(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – Hotel properties and other tourist attractions on the island are preparing to open their doors to locals and CARICOM Nationals for another massive summer of specials.

The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority will continue its Staycation promotion but will extend the invitation to Caribbean nationals this year in a programme it is calling “Caribcation.”

The 2018 edition of the summer savings programme was rolled out on June 15th with a number of world class accommodations, the finest restaurants, tours and attractions offering their legendary service, warmth and hospitality to an eagerly anticipating Caribbean clientele.

Already, forty-six (46) properties have signed on for Staycation and Caribcation, signaling a boom in the annual summer promotion’s popularity. Twenty-two properties participated in the first Staycation promotion in 2016.

The SLTA is working closely with its hotel partners, restauranteurs and tour operators to secure tailored-made packages with specials that include hotel stays starting from $74.00 per night and huge discounts on popular tours and attractions.

Building on the popularity of the first Staycation, the new Caribcation promotion will also afford CARICOM nationals the opportunity to play and stay at world renowned hotels and resorts at highly discounted rates.

The promotion will provide added incentives to Caribbean consumers to choose Saint Lucia as their retreat for the summer, with a number of exciting events on the cards, including Saint Lucia Carnival, the Summer of Discovery promotion, and the Roots and Soul Festival.

Chief Marketing Officer at the SLTA, Mrs. Tiffany Howard states that “With Saint Lucia’s position as the fastest growing regional destination, the Caribbean market has played a huge part in the island’s tourism successes. Saint Lucia recorded a 34.9% growth in Caribbean stay-over arrivals for the first quarter of 2018 compared to last year, with the biggest numbers coming from Martinique, Trinidad, Barbados and Dominica and this is significant. So, we had to find a way to thank our Caribbean friends for their support”.

The SLTA hopes to build on the growth in arrivals numbers from the Caribbean through the Caribcation programme while showing off the destination’s many attractions.

Both small and large properties are participating in Staycation and Caribcation from the north to the south.

To participate in the promotions, individuals must present proof of nationality. Staycation and Caribcation 2018 will run from June 15 to September 30.

For more information about the summer promotions and the island of Saint Lucia call 1-758 452-4094, or visit http://www.stlucia.org/plan-your-trip/deals/.

(1)(0)

The post Caribbean nationals and locals urged to take advantage of Saint Lucia’s hot summer specials appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – Saint Lucia’s culinary attraction has been showcased on primetime television in the United States.

NBC6, Miami’s “In the Mix” program featured Saint Lucian-born Chef, Shorne Benjamin, joining host, Johanna Gomez live to prepare one of the island’s signature dishes – green fig salad.

Gomez was invited to assist in preparing the exotic, yet simple dish, with cooked green bananas, mixed vegetables and avocadoes, accented with stewed salt fish, peppers and onions, all mixed together to create the dish.

Chef Benjamin also served up a creative golden brown mango bread that was all the rave.

Commenting on Chef Benjamin’s culinary dexterity, Gomez said, “That’s something that people can experience when they go to Saint Lucia, something that’s different from our regular mac and cheese.”

Speaking about the exposure for Saint Lucia on primetime US television, Director of Marketing – USA, Kelly Fontenelle stated, “This was a great opportunity to showcase Saint Lucia’s culinary excellence. Since Food & Rum there has been a lot of interest in Saint Lucia’s Culinary offering and that was great way to introduce it to the South Florida audience. As we continue to market the diversity of the island, specials like these provide potential visitors a unique insight in the beauty that is Saint Lucia.”

Saint Lucia is quickly growing in renown for its cuisine and culinary charm the world over.

Just last month, the island’s culinary team copped nine awards at the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Taste of The Caribbean Culinary Competition in Miami, Florida, including Gold for Best Vodka Cocktail. The eight Saint Lucian chefs competed against chefs from fifteen other countries.

The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) is working assiduously to fulfill its mandate to promote the sustainable growth and development of the island’s tourism industry.

Saint Lucia has been prominently featured on NBC Miami taking over their website last February with the annual Ultimate Honeymoon promotion.

(26)(1)

The post VIDEO: Exotic Saint Lucian recipe featured on popular US television network appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Castries Harbour, Saint Lucia.

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – Saint Lucia continues to see a positive growth trend in tourism arrivals in 2018. The latest figures released by the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority at a press briefing at the SLTA Head Office show that visitor arrivals for the year-to-date are up by 10.1%.

The destination experienced increases in all sectors, with yachting arrivals up an incredible 31.9%; cruise arrivals up 10.6%; and stay-over arrivals up 5.2% compared to the same period last year.

The increases have been spurred by greater confidence in the Saint Lucia product and economy by industry partners who have invested heavily in new or improved services offerings. There has been an uptick in the American Airlines’ service out of Charlotte, which offered three more flights in May this year than it did in the corresponding period in 2017; while Delta augmented its service by growing its aircraft carrying capacity from a 160-seater aircraft to a 180-seater, as well as increasing the frequency of its service from four times a week in 2017 to a daily flight service in 2018.

Addressing the assembled media on July 11, 2018, Tourism Minister, Hon. Dominic Fedee said, “The October 2018 to April 2019 winter period looks set to be even better than previous years with American Airlines expanding its airlift into Saint Lucia by seven additional flights weekly. That translates to over thirty-five thousand new seats over a five-month period. This is confirmation that the new marketing strategy has worked and continues to work in getting the message out to more people that Saint Lucia is truly magnificent.”

The 31.9% increase in cruise arrivals stemmed from the expansion of the berth at Pointe Seraphine to accommodate freedom class cruise vessels. For the month of May 2018, the island recorded 32,277 stay-over arrivals – the largest number ever for a month of May. It also represented a 3% increase over last year’s figure, which was also a record.

There are also encouraging signs for the summer months as the implementation of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association’s Holiday guarantee allows visitors to book their vacations without having to worry about disruptions in their holidays due to adverse weather. The Holiday guarantee programme has been welcomed by Travel Agencies and Tour Operators who can now offer their clients an additional layer of security for their vacations, in the event of a hurricane.

The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority is forging ahead with efforts to position Saint Lucia as the experiential destination of choice for Romance, Adventure, Dive, Health & Wellness, Family and Culinary, while increasing visibility, especially in the major source markets.

(5)(0)

The post Saint Lucia records increase in visitor arrivals across all sectors appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Bay Gardens Beach Resort. Photo credit: sunnyvillaholidays.com.

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority is happy to be associated with the marquee Soleil Saint Lucia cultural showpiece, Saint Lucia Carnival 2018.

The cerebration got underway with the official Epic Wednesday opening on May 16, followed by several national and fringe events including the National Inter-commercial House Calypso Competition, National Carnival Queen Pageant, National Junior Carnival and Soca Kingdom, featuring the Grammy-nominated King of Soca – Machel Montano.

Saint Lucia recently recorded the largest number of stay over visitors yet for a May month and Hoteliers are very excited about the impact of record highs expected for the Carnival period. Many properties are sold out and getting a flight into Saint Lucia during Carnival could be extremely challenging.

Chief Executive Officer of the Saint Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association, Roderick Cherry said, “This is fantastic news as the Carnival season is proving to be better than anticipated. Members of the SLHTA are commenting favorably on occupancy levels. Kudos to the organizers – ECSL and CDF – as this event continues to develop into something more magnificent annually.”

Cherry also credited the SLTA for its revamped marketing effort that has visitors’ interest in and attraction to Saint Lucia Carnival. Many Tour Operators and regional and international press scheduled to attend the North American Showcase from July 18-19 at the Harbor Club will arrive just ahead of the event to witness the spectacle of Saint Lucia Carnival 2018.

The festivities will culminate in the two-day parade of the bands on July 16 and 17, where revelers will take to the streets in embellished beaded and feathered costumes portraying different themes, and dancing behind super-amplified trucks blasting out pulsating Soca music.

(2)(0)

The post Saint Lucia hoteliers happy about packed rooms for the carnival season appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

PM Chastanet

(CMC) — St Lucia’s Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has declared that although the Caribbean is the most tourism dependent region in the world, it is only scratching the surface.

Chastanet, a former tourism minister was addressing the opening of the sixth annual St Lucia showcase-North America, here on Wednesday.

“The amazing number is, if you take a poll and you ask people to close their eyes and think of where they would want to go on vacation, ninety per cent of the people say the Caribbean. But only one-and-a-half per cent of them ever end up in the Caribbean.”

“So the question becomes, how do we bridge that gap in terms of what people want and what we are actually delivering?” said Chastanet.

The event that ends on Thursday is being attended by tour operators and destination marketing companies who interact with companies and attractions here, in an effort to better market the island.

According to the prime minister, St Lucia has decided to start to improve its delivery at the airport.

He then announced that he received word late Tuesday that a loan for a new airport for St Lucia has been approved.

“So it means that we are going to be commencing construction of the new airport this fall and the new airport is going to be able to have the capacity of one-and-a-half million passengers.”

He explained that new systems will be in operation at the new facility.

“We are not bringing old habits to the airport,” the prime minister said.

“So facial recognition technology, is [were] you don’t have to fill out your immigration cards.”

Chastanet said that systems will also be in place to have people’s bags delivered to their hotel while ‘on property’ satellite offices will be created enabling people to check in their bags at their hotels.

“We are driven to be successful in this industry because of the benefits tourism generates,” he added.

(0)(0)

The post Regional tourism ‘only scratching the surface’ – Chastanet appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Chastanet (left) and Bartlett at the SLHTA AGM. * Photo credit: Delia Dolor

(SNO) – Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett have announced that their countries are hoping to host the 12 boys from a Thailand football team and their coach who were recently rescued from a flooded cave.

Chastanet and Bartlett made the announcement on Friday afternoon (July 20) during the Saint Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association’s 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Harbor Club in Rodney Bay, Gros Islet.

According to our correspondent at the AGM, the ministers said the invitation has been sent and they’re waiting for acceptance.

Chastanet said Jamaica is taking the lead and they both hope this development will happen in the next few months.

The news comes a day after Bartlett had announced his country’s plans to extend an invitation to Thai boys and their coach.

The 12 boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach had been trapped in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave system since June 23. Their rescue from the flooded caves by international divers between July 8 and 10 garnered worldwide attention

MORE DETAILS LATER

(2)(0)

The post BREAKING NEWS: Saint Lucia joins Jamaica in plans to host Thai boys and coach on vacation appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Destang

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The outgoing president of the St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA), and the youngest to date, expressed his appreciation to the executive and membership of the trade association for their accomplishments over the past two years.

In his final appearance as president at yesterday’s Annual General Meeting, Sanovnik Destang, 37, stated the collective work of the influential private sector body contributed to the growth of tourism on the island, pointing to statistics showing double-digit increases in stay-over arrivals and expenditures in 2017, and similar advances in cruise arrivals.

He highlighted a number of key projects implemented during his term, which include developing a cadre of young leaders in the sector, expanding tourism linkages to increase the share of revenues generated from the industry to local communities, achieving a record level of association membership, and presiding over the financial stewardship of the body which broke even for the first time in half a decade.

Destang, Executive Director of the locally owned Bay Gardens Resorts chain of hotels in the north of St. Lucia, added that despite the record high growth, there was still much to be done, including the matter of smaller properties discounting rates due to the greater supply of rooms on the island.

Citing figures that indicate the increased arrivals did not benefit all hotels equally, Destang urged the association to focus on ensuring that smaller properties also reap the benefits of higher tourism arrivals. He argued that more targeted marketing campaigns utilizing digital media can increase business for all hotels and B&Bs.

Destang reminded SLHTA members of the importance of airlift and the high price of air travel, as well as the proposed airport taxes which he contended would make St. Lucia extremely uncompetitive relative to other destinations in the region.

Destang called on the authorities to ensure parity between the larger properties and the smaller, indigenous businesses and believes it is time to enact tourism policy and legislation to help police these situations and to “set the rules of the game”.

He declared: “It simply does not make sense to have an annual general meeting focused on People, Passion and Linkages without a frank and open discussion about how to encourage the growth of a tourism industry that is truly inclusive and allows small indigenous St. Lucian businesses as much opportunity to succeed and benefit from the numerous and lucrative opportunities of the industry as much as anyone else.”

Destang noted the government had agreed to boost security arrangements to address the harassment of visitors, the need for beach patrols, and increased presence in those areas with high visitor pedestrian traffic.

Turning to the growth of the sharing economy, he urged SLHTA members to understand: “The alternative accommodations sector is not our foe or our replacement. They have an important part to play in our tourism product development and present tremendous opportunities for local entrepreneurship especially given the recent thrust of the government’s village tourism program.”

However, Destang, who manages his family’s four Rodney Bay hotels, predicted that without effective regulation and taxation the sector would not reach its full potential or its contribution to the national economy.

Underscoring SLHTA’s commitment to sustainable development, he suggested the tourism sector could help by producing its own renewable energy.

The outgoing president was pleased with the success of efforts to encourage farmers to sell their products directly to hotels, restaurants and retailers. In addition to generating significant incomes for farmers, the country also saved funds by cutting back on the amount of food imported. The award-winning and innovative Virtual Agricultural Clearing House leveraged the WhatsApp messaging platform to connect farmers with hotels to generate more than US$370,000 in annual sales.

Among other issues, Destang lauded the success of the Tourism Enhancement Fund which allowed SLHTA to launch a wide range of programs to enhance the skills of industry employees and to promote the importance of tourism to the lives of St. Lucians.

The association’s focus on people-centered development has successfully spawned a generation of highly skilled personnel in the tourism sector, and he buttressed his statement by pointing to the “wildly successful” St. Lucian teams which reaped “a whopping eight medals” at the Taste of the Caribbean event hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) in Miami this year.

Destang thanked association members for their generous contributions to efforts to aid the victims of hurricanes Irma and Maria, which generated much goodwill for SLHTA and St. Lucia.

He thanked SLHTA for taking a risk by electing someone of his generation to serve at the highest rank. “I might have been the association’s youngest president, and first millennial president, but I will certainly not be the last, and I think the entire board has seen the importance of focusing their attention on the grooming of the next generation for leadership in the industry.”

Destang congratulated fellow hotelier and immediate past president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, Karolin Troubetzkoy on her election as the new SLHTA President. Troubetzkoy, the Executive Director of Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resorts, will be joined by newly elected First Vice President John Mathurin, owner of Serenity Vacations & Tours, and re-elected Second Vice President Erwin Louisy, the proprietor of Barefoot Holidays St. Lucia.

About Bay Gardens Resorts

Bay Gardens Resorts is a group of locally owned and operated award-winning hotels all located within, or near, Rodney Bay Village, St. Lucia’s entertainment capital. All four of Bay Gardens Resorts’ properties – Bay Gardens Inn, Bay Gardens Hotel, Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa and Bay Gardens Marina Haven – are close to more than 40 restaurants, entertainment venues, duty-free shopping malls, Treasure Bay Casino and the Rodney Bay Marina. All properties offer comfortable accommodations, traditional Caribbean cuisine, and warm Caribbean service and hospitality. Bay Gardens’ Splash Island Water Park, the first open water sports park in the nation, is a popular attraction off St. Lucia’s Reduit Beach.

(6)(0)

The post Youngest Saint Lucia tourism association president demits office, highlights successes appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Destang (left) and Troubetzkoy (right)

(SNO) – Immediate past president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Karolin Troubetzkoy has returned for the second time as president of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA), taking over from the esteemed Bay Gardens hotel chain executive Sanovnik Destang who did not seek re-election.

Troubetzkoy, who is the executive director of Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resorts, Saint Lucia, first took over the SLHTA presidency in March 2011. She served until January 2016 when she moved on to become the president of the CHTA – a position she held until June this year.

The new SLHTA executive is joined by newly-elected first vice president John Mathurin and the re-elected second vice president, Erwin Louisy.

Destang, who will stay on as the immediate past president, did not seek re-election on Friday at the SLHTA’s Annual General Meeting.

On a Facebook post, Destang said he and Noorani Azeez, who resigned as SLHTA chief executive officer (CEO) in April this year, have left the association in “good hands” with CEO Roderick Cherry and Troubetzkoy to carry on the “great work”.

“Running the affairs of the island’s (and arguably one of the region’s) most influential private sector organisations is definitely a team effort and what a team we led for just over two years!” Destang also wrote.

The Bay Gardens executive director said it has been a “rewarding” two and a half years and he thanked all the directors and members for the support, especially his family – both his immediate family and extended family at Bay Gardens Resorts.

Destang was also known for his efforts in youth development and promotion as president. He said he has already received encouragement from the new president to continue to his work – as part of a team effort – in the further development of linkages and youth development in tourism.

“It has been gratifying to see the rate at which the membership of our association has grown, both in size and diversity. In 2017 we welcomed 34 new members into the SLHTA family. We anticipate further growth in 2018,” he said in his final remarks at the 54th AGM held at Harbor Club in Rodney Bay, Gros Islet.

Meanwhile, Troubetzkoy, said having just served the regional tourism body for several years, she was “hesitant” to “step back” into the SLHTA presidency.

“I was touched by the many emails and phone calls I received to encourage me to accept the nomination, but at the same time, I am sure we all agree, that we need to take a serious look at our succession planning and ensure that qualified and experienced tourism leaders will get exposed to our SLHTA operations and that they will be ready and be prepared to take on this mantle of responsibility sooner rather than later,” she said in her address at the AGM, after being re-elected.

(2)(2)

The post Sanovnik Destang hands over the SLHTA presidential baton to Karolin Troubetzkoy appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Karolin Troubetzkoy

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The St. Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association (SLHTA) board of directors has ratified the appointment of distinguished hotelier, Karolin Troubetzkoy as president of the SLHTA.

Mrs. Troubetzkoy’s appointment was announced at the SLHTA’s 54th annual general meeting, which was held on Friday, July 20 at Harbour Club St. Lucia.

Mrs. Troubetzkoy, executive director of the internationally acclaimed and award-winning Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet resorts in Soufrière, assumes leadership of the association from Sanovnik Destang, Executive Director of Bay Gardens Resorts, who had served as SLHTA president for the past two years.

Prior to her appointment, Mrs. Troubetzkoy served as president of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) for almost three years. She was also chairperson of the CHTA Advocacy Committee from 2012 to 2014. From 2010 to 2015 she served as president of the SLHTA and played an instrumental role in the successful implementation of a hotel booking engine for the association and the establishment of the Tourism Enhancement Fund. Mrs. Troubetzkoy also oversaw the development of a social media platform for the SLHTA and the launch of several tourism-related websites. She was also a director of the former Saint Lucia Tourist Board for several years.

A past recipient of the 2012 CHTA Caribbean Hotelier of the Year Award and the 2006 St. Lucia Hotelier of the Year Award, she also received a Crystal Award from the SLHTA for service to the hotel industry.

Addressing the gathering following her appointment, Mrs. Troubetzkoy said she had been touched by the many emails and phone calls she received urging her to accept her nomination for the presidency, adding that she looks forward to helping build strong public-private sector partnerships across the industry in an effort to address the challenges facing the sector.

Mrs. Troubetzkoy, whose resorts adhere to strict environmental standards, said sustainability coupled with responsible environmental management and the building of climate change resilience, would be among the SLHTA’s top priorities during her tenure as president.

“Operating our businesses sustainably, mitigating the effects of climate change, preparing for, and facing, the dangers of stronger and devastating hurricanes, environmental issues … introducing more energy renewable sources and our very serious concern for our visitors’ safety and security – all of these will require both our individual and collective attention,” said the new SLHTA president.

She added: “Tourism cannot operate in a bubble. What affects us as entire countries and as people, also affects our tourism industry.”

Other priorities for Mrs. Troubetzkoy include succession planning within the SLHTA, promoting the development of a sustained regional public-private sector approach to marketing the “incredible brand that we call the Caribbean,” and increasing training opportunities for St. Lucians working across the sector.

The AGM, which turned out to be a full house event, was attended by several government ministers, including Prime Minister Allen Chastanet; Minister for Tourism Dominic Fedee; Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Ezechiel Joseph; Minister for Infrastructure Stephenson King; Hermangild Francis, Minister for Home Affairs, Justice and National Security; and Minister for Health and Wellness Mary Isaac. Also present were Mayor of Castries Peterson Francis; Ernest Hilaire, Parliamentary Representative for Castries South; and several private sector executives and members of the diplomatic corps. Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett was the guest speaker for the event.

Outgoing president Sanovnik Destang congratulated Troubetzkoy on her new appointment and lauded her for outstanding contributions to the development of the tourism industry in St. Lucia and the wider Caribbean.

“She has been a really great source of support and inspiration to me when I was the president for the last two and a half years,” he said, adding that it has not been an easy decision for her to take over the role of SLHTA president, which he appreciated her accepting.

“It gives me great pleasure to hand over the reins and throw my support behind someone who is as passionate about St. Lucia as she is. She is very much St. Lucian and she has embraced St. Lucia as much as St. Lucia has embraced her,” said Mr. Destang. He also expressed appreciation for the support and encouragement he had received from the SLHTA board of directors and the government, as well as from parliamentarians on both sides of the House.

The new SLHTA president also came in for high praise from Prime Minister Chastanet, Minister Fedee as well as Minister Bartlett, all of whom addressed the meeting.

Also appointed to the SLHTA’s new executive committee were John Mathruin, who will serve as first vice president, and Erwin Louisy, second vice president.

(2)(0)

The post Karolin Troubetzkoy appointed new SLHTA President appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is examining new strategies to stimulate growth in the region’s tourism industry at this year’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) themed Rejuvenate, Recreate, Reconnect – New Directions for Caribbean Tourism.

Scheduled 2-5 Oct. 2018 at Atlantis, Paradise Island in The Bahamas, SOTIC 2018 will consider ways to build a tourism industry that is resilient and able to adapt to changing trends, demands and situations.

“Globally, the tourism industry is constantly evolving. At the Caribbean Tourism Organization, we must be in the forefront of anticipating and managing the changes that affect our region – extreme climate phenomena, political and economic realities at home and abroad, and the rapid rise in technological developments,” said Hugh Riley, secretary general and CEO of CTO.

“In order to continue to grow our tourism in a way that is sustainable and beneficial to our communities, we must be open to new thinking, which often means breaking out of traditional comfort zones. SOTIC 2018 is intended to inspire action to develop innovative concepts, tools and models, and implement strategies that recognise the changing demands of international travellers. Exceeding the expectations of increasingly knowledgeable consumers is a challenge the Caribbean must always be prepared to meet,” Riley added.

The SOTIC theme ties in CTO’s declaration of 2018 as the “Caribbean Year of Rejuvenation and Wellness”, with multifaceted themes for each of the three conference days:

– Day one is centred on “Recreate” with discussions focused on innovation, business development and building better, not just the physical infrastructure, but an entire immersive experience that is driven by technology.

– The second day will delve into “Rejuvenation,” featuring a blend of creative ideas and cutting edge thinking on what can be done to add vitality, energy and freshness into the Caribbean tourism product. Discussions will also focus on efforts by regional carriers to make travelling through the region less challenging and enhance the visitor experience.

– Emphasis on day three will be on “Reconnecting,” where participants will explore ways to distinguish the Caribbean tourism product by incorporating the region’s unique cultural hybridism and endemic wellness customs into programmes.

Throughout the three-day event, delegates will address visitors’ desire for new experiences, while being conscious of the impact they have on the communities they visit.

Caribbean tourism practitioners, policymakers, travel professionals and strategic partners from the public and private sectors throughout the region and internationally participate each year in SOTIC.

SOTIC is being organised by the CTO in collaboration with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. The conference will be preceded by business meetings on 1 – 2 Oct. 2018.

Sponsorship opportunities and details are available from CTO USA 212-635-9530 or via http://sotic.onecaribbean.org/sponsor.

For further details on the conference, including how to register, please visit http://sotic.onecaribbean.org/.

(1)(0)

The post ‘Rejuvenate, Recreate, Reconnect – New Directions for Caribbean Tourism’ at SOTIC appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – When human resource professionals from across the region meet in the Cayman Islands in November for the 9th Tourism Human Resources Conference, they will be challenged to develop effective strategies and plans to build a high performance and motivated workforce.

The 28-30 November conference, organised by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), in collaboration with the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT), comes at a time when the Caribbean faces increased competition in the global, high-tech, innovation driven industry, and amidst increasing calls for a total rethink of the way tourism leaders engage with the workforce.

“There is an urgent need for a high performance, resilient workforce which is critical for sustainability of the tourism sector in this ever-changing environment,” Sharon Banfield-Bovell, the CTO’s regional human resource development consultant said as planning for the conference intensifies.

Building high performance teams come with challenges, she said, including employees’ unwillingness or lack of motivation to change; low employee productivity and morale; and the scarcity of relevant skills, as well as weak or outdated leadership thinking and styles.

However, Banfield-Bovell said, while technology can help drive efficiency, “the real value in tourism is our human resources – the power of people – and the ability of a well-trained, highly valued, and fairly compensated workforce to transcend beyond process and profit”.

The conference, which has as its theme Building a Resilient, High-Performing and Sustainable Caribbean Tourism Workforce For Global Competitiveness, will feature experts in human resources, tourism and labour, including Claudia Coenjaerts, director of the International Labour Organization’s decent work team and office for the Caribbean, who will deliver the keynote address on, The Future of Work – What will become the New Normal.

The CTO team has been working with the CIDOT to produce a dynamic programme of plenaries, masterclasses, a students’ forum and a tour.

“As Caribbean nations, it is imperative that we make the necessary investments which drive visitation in this globally competitive industry. While these investments often come in the form of property development or increased marketing, it is my belief that the greatest asset any tourism product has is its people,” commented Rosa Harris, director of tourism for the Cayman Islands. “The Cayman Islands has continued to develop our local tourism workforce through nationwide customer service training, tertiary education scholarships and the establishment of a vocational certification programme through our School of Hospitality Studies. We are proud to host the 2018 Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Human Resources Conference and look forward to inviting professionals from across the region, to share best practices on ways we can strengthen our tourism workforces for collective success.”

Registration and other information available at www.onecaribbean.org.

(0)(0)

The post CTO organises 9th Annual Tourism HR Conference in the Cayman Islands from 28-30 November, 2018 appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Edmund Bartlett

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – Tourism has enormous potential to promote Caribbean regional integration. So said Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett who, at the time, was addressing the 54th annual general meeting of the St. Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association, which was held Friday (June 20) at Harbour Club St. Lucia. He was the featured guest speaker at the AGM.

“The Caribbean is the most tourism-dependent region in the world,” said Bartlett, adding, “The sector generates investments and jobs for all the islands and supports overall economic growth through critical sectoral linkages. The tourism sector, by its very nature, also promotes some of the main values of regional integration as tourism involves the close contact and interaction of millions of individuals from diverse cultural, ethnic, racial, socio-economic and national backgrounds working together for mutually-beneficial exchanges.’

Describing the tourism sector in the Caribbean as “cutting across many spheres, sectors and boundaries,” Bartlett characterized the sector as “a shared model of development for the region,” and one that shares a special place among Caribbean states.

“The sector thus provides considerable scope for collaboration and cooperation among many stakeholders at the regional level in a wide range of areas including; investment and product development, human resource development, tourism awareness, research and statistics, access and transportation, regional facilitation, environmental and cultural sustainability, marketing, communications and addressing crime that involves visitors,” said Jamaica’s tourism minister.

Bartlett buttressed his assertion by noting that CARICOM leaders attending the 29th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM held at Port-au-Prince, Haiti in February 2018 had acknowledged tourism as the Caribbean’s largest economic sector and declared that it needs to be “stimulated urgently and sustainably for the region’s long-term development prospects.”

Bartlett further noted that at the 39th CARICOM Heads of Government meeting held in Jamaica July 2, the regional leaders in attendance reaffirmed their commitment to the effective implementation of the CSME, which is aimed at facilitating the expansion of investment and trade in goods and services, and the free movement of people across the region.

“Tourism is also a catalyst for promoting the successful implementation of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) framework which has been the leading initiative developed by CARICOM to promote regional integration,” he added.

Moreover, tourism could become a catalyst for increased intra-regional travel and a value-added component to diversify the region’s tourism product and spread the benefits of tourism across the region, said Bartlett. “Intra-regional tourism provides vast economic exchange and opportunities for the regional economy that would have otherwise gone to countries such as the USA, Canada and England. This form of inward-looking tourism is also a very practical approach to reversing the over-dependence of the region’s tourism sector on international markets,” Bartlett added.

Citing the recent signing of the Multi-lateral Air Services Agreement (MASA) by CARICOM heads as one of the region’s most noted successes in the promotion of intra-regional tourism, Bartlett said it could help to make travelling within and beyond the Caribbean much easier. The MASA is aimed at creating a liberalized environment that is consistent with emerging WTO aviation policies.

“It is anticipated that the full implementation of MASA will improve connectivity and facilitate increased trade in goods and services, including tourism. MASA has been expanded to include the conditions for a single security check for direct transit passengers on multi-stop intra-Community flights,” said Bartlett.

In addition, he said the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) aviation task force is currently working with intra-Caribbean carriers to ensure hassle-free movement and to boost connectivity around the region.

“These include legal and regulatory concerns, safety and security issues, taxation and the high cost of airline tickets and the passenger’s experience, which involves persons requiring a visa to travel,” said Bartlett.

He suggested the development of a regional tourism rating or classification scheme as yet another way of deepening regional integration through tourism and enhancing the visitor experience, provided common standards and criteria could be agreed upon and the scheme is furnished with adequate resources and managed effectively and impartially

“Such a scheme could ensure a level of quality assurance for visitors and stimulate product and service quality improvement through the objective benchmarking of visitor facilities and service standards,” said Bartlett.

Bartlett also envisions the “economic convergence between complimentary economies” in the Caribbean through tourism as another way of deepening regional economic integration, citing this as an emergent perspective in the region.

“The suggestion was that there were better opportunities for growth through a more rational approach to economic integration between geographically proximate, complementary economies linked to much-improved transport infrastructure. This was not meant to replace CARICOM but to be a new route to economic convergence in the Caribbean basin.”

Bartlett acknowledged, however, that there are a number of obstacles that must be overcome in the quest to establish a sustainable regional tourism sector.

“It is no secret that there remain several impediments to the development of a sustainable regional tourism sector, including: the general lack of emphasis and promotion of intra-regional tourism at national levels, the prohibitive cost of intra-regional travel, continued restrictions to free movement and insufficient harmonization and coordination in the area of disaster risk management.”

The Caribbean’s vulnerability to climate change constitute another of the threats” to the region’s tourism sector, said Bartlett, stressing that these issues necessitate sophisticated resilience mechanisms and crisis management systems.

“Indeed, it was this spirit of regional cooperation that led to the recent conceptualization of the Caribbean Disaster Resilience Centre, the first of its kind in the region, which will be established at the University of the West Indies Mona,” he added.

Bartlett concluded by urging the Caribbean states to work together in order to take full advantage of tourism’s vast untapped potential to promote the sustainable development of the region.

“We must thus find common ground on a number of issues and strengthen our cooperation in a number of shared areas to ensure that tourism development truly brings us together,” he added.

Several government officials attended the SLHTA AGM, including Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, Minister for Tourism, Dominic Fedee, Minister for Agriculture, Ezechiel Joseph, Minister for Infrastructure, Stephenson King, Minister for Home Affairs, Hermangild Francis, and Minister for Health and Wellness Mary Isaac. Also present were Mayor of Castries, Peterson Francis, Parliamentary Representative for Castries South, Ernest Hilaire, several private sector executives and members of the diplomatic corps.

(0)(0)

The post “Tourism can bring the Caribbean together” – Jamaica’s Tourism Minister to SLHTA appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

CHTA President Frank Comito

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The Caribbean Tourism Recovery Fund, established by the nonprofit organization Tourism Cares and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), has collected more than US$275,000 in charitable donations to build long-term recovery and enhance the ability of hurricane impacted destinations to rebound as quickly as possible.

In a joint statement today, CHTA President Frank Comito and Paula Vlamings, CEO of Tourism Cares, outline the success of the collaborative fundraising venture and report that assistance has gone to Caribbean nations and territories for training and education, restoring destination capacity, the physical restoration of tourism-related infrastructure, social enterprise development, job creation, hotel training, voluntourism, marketing and public relations support, and the environment.

“With another hurricane season in full swing, we are so grateful for the way all sectors of the travel industry came together to invest in the vulnerable people and places we depend on,” the statement read, as both organizations thanked the many donors for their support during last year’s unprecedented hurricane season.

“Because of the generosity of our donors, tourism infrastructure is being repaired, the workforce will receive new training and opportunities, and more communities will benefit from tourism dollars. Together, we’re empowering destinations to build resilience,” the statement read. “As an industry, we have the powerful opportunity to use our business to benefit the local communities and fragile ecosystems that are the pillars of our businesses.”

Highlighting CHTA immediate past president Karolin Troubetzkoy’s role in the launch of the “One Caribbean Family” initiative, a special marketing program which spurred CHTA member support for the Recovery Fund, the tourism leaders thanked the St. Lucian hotelier for her leadership.

Inspired by Troubetzkoy, CHTA challenged its members to participate in the One Caribbean Family marketing campaign, and dozens of hotel and travel companies doing business in areas of the Caribbean not directly impacted by the hurricanes contributed a portion of booking revenue to the fund.

Companies and individuals in airlines, destinations, meetings/academia, media/PR, travel industry associations, financial/professional services, travel agencies, online travel agencies, lodging, hospitality, cruise, and attractions were fired up by the power of giving and, through their donations, are helping to accelerate recovery and bring stability to the affected areas.

After the relief agencies met immediate needs and moved on, the recovery phase began. This process is typically long, difficult and underfunded. Through Tourism Cares and CHTA, the industry has united to help destinations “build back better” by investing in recovery.

Some 15 grants have been approved and more than half of the total funds raised have been passed on. “As we continue to assess the needs of the people and the industry, the remainder will be allocated in the final phase of distribution this summer,” Comito and Vlamings reported.

This first phase has funded the strengthening of local hotel and tourism associations in Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It also helped participants attend 2018 Caribbean Travel Marketplace, allowing them to meet with travel partners and the travel trade media to brief them on recovery efforts and generate business in the aftermath of the hurricanes.

The fund also provided several affected destinations in the region with training on how to establish an effective voluntourism program, bringing visitors back to assist with recovery initiatives while spending much needed cash locally.

For skills training and employment opportunities, My Brother’s Marine Workshop in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, received a grant to support the creation of a marine trade school for at-risk youth that will help at least 25 students get jobs.

Kidz at Sea on St. Maarten, which is helping youth get jobs with a three-week course on boat repair, was another beneficiary. Run and supported by marine professionals, the aim of Kidz At Sea is to get local schoolchildren interested in waterborne activities to lead to careers in the marine industry, while making the region a more attractive yachting and boating destination.

Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), which is diversifying the tourism market in St. Maarten by developing and offering eco-tours, also received funding to help create jobs and helps travelers appreciate and preserve the natural resources on the island.

Local Area Management Authority (LAMA) Yacht Moorings in Dominica will leverage the resources received to create sustainable livelihoods for locals living in Soufriere-Scotts Heads. A new mooring field will allow boats to stop in these communities, creating further economic opportunities for locals via small social enterprises such as restaurants, laundry services, suppliers of fish, produce and ice to visitors, snorkel and diving trips and tour guiding. Additional income will be available for families who will police the mooring balls and receive rental income through the lottery system.

The Marine Center for Innovation Grupo Puntacana Fundación is training others in the region in destinations which suffered severe reef restoration. The project, supported by the fund, focuses on reef restoration to protect the remaining wild colonies of coral while increasing their population with genetically diverse corals grown in underwater nurseries.

Seeds of Love in the British Virgin Islands, with the help of the initiative, bought 1,000 saplings and seedlings for the local community and travelers to replant the islands’ indigenous trees and vegetation, much of which was wiped out in the storms. The project helps to prevent erosion, protect the ecosystem, and support tourism.

Other projects targeted for social enterprise support include the Kalinago Heritage Center in Dominica and the Puerto Rico Agriculture and Culinary Linkages Project. Other grants will be announced as they are decided.

Further details about the fund are available at www.tourismcares.org/Caribbean .

(2)(0)

The post CHTA, Tourism Cares deploy hurricane recovery resources to spur Caribbean tourism appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Agnes Francis

(SNO) – Agnes Francis is no longer the executive chairperson of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA).

She reportedly resigned from the organisation on July 31, 2018. She was appointed in 2016 following the General Elections.

This was disclosed in the SLTA’s August 3, 2018 edition of ‘the SLTA Scoop’ e-newsletter.

“The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) bids farewell to former Executive Chairperson – Mrs. Agnes Francis. Mrs. Francis has left an indelible imprint on the organization, transitioning it from the Saint Lucia Tourist Board to the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority,” the Scoop disclosed.

Francis (right) and Tourism Minister Dominic Fedee.

The weekly newsletter, distributed via email, went on to state: “Under her leadership, the SLTA underwent a successful rebranding and assembled a formidable team that is passionate about elevating the destination to the pinnacle of global tourism. Saint Lucia also realised record increases in visitor stayover arrivals during her 2-year stint and the destination was recognised by the CTO for having produced the best social media marketing campaign in the Caribbean in 2018.

“Mrs. Francis ended her journey at the SLTA on July 31, 2018 wishing the management team and staff the very best and encouraging them to keep on doing a great work.

“The Board, Management and Staff of the SLTA sincerely thank Mrs. Francis for her inspiring leadership of the SLTA and her dedicated contribution to the development of the tourism sector. We wish her the very best in her upcoming pursuits.”

No additional information about her departure was posted.

Unofficial reports are that Nicholas George is the new chairman of the SLTA.

From left: Then SLTB Director Louis Lewis, Tourism Minister Dominic Fedee, and SLTB Chairperson Agnes Francis in September 2016.

BELOW IS A JULY 22, 2016 ARTICLE ON SNO WHEN FRANCIS WAS APPOINTED CHAIRPERSON

Local management consultant Agnes Francis has been appointed chairperson of the new Saint Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB) following the announcement by government on Thursday.

Francis, who is the managing director for Accela Marketing/Acme Consulting Inc., will be assisted by other members of the board who come from various backgrounds.

They include: Leathon Khan (Deputy Chairperson), Carmelita Xavier, Savonick Destang, Celestin Laurent, Mark Maraj, Winston Anderson, Erwin Louisy, Mark Adams, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, and Louis Lewis.

The board members were announced on Thursday during a press conference.

Francis thanked Minister of Tourism Dominic Fedee for placing confidence in her and other members of the new board, and promised to work hard to redevelop the tourism industry here.

“For me it is a big challenge because I understand the role tourism is expected to play in Saint Lucia’s development. But with the able assistance of the board members, I am sure we will give it the best try we can, to ensure that we establish a platform for tourism to spur development in Saint Lucia,” she said.

CTO Marketing Director for UK and Europe Carol Hay with Minister for Tourism Hon. Dominic Fedee and SLTA Chair Agnes Francis in October 2017.

The new SLTB chair asserted that the new board members have the knowledge and expertise and there is commitment from each one of them to work towards the common goal of improving tourism.

Francis spoke about some of the changes she wishes to see, noting that the new board needs to look at streamlining its marketing strategy in keeping with the global industry.

“There is new technology that spurs how marketing is handled and we need to take a closer look at that. Saint Lucia as you know has focused a lot on the weddings and honeymoons markets which is good, and gives us a good platform, but there are other sectors we need to look at as well so that our reach is much broader,” she added.

Saint Lucia, she said, needs to start paying more serious attention to the cruising, yachting, heritage and sports tourism sectors, to support the new economic agenda of the new administration.

Minister Fedee said Francis is a “general of the industry” and is no stranger to tourism. He noted that Francis will be the first ever woman to chair the SLTB.

He said the new board has been appointed at a time when tourism in Saint Lucia faces one of its most difficult period, and said he would expect that everyone works collectively to change this around.

(0)(0)

The post Agnes Francis ends journey with SLTA appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Agnes Francis (left) and Tourism Minister Dominic Fedee

(SNO) – Agnes Francis, chairperson of the St. Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA), last week resigned from the position. But is there a move on the part of government to hold on to her, following what many have claimed was a very successful stint since taking over the country’s premier tourism marketing agency in November 2016?

Senior Communications Officer in the Office of the Prime Minister, Nicole McDonald, earlier today (August 6, 2018), may have hinted at that when she told reporters that Francis continues to have the respect and confidence of the government.

McDonald spoke fondly of Francis, especially of her role in transitioning the St. Lucia Tourist Board into the St. Lucia Tourism Authority, a role McDonald described as “excellent”.

“It has not been an easy task because you do remember the type of things and the concerns that we uncovered at the St. Lucia Tourist Board when we first came into government. There were significant excesses. There were some pointed things, in terms of the St. Lucia Jazz Festival and how the Tourist Board was spending some of the money allocated to them,” McDonald told reporters.

Explaining that the government had transition the Tourist Board to focus specifically on its core function, which is the marketing of the country and less on engaging in events that somewhat sidetracked it in the past, McDonald said that Francis was able to achieve that focus with the new entity.

“A new Board (of the Tourism Authority) is expected to be appointed soon. I would think the Board would be able to speak of the direction going forward. We (government) are very proud of the work Francis has done and I am sure she will continue to work with the government in other capacities going forward,” McDonald said.

The senior communications officer added that Francis’ resignation does not necessarily mean that she would not contribute in some way to the Tourism Authority — after all she helped to craft it.

“I would anticipate that Ms. Francis would be assisting the new Board, the new chairperson, in terms of going forward,” McDonald said, adding that she hoped Francis would continue to work with the Authority.

Francis’ letter of resignation, copied to Minister Dominic Fedee, who is responsible for tourism in the Office of the Prime Minister, and Tiffany Howard, the SLTA’s chief marketing officer, stated that “as of July 31, 2018 the transition from the St. Lucia Tourist Board to the St. Lucia Tourism Authority has been completed with the appointment of a new Board of Directors, the composition of which you will be advised of under separate cover”.

She further stated in her resignation letter that “my work has therefore come to an end, so effective 1st August 2018 Tiffany Howard will now be your primary contact at the St. Lucia Tourism Authority”.

“Our association has truly been a productive and positive one and I wish to thank you for this and your contribution towards bringing the vision of the SLTA to reality,” Francis noted in her resignation letter to Minister Fedee and Howard.

She ended her resignation letter by wishing both individuals continued success personally and professionally and stating that they all will continue to be in communication.

(4)(4)

The post Will government bring back Agnes Francis? appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

(SNO) – Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and Tourism Minister Dominic Fedee were among officials who recently visited the Body Holiday Saint Lucia, the world renown luxury all-inclusive health and fitness resort, which has been closed to undergo a multi-million dollar renovation and expansion.

The project, which involves the upgrade of at least 100 rooms, is reported to cost $38 million and provides employment for scores of Saint Lucians.

Body Holiday, also known as Le Sport, was voted the fourth best destination spa in the world by Travel & Leisure in 2017, and the renovations are expected to improve on that ranking.

Chastanet spoke of the benefits of the upgrade and expansion to Saint Lucia. He said given the country’s limited landmass, as it is related to tourism development, it is very important to maximize output on a per acre basis.

He said: “The two ways that you can do that is either by adding more density, by adding more rooms, or by upgrading your property so that basically clients are going to pay more and you are providing more services.  Those services generate more revenue but also need additional staffing.

Chastanet

Chastanet continued: “So there are two mechanisms in which you can look to be able to improve the output.  Economic output on a per acre basis. So Le Sport has always been an amazing brand, really distinguished itself over the years in the market place and I very much cherish and support the idea of becoming number one, because not only is Le Sport brand being number one, but Saint Lucia itself is also strongly being affiliated with being the best.”

Deputy Managing Director, SunSwept Resorts United, Andrew Bernard, said while the upgrade in infrastructure is great, the resort believes it is the service that it provides, that counts.

Andrew

“A huge amount of effort is going into training, new training systems, standard operating procedures and software integration, and good connection to the tour operators in the market, and all these things. So that, as well as the hardware that we work with.  We are seeing a big upgrade in the people in our HR compliment systems. It’s gonna really make a difference and we are aiming to be the one number holiday wellness in the world.

Minister Fedee said: “I think it is an amazing feed by a St Lucian home-grown company.  I think that all of us, we really have to be proud of what this company has been able to do.  They employ on a full-time basis, 400 St Lucians so the economic contribution is significant, with the 155 rooms that they operate here.”

The resort is expected to reopen at the end of this month.

Fedee

(3)(0)

The post Chastanet, Fedee tout benefits of Body Holiday expansion and renovation project to Saint Lucia appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

Jade Sea resort in St. Lucia * Photo credit Jade Mountain

(FORBES) – A spectacular new development will be launched in 2020 in St. Lucia as the new sister resort of Jade Mountain will be unveiled.

Jade Sea will be a dramatic property located on a ridge near the famed Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet and offering up more direct views of the Pitons.

Located in the Eastern Caribbean Sea, Northwest of Barbados and South of Martinique, Owner, and architect Nick Troubetzkoy’s legacy continues with the new Jade Sea property.

A perfectly planned expansion from Jade Mountain, the new Jade Sea development includes 24 Sanctuaries, with hopes to expand the property to 48. The five-star amenities will offer outrageous sea, valley, and mountain views, as well as more than 8,000 feet of stunning Caribbean waterfront.

Jade Sea blends into its natural environment Photo credit: JADE MOUNTAIN

Ranked among the world top 100 hotels by Travel & Leisure, Jade Mountain consistently wins every year as one of the best honeymoon hotels by travelers as well. Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet Resort are owned by the supremely talented Nick and Karolin Troubetzkoy and they are launching the new property above their existing iconic locations.

Anse Chastenet is located amid a 60-acre estate with two beaches and spectacular views of the twin Piton Mountains. Rising above that resort is Jade Mountain which I consider my favorite hotel suite in the world. Nick Troubetzkoy utilized organic elements to his design including bridges that lead to the resorts private infinity pool sanctuaries and truly one of the most stunning properties I have ever visited.

I remember on my first visit to Jade Mountain dining on the outdoor terrace under the crystal clear skies with Karolin years ago and she said they had been planning the new development for a long time. Taking full advantage of the massive property they own, they wanted to create a hillside of cascading suites that disappear into the lush greenery. With its striking architecture, unique location and attention to detail, this new development will for sure become the most sought-after destination in the Caribbean.

As with Jade Mountain, Jade Sea’s sanctuaries will be fully open on their south faces with no walls, bringing inside the cool Caribbean breezes as well as dramatic views of the Pitons. According to Troubetzkoy, “The line between man and nature is further blurred at Jade Sea, with sanctuaries that will incorporate indoor and outdoor gardens, waterfalls, and natural stone clad walls covered in a fern jungle. Each sanctuary’s expansive infinity edge pool has been designed for the utmost in relaxation with stepping stones, shallow water seating areas, a floating lounge, and jacuzzi spa.”

Enclosed within each spacious sanctuary is a glass-walled, air-conditioned inner sanctum, a vault-like, sound-proofed oasis to isolate the guests from the entire world, allowing them to escape with a high-tech communication and entertainment system without disturbing the natural outdoor sounds and surroundings on the other side of the triple-glazed glass.

Jade Sea’s other amenities will include multiple sundecks with built-in fireplaces, a large dining and lounge area with state of the art kitchens, and generous proportions of more than 3,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor living space. I can’t wait to return to this amazing Caribbean paradise to witness firsthand the birth of a new legend.

(3)(1)

The post Famed Jade Mountain in St. Lucia will launch a new sister resort, Jade Sea: article appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – The inaugural Mercury Fest staged by Epic Events and supported by the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority on August 10 -11, 2018 at Pigeon Island, is being celebrated as a huge success.

Preliminary figures indicate that the event welcomed, at least, 2,288 foreign nationals from Martinique, France, the United States, Trinidad, Dominica, Guadeloupe, the UK, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic, with the highest numbers coming from Martinique. Dominica, France and Guadeloupe also had significant representation at the beach event.

Visitors and owners of vessels carrying Mercury engines arrived ahead of the Mercury Fest event, headlined by French rapper and singer – Kalash and Jamaican deejay, singer and songwriter – Popcaan.

Minister responsible for Tourism, Hon. Dominic Fedee stated, “We are extremely pleased with the production of the first ever Mercury Fest. The event has exposed the enormous potential of such an activity. However, what we are most pleased about, as a government, is the direct economic benefit to the many Saint Lucians who were able to participate in the event. These opportunities did not exist previously.”

Hoteliers also benefitted from the inaugural Mercury Fest as rooms in the north of the island were sold out. Chief Executive Officer of the Saint Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association (SLHTA), Roderick Cherry said, “Mercury Fest is proving to be better than anticipated. Our members are commenting favorably on occupancy levels. We anticipate that this mega event will continue to develop into an annual staple on Saint Lucia’s calendar.”

Chief Marketing Officer at the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority – Tiffany Howard echoed sentiments related to the positive economic impact of the festival.

“The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority is pleased to be associated with Mercury Fest and the numbers speak volumes to the future of this event and its economic contribution to Saint Lucia. We look forward to further growth and development of this event as the Authority continues to support initiatives that will attract more visitors to our shores,” said Mrs. Howard.

Regional press from Martinique, Trinidad and Barbados attend the event and had the opportunity to meet with Hon. Fedee to discuss the dynamism of Saint Lucia’s Tourism product, as well as take in some of the offerings of the event.

The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority looks forward to expanding its reach into the Caribbean region, North America and Europe for the next staging of Mercury Fest. It is all part of the SLTA’s efforts to position Saint Lucia as the experiential destination for visitors seeking to engage in Romance, Adventure, Dive, Health & Wellness, Family and Culinary.

(8)(1)

The post “Mercury Fest is proving to be better than anticipated” – SLHTA CEO appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – Saint Lucia has proved, yet again, why it is one of the premier destinations in the world with one of its top luxury properties copping another major award. The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) participated in the Virtuoso Travel Week program in Las Vegas, Nevada from August 11-17, 2018 for the first time since the destination became recognised as a Virtuoso preferred partner earlier this year.

Virtuoso is a network of the best luxury travel agencies, with more than 17,500 advisors worldwide representing the best of the best in travel, with a portfolio of nearly 1,700 preferred partners – top hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, and other tourism interests.

During the awards program, the BodyHoliday won the Best Wellness Program honor beating out all other luxury properties in the virtuoso program from around the world. And, as is to be expected, the resort was thrilled about its victory.

“BodyHoliday is grateful to be receiving this award voted by the Virtuoso travel agent community. Just being nominated has been an honour and we will continue to deliver on our promise – ‘Give us your body for a week and we’ll give you back your mind,’” said the Head of Marketing for the BodyHoliday, Armin Asceric.

This was the 30th anniversary of Virtuoso Travel Week, and the SLTA was among the more than 6,000 attendees at the luxury event. The participants comprised 2,888 Travel Advisors, 2,569 partners and 80 journalists. This year, there were 566 first time partners and 794 first time advisors at the event organised for the creme de la creme of Travel advisors. Virtuoso brings in US$23.7 billion in travel sales and has Travel advisors in 50 countries.

On Saint Lucia’s participation, the SLTA’s Marketing Director for the United States, Kelly Fontenelle stated, “Being a virtuoso partner puts Saint Lucia in front of thousands of luxury preferred advisors. Virtuoso’s advisors are now placing a great focus on niches selling more and recommending destinations for wellness, culinary and adventure travel for which Saint Lucia has an abundance of choices. The Virtuoso partnership puts Saint Lucia in the perfect place for luxury and niche travel.”

Saint Lucia welcomed nine agents as special guests on its hosted table during the destination showcase dinner. The event was a tremendous success giving the destination access to over 2,000 advisors in attendance through one-on-one appointments, and the social networking events. Over the four-day period, Fontenelle, and the SLTA’s Sales Manager, Trade for the US, Richard Moss, conducted more than 200 one-on-one appointments in addition to some off site-meetings creating increased opportunities for Saint Lucia’s inspiring tourism product.

Saint Lucia has five virtuoso resorts: Ladera Resort; Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort; Cap Maison; Jade Mountain Resort; and the BodyHoliday.

The SLTA congratulates the BodyHoliday on its recognition as the world’s Best Wellness Program and shares in the pride that the honour brings to the resort and to the destination.

(7)(0)

The post Saint Lucian hotel tops at Virtuoso Travel Week appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.

(PRESS RELEASE VIA SNO) – There are only 2 days left to vote for Saint Lucia as your Best Caribbean Destination in the AFAR Travelers’ Choice Destination Awards.

Saint Lucia has been nominated for the prestigious and popular award, which reflects the tastes of the AFAR audience — the most affluent, influential, and well-traveled across all travel media.

The AFAR editorial team selected the Destination finalists and will encourage its audience to vote for the places where they want to travel until August 22, 2018. This year, the Travelers’ Choice Awards have been broken down into four phases: Hotels, Outfitters, Cruises, and Destinations.

The winners will be revealed on December 13 on AFAR.com and in the January/February 2019 AFAR issue – ‘Where to Go’, where the magazine will celebrate the winners in a grander fashion than it has ever done. So, be inspired and vote for Saint Lucia as AFAR Travelers’ Choice Destination Awards.

Anyone can vote, so log onto the official link and vote. Encourage your friends, family, neighbours and associates to vote.

Vote for Saint Lucia in the fifth question of “Which Caribbean destination would you most like to experience?”

Remember, the deadline is August 22, 2018.

(9)(2)

The post Saint Lucia nominated for AFAR Travelers’ Choice Destination Award appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.