CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO met with a delegation
of U.S. travel industry officials---and one Travel Weekly
reporter---for more than two hours last Sunday at the conclusion of
a one-day visit to explore tourism and business possibilities on
the island. The group was fully hosted by Havanatur, Cuba's leading
travel service; the visitors did not spend a dime during the
14-hour visit. The travel ban prohibits U.S. citizens from spending
dollars in Cuba. Although Castro did not comment directly on the
Bush administration's opposition to loosening travel restrictions
for Americans or the campaign to crack down on illegal travel to
the island, Castro told the group "we are very appreciative of what
you are doing," referring to lobbying efforts in Washington to end
U.S. restrictions on Cuba travel. The Cuban leader also joked that
if the restrictions are lifted, "so many Americans will come that
we would have to find a place to move."
CASTRO cited a 14.8% increase in arrivals to
1.3 million visitors from January through August as evidence of the
island's growing attraction as a tourist destination. "Our interest
is not to build high buildings or a lot of buildings like Cancun,"
he said. "What matters is that we preserve the beauty of the area
and offer quality services and well-educated tourism workers." The
visit to Cuba was part of the first U.S.-Cuba travel conference in
Cancun, sponsored by the Assn. of Travel Related Industry
Professionals, based in Washington.
THE CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION delayed any
decision at the recent 26th annual Caribbean Tourism Conference in
St. Thomas on its call for a $20 per person cruise tax. CTO
officials said they will seek feedback from the cruise industry
before voting on the issue. CTO chairman Obie Wilchcombe said
discussion of the tax had only been informal and that CTO "is very
flexible about how high the tax would be if approved. We don't want
to hurt the industry. All of us realize the cruise industry is
vital to our growth and development. It could be $100. It could be
$10. It could be nothing." No date has been set for further
discussions, although Wilchcombe indicated they could take place
before the end of the year or in early 2004.
ALSO FROM THE CTC came the news that Wilchcombe
and Caribbean Hotel Assn. president Simon Suarez buried their
differences and resolved that "our organizations should have a
meaningful relationship working together to move Caribbean tourism
to the level that we want it to attain," Wilchcombe said. His
comments referred to a letter sent earlier last week by Suarez to
the CTO, calling for the resignation of CTO's secretary general
Jean Holder. Wilchcombe said that when "it is time to retire, he
[Holder] will do so with dignity and in the true character of a
Caribbean statesman."
LODGEPODGE
• Hilton Caribbean broke ground on the 353-room Hilton Barbados in
Bridgetown, Barbados--its 14th hotel on its ninth Caribbean island.
The property, which is expected to open in fourth-quarter 2004, is
on the site of the original Barbados Hilton, demolished to
construct the $90 million complex.
• Also in Barbados, the 72-room Fairmont Royal Pavilion reopens
this month, following a five-month refurbishment, representing an
investment of $150,000 per room.
• Rosewood Hotels' Little Dix Bay resort on Virgin Gorda, British
Virgin Islands, now offers a 12-minute air shuttle service between
St. Thomas and Virgin Gorda, priced at $100 per person one way. The
air taxi operates daily except Tuesdays and Wednesdays and can be
booked through the resort. For details, visit www.rosewoodhotels.com.
• Kudos to Cap Juluca, Anguilla, voted the best resort in the
Caribbean in Conde Nast Traveler's 2003 Readers Choice Awards,
published in the November issue.
• St. James's Club, Morgan Bay on St. Lucia, added an adults-only
swimming pool, a steakhouse restaurant and a Kids Klub for guests
up to 12 years old. Inclusive rates through Dec. 21 start at $390
per day, double. To book, call (800) 345-0356.
• Allen Chastanet, native St. Lucian and former Air Jamaica
vp-marketing and sales, opened his 20-room Coco Kreole in Rodney
Bay, St. Lucia, with high-season rates from $80 per person, per
night, including continental breakfast. Chastanet described the
boutique hotel as a combination of South Beach style, European chic
"and a lot of Caribbean color and warmth." For details, call (758)
452-0712 or visit www.cocokreole.com.
• On the rooftop bar/lounge, Wet, at the Water Club in San Juan,
the beachfront enterprise replaced chaise-lounge recliners with
white-leather beds that are seven feet wide and up to 30 feet long.
Overhanging umbrellas, pull-up tray tables and lots of white
pillows complete the scene. Owner/managing director David Kurland
described the beds as "amazing. Strangers don't remain strange
bedfellows very long." For details, visit www.waterclub.com.
CONGRATULATIONS to the winners--announced at
CTC-26 in St. Thomas--of the 11th annual Conde Nast Traveler Essay
contest. This year's theme, which drew more than 1,000 entries,
was: "Considering the current state of the world, describe how
traveling to your country can help build a bridge to peace." The
first-place winner, who will receive a $2,000 scholarship, was
Karice Redhead from Trinidad & Tobago. Her essay will appear in
the magazine's November issue. Runners up, who won $500 each, were
Gessica Yearwood from the British Virgin Islands and Vikash
Rampersand from Guyana.