AUTHORITIES ON NEVIS denied docking
privileges March 23 to a cruise ship chartered by a Florida gay
naturist club. In a statement, Nevis tourism minister Malcolm
Guishard denied the incident was anti-gay and claimed the craft was
ordered from area waters because public nudity is illegal under
local laws. But Source Events, the Miami company that chartered the
S.V. Polynesia from Windjammer Barefoot Cruises on behalf of Gay
Naturists International, said the ships captain was told by port
officials homosexuality was both illegal and considered immoral on
the island.
THE
GOVERNMENT of the British Virgin Islands purchased the
120-room Prospect Reef Resort on Tortola and will renovate and
convert the oceanfront property into the Prospect Reef Hospitality
Training Center, according to chief minister Orlando Smith. The
facility -- part of the BVIs broad-range tourism agenda to focus on
training individuals for hospitality management -- will operate as
a full-service hotel aimed at the business and conference markets.
Management will be handled by Interstate Hotels, an independent
U.S. hotel management company. Major renovations of the resort,
which opened in 1977, are planned.
HILTON
CURACAOS beaches and pools became the first venue for the
Livingwell Health and Beach Club, when the club debuted in early
March. Livingwell, Hilton Internationals health club brand,
operates more than 130 facilities in 15 countries worldwide. Open
to hotel guests as well as local club members, facilities at the
196-room Hilton Curacao include two tennis courts, three pools, two
beaches, a 2,000-square-foot fitness center with a range of
equipment and exercise classes and the Color of People
spa.
WITH AN EYE
ON THE TEEN MARKET, Club Med launched The Ramp at Club Med
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The Ramp also will be rolled out at
Club Meds family properties in Ixtapa, Mexico and Sandpiper,
Fla. by the end of
the year. The Ramp is a two-story, open-air lounge that serves as a
place for teens to hang out, skateboard and meet and greet. At check-in,
each teen gets a welcome packet, which includes a combination for a
personal mailbox at The Ramp and a red cloth bracelet for access to
The Ramp. Seven-night land packages at Club Med Punta Cana this
summer start at $840 per adult and $430 per child (ages 4
to 15). For details,
visit www.clubmed.com
TAKEOFFS
" United Airlines extended its weekly nonstop service from
Chicago to Montego Bay, Jamaica through Sept. 3. The Saturday
flight, launched in December as a winter-only seasonal service,
generated a high volume of demand, according to an airline
official.
" Deltas new schedule of five weekday flights from Atlanta to St.
Lucia, up from two per week, takes effect April 1.