Saint Lucia Poised for a Strong 2011
Saint Lucia Poised for a Strong 2011
With 2011 arrivals for April showing a 12.4% increase over April 2010, the Saint Lucia Tourist Board announces major on-island developments including multi-million dollar hotel openings and renovations, new visitor attractions, and increased airlift from American Eagle, providing added accessibility for a number of markets serviced by American Airlines.
Senator Allen Chastanet, Saint Lucia’s Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, and the Saint Lucia Tourist Board’s Director of Tourism, Louis Lewis, will be in attendance for Caribbean Week in New York in early June.
“We are thrilled to share our islands impressive new developments with the Caribbean Week audience,” said Louis Lewis. “We are looking forward to showcasing our continued commitment to further enhance the destination by providing straightforward trip planning tools, increased airlift accessibility, as well as highlighting the destination’s unique new opportunities from visiting a chocolate factory to night snorkeling under the Pitons.”
Among the key hotel developments on-island is the opening of the new Hotel Chocolat in early 2011. This boutique hotel is set in The Rabot Estate, a working cocoa estate. The property features 14 luxury Cocoa Cottages, a Pool Clubhouse, Massage Pavilion and beach access among other amenities.
The British-owned operator plans to break ground on a new Chocolate Factory to be located next door to Hotel Chocolat. By growing its own cocoa, Hotel Chocolat will be considered one of the world’s few origin chocolatiers. Currently with its Engaged Ethics Cocoa Program, Hotel Chocolat is revitalizing the cocoa industry on Saint Lucia by offering high quality seedlings, technical assistance, advice and purchasing crops from local farmers.
The Jalousie Plantation is undergoing a US$100 million enhancement and will be re-branded and re-launched as The Tides, Sugar Beach in 2012. So far, the physical transformation includes the construction of new luxury villas and a brand-new destination-spa, and the gut renovation of its Luxury Sugar Mill Rooms.
The Jalousie Plantation is the only resort on the island to offer the incredible experience of night snorkeling with an up close and personal look at all of the nocturnal underwater wonders of Anse des Pitons and Jalousie Plantation’s National Marine Reserve.
On April 1, 2011, Smugglers Cove Resort & Spa opened a new Samsarati Spa, named after the Sanskrit word meaning “flow of energy.” World renowned O Spa London runs the spa, which has been designed to provide a journey of rejuvenation and relaxation, using ingredients sourced from organic, sustainably harvested crops.
Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa recently added two new restaurants and upgraded its spa. Calabash is the resort’s new Caribbean specialty restaurant and Capri offers an array of Italian and seafood menu items. The newly renovated waterfront Kai Mer Spa has been refurbished with three new beachfront spa cabanas and a relaxation patio.
The new 30,000 square foot Treasure Bay Casino opened in December at the new Bay Walk Mall in Rodney Bay Village in Gros Islet, approximately 10 miles north of Castries, Saint Lucia’s capital. The casino, the first on the island, features 250 slot machines and 22 game tables.
Saint Lucia continues to enjoy the most awards as the World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination. Voted by travel professionals worldwide, the World Travel Awards has presented Saint Lucia with the “World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination” award eight times since 2002.
