CURFEW
LIFTED: The three month-old
curfew in Grand Cayman was lifted last week by Gov. Bruce Dinwiddy.
The 6 p.m to 6 a.m. curfew, first put in place on Sept. 14 after a state of emergency was
declared due to massive devastation caused by Hurricane Ivan, was
gradually reduced as conditions improved. Right before the curfew
was lifted on Dec. 9, the curfew ran from midnight to 5 a.m. Cruise
ships have returned to the island; many properties, shops and
restaurants have reopened. Still in short supply are taxis and
rental cars, although many visitors rent bicycles to pedal around
the flat island. Cayman Airways will launch its weekly Boston-Grand
Cayman service on Dec. 17.
PACKAGE DEALS
" US Airways
Vacations' Puerto Rico is Fun program must be booked by April 11
for travel through April 14. Packages include roundtrip air,
transfers, accommodations with daily breakfast at a choice of 11
properties in and around San Juan, transfers, discounts on
attractions, hotel meals and car rentals. For details, call (800) 455-0123.
" Classic Custom
Vacations' 2005 Caribbean portfolio includes 13 new resorts,
bringing the firm's total to 135 premier properties on 20 islands.
The new additions include the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, opening
next October; Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa,
Jamaica, opening Feb. 10, and Paradisus Puerto Rico, the island's
only all-inclusive resort, which opened last March.
LODGEPODGE
" A $5 million, 5,000-square-foot
casino is planned adjacent to the Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma
on Emerald Bay in the Bahamas. The casino, which will be operated
by Pinnacle Entertainment of Las Vegas, is expected to open in late
2005, pending government approvals and the execution of a final
lease arrangement.
" Couples Ocho Rios
completed a nine-month, $1.6 million restoration project in time
for the high season. New features include eight redecorated
penthouse suites, a new air-conditioning system, refurbishment of
three tennis courts, a new deck for the pier and the purchase of
three new guest buses. For details, visit www.couples.com.
" In Antigua, Galley
Bay's 14 Gaughin Cottages now have their own splash pools with
rates from $750 per couple, per night on an all-inclusive basis.
For details, visit www.eliteislandresorts.com.
ROLODEX
" Puerto Rico's
incumbent governor Sila Calderon appointed Lilly A. Oronoz to the
post of executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. Oronoz,
who formerly headed PRTC's legal division, will remain in office
until the next administration takes office, which could be as early
as Jan. 2 if the third recount of the governor's Nov. 2 election is
completed on or before that date. Oronoz replaced Milton Segarra,
who took over from Jose Suarez this fall. Puerto Rico aims to
increase occupancies to 80% this winter and attract more than five
million visitors in 2005, Oronoz said.
" Geoff Tucker has
been named general manager of the Divi Southwinds Beach Resort in
Barbados.
" Ramon Sanchez joined
the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau as vice president of marketing.
Sanchez formerly was sales and marketing director at the Paradisus
Puerto Rico Beach & Golf Resort in Rio Grande, Puerto
Rico.