Blue Diamond Resorts Purchases Punta Cana Resort

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire -07/06/12)- Blue Diamond Hotels & Resorts, a division of North America's leading leisure travel company, Sunwing Travel Group, is proud to announce the purchase of the Grand Paradise Bavaro Beach Resort, Casino and Spa. Ideally situated, directly on the world famous Bavaro Beach, and just a short half hour drive from Punta Cana International Airport, the resort features 1,029 guest rooms and suites. All guests are accommodated on an All Inclusive basis, with an impressive choice of six a la carte restaurants, two buffet restaurants and ten bars across the resort.

With immediate effect, the Blue Diamond team will take over the management of the resort, which will continue to operate as Grand Paradise Bavaro Beach Resort through to April 30, 2013. At this time, the resort will be closed for a six month period to allow for changes and improvements to bring it in line with Blue Diamond's "Memories Resorts" specifications. The resort will re-open in November 2013 as the 5 star-rated Memories Punta Cana Beach Resort and Spa.

This acquisition is Blue Diamond's second wholly owned and managed property, following the recent purchase of the ex-SuperClubs resort in Trelawny, Jamaica, currently undergoing a $40 million renovation before it reopens as "Memories White Sands Beach Resort & Spa" later this year.

"With the increase in demand for Punta Cana and the scarcity of available rooms, the destination was the obvious choice for our next expansion of the Hotel Division," commented Stephen Hunter, President & CEO Sunwing Travel Group. "Already a popular resort on a perfect wide expanse of white beach, we have ambitious plans to differentiate the resort under our Memories brand next year".

About Blue Diamond: Blue Diamond Hotels & Resorts, a division of Sunwing Travel Group, is an innovative hotel management company that specializes in creating differentiated brands to suit each market's demands. It currently operates over 3,500 rooms in All Inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Latin America under its "Memories Beach Resorts" and "Royalton Luxury Resorts" brands.