http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/index/ en thom@wheretostay.com Copyright 2008 2008-04-21T13:54:01-06:00 http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/sandy_lane_to_close_for_refurbishment/ http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/sandy_lane_to_close_for_refurbishment/#When:13:54:01Z {summary}"Sandy Lane in Barbados will close from Aug. 31 to Oct. 3 for an extensive renovation,” reports Gay Nagle Myers for Travel Weekly. “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. Caribbean 2008-04-21T13:54:01-06:00 http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/jamaica_inn_hotel_fined_for_health_safety_breaches/ http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/jamaica_inn_hotel_fined_for_health_safety_breaches/#When:19:29:00Z {summary}"A famous South-west hotel has been heavily fined after environmental health inspectors found kitchens in a filthy state,” reports Caterer Search. 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.” Caribbean 2008-03-25T19:29:00-06:00 http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/plane_accident_at_virgin_gorda_airport/ http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/plane_accident_at_virgin_gorda_airport/#When:19:26:02Z {summary}"Director of the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA) Denniston Frazer has confirmed that a plane accident occurred at the Virgin Gorda Airport at about 8:10 this morning. No one was injured,” reports BVI News. “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.” Caribbean 2008-03-25T19:26:02-06:00 http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/wyndham_to_develop_st_croix_golf_resort_and_casino/ http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/wyndham_to_develop_st_croix_golf_resort_and_casino/#When:19:43:01Z {summary}Wyndham Hotels and Resorts today announced it will enter a new Caribbean market with the development of the luxury 400-room Wyndham St. Croix Golf Resort and Casino, which will become the keystone of a $250 million complex that includes a new 43,000-square foot conference center on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. 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. Caribbean, USVIs, St. Croix 2008-02-27T19:43:01-06:00 http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/coral_reef_barbados_open_in_october/ http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/coral_reef_barbados_open_in_october/#When:18:16:03Z {summary}Coral Reef Club, Barbados, reopens on 11 October with a new spa and tennis court, following an extended closure. Sister hotel, The Sandpiper, will remain open for an additional week, closing 23 August and reopening on 8 October. Caribbean 2008-02-20T18:16:03-06:00 http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/trump_eyes_410m_golf_resort_in_puerto_rico/ http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/trump_eyes_410m_golf_resort_in_puerto_rico/#When:13:50:02Z {summary}"Donald Trump has announced new plans to extend his golf business with a £410m complex in Puerto Rico. The Trump International Golf Club is due to be built on the northern coast of the island, on the 1,000-acre site of the former Coco Beach Golf and Country Club,” reports Ben Judge for scotsman.com. 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. Caribbean 2008-02-17T13:50:02-06:00 http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/seven_stars_resort_set_for_soft_opening_april_1/ http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/seven_stars_resort_set_for_soft_opening_april_1/#When:18:17:03Z {summary}"Seven Stars Resort, the newest luxury property to stake its claim on Grace Bay Beach in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, will open its first phase on April 1, with the official opening set for July, according to Duncan MacArthur, managing director,” reports Gay Nagle Myers for TravelWeekly.   “The 81 studio and one- to four-bedroom and penthouse suites are located in three buildings on a 22-acre site, formerly occupied by an Allegro Resort, which was demolished more than four years ago. When phase two is completed in approximately two years, the resort’s roofline will feature seven small towers on four buildings, another reference to the seven-star theme,” reports Myers.   Myers continues, “While featuring all the bells and whistles of a luxury property, including property-wide Wi-Fi access, plush bedding, spacious suites with wraparound terraces, Jacuzzi baths, two restaurants, a heated outdoor pool, a spa and rates that include transfers and daily breakfast, owner Jak Civre said that “our service and our staff make us different from the other resorts here. Service is what we are concentrating on and where we will stand out."” “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). Caribbean 2008-02-01T18:17:03-06:00 http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/jetblue_announces_direct_flights_to_santo_domingo_dr/ http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/jetblue_announces_direct_flights_to_santo_domingo_dr/#When:13:17:00Z {summary}JetBlue Airways, New York’s low-fare carrier, today began its first international service to Santiago, in the Dominican Republic. The carrier now serves the Caribbean island with 2 daily nonstop flights from New York City’s JFK International Airport. 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. Caribbean, Dominican Republic 2008-01-21T13:17:00-06:00 http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/jetblue_flies_to_st_maarten/ http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/jetblue_flies_to_st_maarten/#When:13:12:00Z {summary}JetBlue Airways Corporation became the first low-fare carrier to offer flights between the Northeast of the United States of America and St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) with year-round daily non-stop service from New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport. 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. Caribbean, St. Maarten, St. Barts 2008-01-21T13:12:00-06:00 http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/jamaica_hotels_to_impose_energy_surcharge/ http://www.wheretostay.com/blog/index.php/site/jamaica_hotels_to_impose_energy_surcharge/#When:14:06:00Z {summary}"In another three days, Jamaican hotels will impose an energy surcharge of US$10 per room per night,” reports Caribbean360. 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. Caribbean, Jamaica 2007-12-12T14:06:00-06:00