Caribbean But this year could top that again as the
island celebrates its 50th anniversary of independence with plans also afoot for the launch of a new European division of Barbados Tourism Marketing and a new destination website. The island is the biggest seller in the
Caribbean “by a fair mile” for Azure Collection, according to product and marketing manager Brydie Boulton, who adds she is now also featuring the boutique property Lone Star at Alleynes Bay, although it is not yet brochured. St Lucia is another big seller for Azure, which this year added Ladera, a former cocoa plantation.
Luxury included Lusso’s Linda Bellis says the relatively poor dollar exchange rate has meant clients are looking for all-inclusive, with upmarket options such as Grenada’s Spice Island and Antigua’s Jumby Bay popular. She names St Kitts’ Belle Mont Farm, the luxury all-inclusive hotel set within the Kittitian Hills development that’s “great for foodies” and renovated Calabash in Grenada as 2016 favourites. Boulton is another operator excited by Belle
Mont Farm. “It’s all about the culinary farm-to- table experience,” she says. “We have a section of clients that would find that appealing.” Azure also hopes the appeal of St Kitts and
Nevis will be enhanced by new 45-minute flights from Tradewind Aviation between Nevis and St Barths, permitting smoother twin centre packages. “Hopefully we’ll send some agents out to try it,” she adds. Meanwhile, a new charter agreement with
Caribbean Helicopters means Liat will now be offering daily service to Nevis from Antigua too. The arrival of the Park Hyatt St Kitts at the
end of this year will also throw a very stylish spotlight on the island. The hotel will have 78 rooms and 48 suites – some of which will feature personal rooftop pools – within the Christophe Harbour development at Banana Bay, with views over to Nevis. The 2,500-acre Christophe Harbour project also includes a megayacht marina and Tom Fazio golf course. And a new partnership between Four Seasons
Resort Nevis and the VIP YU Lounge at St Kitts airport means guests can have a seamless arrival and departure experience between the
airport and the hotel’s private launch service that whisks guests to the island. Yet another operator to highlight the growing
appeal of St Kitts and Nevis is ITC Luxury Travel, which mentions a “boom” due to new openings that as well as Kittitian Hills also includes Paradise Beach on Nevis. Helen Tabois, ITC Luxury’s senior product and
marketing manager, Caribbean and cruise, says the properties “have added greatly to the luxury proposition” in the destination. “We’re also seeing strong growth to the
British Virgin Islands, showing that luxury travellers are increasingly keen to explore the Caribbean a little further afield than the main gateway islands,” she adds. ITC is one of several operators reporting a
strong start to 2016, with bookings for Christmas already coming in. Tabois is another to mention continuing demand for high quality all-inclusive where a la carte and fine dining are a part of the offering these days. “Resorts in the Caribbean are really upping the ante in this area, offering something more special than the traditional international buffet,” she says.
Future paradise Talk about all-inclusives in the Caribbean up until very recently and the Dominican Republic may have been the first place to jump to mind. But this destination is continuing to shake
that off and accelerate its move upmarket, including the major coup of
“I’ve been on the island since 1979 and looking after
the hotel since 1989. I love the passion of the Jamaican people for everything! For life, beauty, food, music, nature, sports...
they are also welcoming besides being sensuous and full of natural sophistication. And of course things have been changing a lot in Jamaica, including investment in infrastructure such as the newly renovated airports in Montego Bay and Kingston; new highways linking Negril in the west to Port Antonio in the east; and a new north-South highway between Ocho Rios and Kingston across the beautiful stretch of the Blue Mountains and the Bogwalk Gorg. That will make access to Kingston’s many attractions – such as National Gallery of Jamaica, Port Royal’s pirate lair and the Bob Marley museum – easy for day visitors from cruise ships and in hotels on the north coast. When it comes to my tips – you have to try Pelican Bar (below), a unique rickety bar set out on a sand bank off the coast of Treasure Beach, which is also spectacular. We suggest Bamboo Avenue too, which links Middle Quarters and Holland estate. Another nice trip is the Black River Safari on the south coast to view the mangrove forests and possibly observe the black North American crocodile in the wild, and Good Hope Plantation near the towns of Falmouth and Montego Bay is also worth a look.” Josef Forstmayr, managing director, Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Jamaica
My Jamaica
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