“The luxury resort last completed a multimillion-dollar overhaul and expansion in 2001,” reports Myers.
“We’ve done some changes since 2001 but not in a comprehensive way,” said Claire Jordan, Sandy Lane’s director of sales and marketing. “Sandy Lane always wants to stay ahead of the curve as a contemporary, elegant resort. This redo will take us to the next level.”
Myers continues, “The changes include new soft goods, lighting fixtures and bigger flat-screen TVs in the 112 guest rooms. Two new Rolls-Royce limousines will be added for guest transfers. Also, Sandy Lane will be working on a new line of treatments and products in the spa, and new furnishings and decor in public areas.”
“The resort’s Bajan Blue restaurant on the beach level, one of four restaurants on the property, will undergo a total overhaul.” Myers concludes.
{extended} ]]>Caterer Search continues, “Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall pleaded guilty before Bodmin magistrates to breaches of the health and safety legislation.”
“The owners of the hotel Five Star Taverns were fined £7,000 with £2,900 costs.”
“The court was told that health inspectors were shocked when on a visit they found grills and cooking surfaces encrusted with food debris and mold.”
“An inspector told the court the risk of contamination was high, that cleanliness and hygiene standards were poor overall and that there was no documented food safety management system. Staff training was also found to be inadequate.”
“In mitigation it was said that hygiene standards at the hotel had now been upgraded in line with environmental health inspectors recommendations.”
“Built in 1750, Jamaica Inn was originally a coaching inn and then became a hideaway for smugglers because of its remote location.”
“It was made famous by Daphne Du Maurier’s book of the same name.”
{extended} ]]>“Frazer told BVI News Online that an Air Sunshine plane with only the pilot onboard hit the tail of a parked Island Bird plane shortly after arriving from the Beef Island airport.”
“The Air Sunshine plane also hit the airport gate and building, leaving about six window panes broken, Frazer said.”
“The director could not say what caused the accident but noted that investigations are underway with inspectors from the BVIAA and the Air Safety Support International (ASSI) now at the Virgin Gorda airport.”
“Sources say the Air Sunshine pilot may have lost brakes.”
{extended} ]]>The 294-acre property, scheduled to break ground this spring and open in 2010, will be developed by New Jersey-based Golden Resorts LLLP in joint ownership with Jericho All-Weather Opportunity Fund of Boca Raton, Fla., and managed by Wyndham Hotel Management Company.
The resort will feature a 25,000 square-foot casino; 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature golf course; 17,000 square-foot world-class spa and fitness center; four restaurants; lounges; retail stores; and kid’s club.
The property will be located on the south shore of St. Croix, near downtown Christiansted and 15 minutes from Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport.
{extended} ]]>Sister hotel, The Sandpiper, will remain open for an additional week, closing 23 August and reopening on 8 October.
{extended} ]]>Judge continues, “It will consist of a 36-hole course and around 500 holiday homes. The homes are expected to cost at least £950,000 and will have access to private jet, yachting and limousine services.”
“Puerto Rico, a US territory in the northeast Caribbean, is seeking a major boost to its economy and the Trump Organisation investment is expected to bring a large increase in tourism,” reports judge.
“In terms of service, Seven Stars has come up with a concierge concept called “Miss Seven” in which staff will patrol the property on Segways, two-wheeled electric scooters, to ensure a rapid response to guests’ needs.”
“Nightly rates through October range from $365 per gardenview studio to $3,000 for a four-bedroom royal beachfront suite, exclusive of 10% government tax and a 10% service charge.”
For details, visit Seven Stars (917).
The airline’s regular one-way fares on both new Dominican Republic routes will range from $133 to $296 each way if booked via www.jetblue.com.
To celebrate its new St. Maarten service, JetBlue is offering a special US $99 sale fare each way between the island and New York/JFK. Travel must be booked by Thursday, January 24. Regular one-way fares between New York and St. Maarten start as low as $154 each way.
Caribbean360 continues, “They say it is necessary to offset escalating costs as a result of rising oil prices.”
“The announcement late last month by Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) has caught industry partners off-guard.”
“The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said there are “logistical and legal implications” to the move and a full statement is expected to follow once more specifics are known.”
“Elizabeth Fox, director of the Jamaica Tourist Board in the UK, made it clear that the surcharge is not a government tax and government was not involved in the decision.”
“It was a move by the JHTA which is a private sector organisation of private sector hoteliers.”
“Our role is to let the market know what the hotels decide. We can advise the hotels as to what we think they should do, but ultimately it’s their decision,” she said.
{extended} ]]>Cayman Net News continues…
A press release from Global Hyatt Corporation, one of the world’s premier hotel companies, on Tuesday, 4 December said, “Following a successful presence on Grand Cayman for two decades, Hyatt has announced that its 20 year contractual agreement expires on December 31, 2007 after which date it will no longer manage Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman.”
According to the release, the owner of the hotel, Embassy Investments Limited, will continue independently to operate the 53-suites section of the resort on the world famous Seven Mile Beach (a stone’s throw away) under the name of Grand Cayman Beach Suites.
Since Hurricane Ivan severely damaged the 253-guestroom section of the property in September 2004, it has remained closed while the owners and insurers battle over storm damage claims. The suites section has been back in operation for over two years.
“Nothing will change except for the Hyatt name. The quality of the product and services will remain at its highest level,” said Diego Concha, General Manager of Hyatt Regency (Grand Cayman).
When asked if Hyatt Hotels and Resorts will be looking to operate other properties in Cayman, Mr Concha said: “Hyatt remains committed to Grand Cayman and open to new opportunities. We will be very attentive to future developments.”
Hyatt will continue to work closely with the Grand Cayman Beach Suites, the release said.
“Hyatt has enjoyed a positive and mutually beneficial relationship with Embassy Investments and both parties will continue to pursue future opportunities together,” said the release.
Mr Concha added, “Hyatt will continue to assist after January 1 until transition is completed. Our relationship with the owner is very strong and we want to make sure all aspects of the new operation are fully in place.”
{extended} ]]>
Bly continues, “The latest changes are part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, launched after 9/11. All U.S. travelers returning from Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean by air have had to carry passports since Jan. 23— a requirement that sparked months-long processing delays earlier this year. Turnaround time for a standard passport is now four to six weeks and three weeks for an expedited version.”
Smith continues, “The closure came as a result of the hotel’s lease that expired yesterday with no option for renewal. The property, originally owned by the Hadeed family, was sold to Jumby Bay Island Company Ltd., two years ago. A two-year lease was put in place for the hotel to continue operating.”
“Reports are that the American University of Antigua will be taking over the use of the property as a student housing facility.”
“Through the years, it has held wedding receptions, high school graduation balls and even final year class retreats. It is most known locally as a popular karaoke spot and a port for over-nighting airline passengers.”
{extended} ]]>Johnson continues, “Page, 34, the most eligible bachelor in America, will wed girlfriend Lucy Southworth, 27, on entrepreneur Richard Branson’s private getaway, Necker Island, sources confirmed to Page Six. Page and Southworth, a biomedical informatics (information processing) doctoral student at Stanford, have been dating for over a year.”
“But to secure accommodations for their guests, Page’s planners, working six months in advance, also had to book all the hotels on the neighboring island of Virgin Gorda.”
“No one except Page’s guests is staying at Little Dix Bay Resort on Virgin Gorda “so that Page’s wedding could be completely private,” said an insider. “They rented all of Virgin Gorda. They took over the island."," reports Johnson.
The source also said “boats and ferries for hundreds of guests were ordered to ship them from Little Dix Bay to the ceremony.”
“Bono, the globe-trotting U2 frontman, was said to be the most prominent guest, but the lists also includes fellow Forbes 400 billionaires, Silicon Valley visionaries and friends from Stanford, where Page and his Google partner, Sergey Brin, met in the computer science Ph.D. program.”
A second source said that Page, who’s estimated to be worth about $20 billion, is also springing for private planes to fly in guests from around the globe. “Planes are leaving from all over,” said the insider. “One plane will leave from New York on Friday.”
Johnson reports, “Page and Brin were each worth just $4 billion in 2004, before they took the company public. Shares have rocketed up 510 percent since then. Last May, the Russian-born Brin married Anne Wojcicki, a biotech analyst and a Yale graduate, in the Bahamas.”
“Page and Brin recently bought a pre-owned Qantas Boeing 767 airliner for their business and personal needs. Page is also an investor in Tesla Motors, which developed the Tesla Roadster, a 250-mile-range battery electric vehicle.”
{extended} ]]>Beharry continues, “The life of a three-year-old girl from Guadeloupe was snuffed out as a result of the tremor.”
“She was crushed by a collapsed wall in Trois-Rivieres on the island Basse-Terre and died on her way to hospital, while her seven-year-old sister was in critical condition.”
“There were also numerous injuries and widespread property damage on Terre-de-Bas, one of the Saints islands, that are located just south of Basse-Terre, the French overseas department’s main island.”
“Most of Terre-de-Basse’s 1,300 inhabitants had gathered on the field of the island’s only stadium,” reports Beharry.
“Besides Guadeloupe, the earthquake has also caused major damage in other countries including St. Vincent and Grenadines.”
“I was looking at vehicles dancing whilst in the road, persons ran out from the banks and other organisations,” Foster said. “It was one of the biggest earthquakes I have felt.”
“Foster told the SUN that it was a horrible experience for the country especially when he saw the reaction of the people,” reports Beharry.
“Antigua and Barbuda has not reported any death, injuries or major damage so far.”
{extended} ]]>