Four Seasons In Great Exuma, Bahamas purchased by Sandals
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Aug 21, 2009
The Royal Plantation Collection and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts, today announced the purchase of the recently shuttered Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma at Emerald Bay for an undisclosed sum. According to Sandals Resorts Founder and Chairman, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, the 500-acre property, which features a championship Greg Norman golf course and world-class marina, is set to become a Sandals Resort and will be called Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas. Following certain enhancements customary to the Sandals Resorts brand, including an expansive new pool complex and additional dining establishments, the resort will open January 22, 2010.
“This is a remarkable moment in the history of Sandals Resorts,” Stewart said. “We are acquiring one of the most spectacular pieces of real estate in the Caribbean, which was operated by one of the world’s most highly regarded hotel companies. This is a reflection of all that Sandals Resorts has accomplished and a tremendous opportunity to further demonstrate our commitment to providing the very best vacation in the Caribbean. We look forward to bringing our Luxury Included(R) experience to this special property, which has been kept to impeccable standards.”
Unfolding like a grand estate, Sandals Emerald Bay is set along a one-mile stretch of white sand beach on Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas. According to Stewart, the all-suite resort will offer a selection of 190 “magnificently-appointed” luxury accommodations with styles that range from beachfront villas to charming bay house settings - all oceanfront, all extremely spacious and all serviced by butlers trained by Sandals Resorts through the company’s exclusive partnership with the Guild of Professional English Butlers.
Other amenities include a fully-equipped tennis center featuring six Har-tru courts lit for night play with professional stadium seating fit for competition; a full-service Red Lane(R) Spa with 22 indoor treatment areas and six exotic outdoor sanctuaries; plus six gourmet restaurants, including four new concepts introduced by Sandals Resorts, a fine-dining seafood restaurant, an authentic Italian brick-oven pizzeria, a French-style cafe and a traditional British pub complete with a pool and snooker room.
To complement its sublime ocean views, the property will also debut three pools including a brand new freshwater pool. Encompassing over half an acre, this spectacular pool will entice guests with a Jacuzzi, swim-up pool bar and unique fire-pit seating area in the center. Flanking the pool will be misting columns and luxurious cabanas equipped with wireless Internet access. Whether poolside or on the beach, all guests will receive a full complement of butler services. In addition, the resort will cater to business and meetings customers, offering 13,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space. This includes three large ballrooms with separate event entrance that can be converted into smaller rooms, all with access to a dedicated conference facility kitchen and two meetings rooms, which are all supported by round-the-clock conference and technology services.
Unique to the Great Exuma property is a stunning 18-hole Greg Norman-designed championship golf course, reputed to be among the best in the Caribbean, as well as a 17-acre, stand-alone Emerald Bay Marina by Sandals, the first-ever marina for any Sandals Resort. This fully-protected, deepwater marina offers 133 slips and is equipped to accommodate and service yachts up to 300 feet in length. Open to the public, the marina also features a welcoming clubhouse with a full-service restaurant including al fresco dining on a spectacular wraparound terrace, pool, a world-class Red Lane(R) Spa and facilities to accommodate families with children.
Continued Investment in the Caribbean
Sandals Emerald Bay is the fourteenth Sandals Resort in the Jamaican-based company’s portfolio and the third investment the company has made in The Bahamas, already home to Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island in Nassau and Royal Plantation Island at Fowl Cay in the Exumas. “We have deep roots in The Bahamas. We know the people and these islands well and it is our distinct pleasure and honor to further our partnership in tourism here,” Stewart said.
Stewart credits receivers, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and the government of The Bahamas on their efficiency in bringing this deal to a speedy conclusion. Stewart recognizes the impact the closing had on the local economy and is anxious to get people back to work. “We take enormous pride in our Caribbean legacy and specifically, our Jamaican heritage. Through job creation, real training and community involvement, spanning healthcare initiatives to education and the environment, we have worked hard to improve the countries where we operate and in turn, have become a better company and our employees, better citizens. Our commitment to the people of The Bahamas remains strong,” added Stewart.
Caribbean suffers crippling impact of the global recession
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Aug 21, 2009
The Caribbean region continues to suffer from the crippling impact of the global recession.
That information was contained in the Central Bank of Barbados Economic Review, June 2009. The challenges were faced with particular respect to the critical tourism sector.
It said: “Long stay arrivals declined in all countries except for Cuba, Jamaica and Cancun, Mexico, as arrivals to these territories rose by two per cent, 0.2 per cent and 4.7 per cent respectively. Long stay arrivals for Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Lucia fell by 4.6 per cent, 14.3 per cent and 13.7 per cent, respectively. Similarly, tourist arrivals for Anguilla, Belize and St. Vincent and the Grenadines declined by 21.4 per cent, 7.7 per cent and 12.9 per cent, respectively, for the first two months of 2009. The downturn in long stay arrivals throughout the Caribbean region was driven by a fall-off in visitors from major source markets, namely, Europe and the United States.”
It was also revealed that the performance of the productive sectors in the region was mixed: “Construction value added in Jamaica and the Bahamas remained moderate during the last quarter of 2008. However, in Trinidad and Tobago the sector continued to benefit from ongoing work on a number of private and governmental projects. With respect to agricultural output, value-added in the sector declined in Jamaica, the OECS and Trinidad and Tobago, while marginal growth was recorded in Guyana.”
Some of the larger economies suffered major contraction: “The level of inflation in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago eased during the first quarter of 2009. At February 2009, the rate of inflation in Jamaica was 0.8 per cent, compared to 1.8 per cent in the corresponding period of 2008 and zero percent in December 2008. Increases in all sub-categories fluctuated between 0.1 per cent and 1.1 per cent except for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels. Similarly, the rate of inflation in Trinidad and Tobago slowed from 14.5 per cent at the end of December 2008 to 11.7 per cent in January 2009. This outturn was mainly driven by a reduction in food prices. However, inflationary pressures strengthened in the Bahamas, as a rate of inflation moved to 4.28 per cent at March 2009, compared to 2.63 per cent, one year earlier.” (DB)
Three Beaches of Downtown Chicago
Posted , add a commentFor most people, the word ‘beach’ conjures visions of crystalline Caribbean waters, exotic South Seas islands, or coastal destinations around the U.S. Few would think of the Midwest, yet smack dab in the heartland a series of beaches encircle Lake Michigan like a string of pretty pearls. On a recent trip to Chicago I walked three miles along its lakefront, from the southernmost end of Grant Park to the northern tip of the Gold Coast, to visit the city’s three downtown beaches.
12th Street Beach, a delightful crescent cove at the foot of the Adler Planetarium
I began at 18th Street, where a narrow parcel of land known as Northerly Island juts into Lake Michigan. In 1909, renowned architect Daniel Burnham developed the Chicago Plan, which envisioned several man-made islands along the shores of the cobalt lake. Northerly Island, the only one that was actually built, was created from landfill and later converted into a peninsula. Now home to the Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, and Field Museum, the peninsula is commonly referred to as the Museum Campus. Here I discovered 12th Street Beach, a half-moon crescent cove hunkering at the bottom of a grassy slope behind the Planetarium. With its new beach house and free parking, 12th Street Beach is ideally located for a combined day of museum-going, picnicking, and sunbathing.
Swimmers, cyclists, joggers, and roller-bladers mass along the wide promenate connecting Ohio Street Beach with Oak Sreet Beach
From the Museum Campus I walked north along the lakefront. To my right, thousands of boats bobbed in the gently undulating waters of Lake Michigan. Grant Park stretched on my left, offering myriad opportunities to rest at landmarks such as Buckingham Fountain and the peaceful Cancer Survivors Garden. At Randolph Street I followed Lake Shore Drive as it curved to the east, crossing the Chicago River and strolling past the behemoth Ferris wheel at Navy Pier before entering Milton Lee Olive Park. Meandering pathways guided me back to the shores of the lake and Ohio Street Beach, a tiny pocket of sand tucked between Lake Shore Drive and a breakwater.
Oak Street, crown jewel of the three beaches in downtown Chicago
Although Ohio Street Beach has no services it provides excellent access to Oak Street Beach, a mile or so to the north, via a wide promenade that runs along the water’s edge. I walked its crowded length, keeping one eye peeled for mow-you-down cyclists and the other trained on swimmers clad in sleek neoprene suits and skullcaps who swim a mile along the promenade each day, weather permitting.
John Hancock Center looms over Oak Street Beach
Without a doubt, Oak Street Beach is the crown jewel of the three downtown beach parks. Located at the northern end of North Michigan Avenue, it is ringed by skyscrapers and landmark hotels that grace Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. Beneath the looming black John Hancock tower, beach-goers sprawl on colorful towels in the wide, soft sand or join a pickup volleyball game at one of several nets set up by the city. Concessions, restrooms, and a waterfront outdoor restaurant are available, but there is no parking; this is definitely a walk-to beach. Strangely, palm trees lined the shore. They were obviously new and recently planted, leading me to speculate whether they could possibly survive Chicago’s often brutal winter weather. I guess I’ll just have to come back this winter to find out; it’s as good an excuse as any to return to this great city!
Article and photos by Barbara Weibel of Hole In The Donut Travels
Tourism in Panama is booming
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By
eTN Staff Writer |
Aug 07, 2009
In the short span of the past six years, Panama’s tourism arrivals have more than doubled, while tourism-based revenue has more than tripled, according to the Panama Tourism Authority. This growth, along with farsighted, tourism-friendly laws and tax incentives, has opened the floodgates for investment in the country.
These funds are being channeled back into the tourism sector by way of improving infrastructure facilities, including power plants, telecom projects, overpasses, roads, highways, and bridges. In fact, the governments of Panama and Costa Rica have announced plans to build a temporary bridge over the Sixaola River, which will eventually be converted to a permanent bridge, costing US$13.4 million and increasing the connectivity between the countries. One of the most notable improvements is the US$5.25 billion Panama Canal expansion project, which will double the canal’s capacity and allow more traffic.
Recently, focus has also turned to the Enrique Malek Airport in David, the capital of the Chiriqui Province and gateway to the islands in the Gulf of Chiriqui. In early 2007, Gregorio Montecer, engineer and advisor to the director of the Civil Aeronautical Authority, unveiled a US$10 million expansion plan for the David airport to be completed by 2015. Upon the conclusion of the first phase of the project - a US$2 million investment to be completed this year - the upgrades to the runway will allow the David airport to accommodate commercial jets as large as a Boeing 737. Local developers have begun discussions among each other and with Panama’s tourism authority about how to leverage these upgrades into regular international flights.
“This area has seen a vast improvement of physical, economic, and social infrastructures in recent years,” said Ben Loomis, president of Amble Resorts, which is currently planning the development of a new eco resort in the Gulf of Chiriqui, the Resort at Isla Palenque. “In addition to the airport expansion, roads are being improved and new, high-quality health care facilities are being built. This expansive growth plus its incredible natural beauty makes the Gulf of Chiriqui an ideal location for our new island resort.”
“After 30 years in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Province, my choice in Panama to invest would be the coastal region of the Province of Chiriqui,” said Jim Procter of Panama Guru. “It already has an international airport, the sport fishing is as good as it gets on the Central American coast, and it offers westerly views with sunsets over the islands speckled around the Gulf of Chiriqui. Boutique hotels are slowly sprouting up so that’s where my chunk of cash would go.”
Popular Holiday Website Finds Millions Of Cheap Holidays To Fill The Last Minute Demand This Summer
Posted , add a comment) With searches for cheap holidays seeing a big increase in the last few weeks due to the UK weather, Holiday Holiday Holiday has added millions of more holidays to its website. In response to demand there is now a huge range of September and August 2009 holidays live and accounting for over 50% of the millions of offers available on the holiday website.
The most popular searched destination on holiday holiday holiday still remains as Turkey at the moment, with Greece, Spain, and the Balearic Islands following closely behind. Majorca is still a popular searched destination despite recent news and long haul destinations such as the Caribbean have seen a renewed interest as people look to escape the rain and visit sunnier climates. The abundance of last minute holidays available at the moment has been largely due to the previously slow take up of foreign holidays this year, with many people previously looking towards UK holidays.
With the opportunity now of some great last minute deals to be had, many people have now refocused their search, using holiday websites such as holidayholidayholiday.co.uk, in order to find a cheap holiday bargain. With the great British summer turning out to be a bit of a washout so far and the forecast for August relatively bleak, holiday makers are looking to holidays abroad to fill the sunshine gap, with many opting for all inclusive holidays to help them stick to a budget and plan for their holiday ahead.
Holiday Holiday Holiday Marketing Director Emma Healey said “We are experiencing a noticeable rise in last minute holiday searches on the website as holidaymakers resign themselves to the fact that a summer holiday in the UK is increasingly unlikely and look instead to foreign shores for guaranteed sunshine”.
“With a wide range of holidays on offer, from all inclusive to cheap holidays on a budget, and the expertise on offer through the hundreds of travel agents using our site, holidayholidayholiday.co.uk is extremely well equipped to offer holiday makers everything they need to find their perfect holiday”.
Holiday Holiday Holiday re-launched with a new design and improved search facilities on the 1st July this year, whilst also securing a deal with hundreds of travel agents to increase the total amount of holidays on the website to many millions.