LAUNCHED IN
1975, The Islands Of The Bahamas People-to-People Program
introduced new initiatives to commemorate the programs 30th
anniversary. These include additional training for volunteers; a
People-to-People In-Home Experience, where visitors can stay with
host families; International People-to-People Ambassadors, where
visitors share details of their visits with their home countries;
and an on-line interactive Web page so that participants can access
information prior to their vacation. Program participants are now
assessed a $35 processing fee to register. Participating tour
operators, ground handlers and retailers earn $10 commission for
each booking. Children 12 and under are free. The People-to-People
program is available on New Providence (Nassau), Grand Bahama
Island, Abaco, Bimini, Eleuthera, Exuma and San Salvador. For
program details, contact program manager Janet Cuffie at (242)
323-1853 or e-mail [email protected]. To access the interactive Web
page, log on to www.bahamas.com and click on the What to Do option at
the top of the page; the selection will lead users to
People-to-People.
LODGEPODGE
* Carlson Hotels
Worldwide will enter the French Caribbean market in late 2006 when
it debuts the Radisson St. Martin Resort and Spa, formerly the
253-room Le Meridien. Radisson also has a property in Aruba, and
the acquisition of the St. Martin resort signals a strategy of
expansion in key Caribbean markets, according to Jay Witzel,
president and CEO.
* Hyatt will enter
the Trinidad market with a 428-room business and convention hotel,
set to open in late 2007 as its fifth Caribbean property. The Hyatt
Regency Trinidad, 30 minutes from Piarco International Airport,
will feature 43,000 square feet of meetings space, three
restaurants, a lobby bar and lounge and a rooftop bar and
grill.
* The Hilton
Trinidad will complete a three-phase renovation by next March,
which will increase its room count from 380 to 419, including 20
suites; expand its executive lounge; upgrade its restaurant
facilities; and refurbish its lobby and lobby bar. The hotel also
will add a business center, PC workstations, boardrooms and a spa
and a fitness center.
THE U.S.
VIRGIN ISLANDS Hotel & Tourism Association and
American Express are collaborating on a new winter promotion, which
includes special rates at participating hotels, a $100 American
Express Gift Card and a $500 Passport to Savings Coupon Booklet.
The booking window runs through Jan. 2 for travel from Jan. 2 thru
Feb. 8. Participating hotels include Best Western Carib Beach,
Bolongo Bay Beach Club, Frenchmans Reef Marriott, Holiday Inn,
Secret Harbour and Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa on St.
Thomas; the Divi Carina Bay Resort & Casino on St. Croix; and
the Westin Resort on St. John. Participating tour operators include
Gogo Worldwide Vacations and select Mark Travel operators (US
Airways Vacations, United Vacations and Funjet). Members of the
small inns program called USVirginns, including Crystal Palace
Hotel and Paradise Properties on St. Thomas, and Caravelle Hotel,
Chenay Bay and Sand Castle on the Beach on St. Croix, are also part
of the promotion and can be booked through Island Resort Tours. For
information on the Hotel & Tourism Association, visit www.virgin-islands-hotels.com.
TAKEOFFS
* Delta will launch the only nonstop service between Atlanta and
Antigua on Dec. 18. The twice-weekly flights will depart Sundays
and Wednesdays.
* Spirit Airlines announced new nonstop daily service from Los
Angeles to Fort Lauderdale Feb. 23 with connections to 11 Caribbean
destinations. Two of those connections from Fort Lauderdale are
starting by the end of the year: Daily service to Montego Bay will
start Nov. 10 (also from Orlando Nov. 17) and daily nonstop service
to St. Thomas will take off Dec. 15.