad about this but not surprised. I've heard rumblings along with some unexpected sell offs of their properties,¡± said Wharton. ¡°I just HOPE that this is a good thing for our clients and that those resorts we have grown to love will keep up with the same level of service and quality as they did under Playa Resorts. But in my personal opinion, the Hyatt All Inclusive brand needs to focus more on service and quality across the board. I hope we all can work together to give our clients the best possible all inclusive experience while staying at their properties."

Stephen Scott, Founder of Travel Hub 365 and the Odyssey Travel App

"Although consolidation can mean less consumer choice, and a homogenization of design and food selection, Hyatt has proven that they can deliver on all metrics at a high level consistently, while maintaining different brands and experiences especially when it comes to all-inclusive,¡± said Scott.?

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