By the Caribbean Journal staff

Global hotel giant AccorHotels is acquiring a 50 percent stake in sbe, the company behind hotel brands like SLS.

The two sides have signed a letter of intent and entered into exclusive negotiations for AccorHotels to acquire a 50 percent stake in sbe, part of the company’s wider expansion plans.

Sbe, whose global hotel portfolio most notably includes the SLS and Mondrian brands, will continue to be led by founder and CEO Sam Nazarian, based in New York.

“This partnership with AccorHotels marks a new milestone in sbe’s history,” Nazarian said. “The long-term investment by AccorHotels provides sbe, its customers and hotel owners with greater depth and breadth around the world and supports our collective ambition to be the best lifestyle hospitality company in the market.”

Sbe most recently debuted its new SLS Baha Mar in Nassau, part of a continuously expanding regional portfolio.

It is also planning a new SLS-branded property in Cancun, while a new Mondrian is coming to Playa del Carmen.

“I am delighted to announce this strategic partnership with one of the most innovative Groups in the luxury lifestyle space worldwide,” said Sébastien Bazin, Chairman & CEO, AccorHotels . “It marks a new step in expanding AccorHotels’ footprint in this fast growing segment in key US cities such as Miami, Los Angeles or Las Vegas, and in other international destinations. “The new luxury” is all about exclusive experiences and incredible lifestyle concepts and sbe brands have the perfect know-how that will complete perfectly the AccorHotels portfolio. We remain committed to providing all our guests with unparalleled service and always renewed experiences around the world.”

— CJ

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By Guy Britton

LONG ISLAND — “We call it hailing,” Janice tells me at the Greenwich Creek Lodge.

Everyone waves here. Every car that passes by you waves — every time.

Not just occasionally — all of the time.

But when you drive for miles and miles and don’t see another car, it begins to make sense.

After a few days, hailing becomes a habit.

The Greenwich Creek Lodge.

That’s beacuse, well, the population of Clarance Town was recorded in the 2010 Bahamian census as just 86.

Yet Clarence Town, set on Long Island in the Out Islands of The Bahamas, is the capital and veritable hub of this 80-mile-long island.

There is a beautiful, fully-stocked new marina, town docks and several great places to eat.

And while there are a few restaurants in Clarence Town, the Lighthouse Point overlooking the Flying Fish Marina offers some of the best food we’ve found anywhere in the Bahamas.

The sport fishing here is world-class, too, with Acklins, Crooked Island and The Diana Banks within running distance of the marina.

Clarence Town is also home to two iconic churches, both built by Monsignor John Cyril Hawes, commonly known as Father Jerome of Cat Island and the Hermitage.

Just outside of Clarence Town is Dean’s Blue Hole, the world’s deepest saltwater blue hole at 663 feet deep (it’s the second-deepest blue hole on earth).

Dean’s Blue Hole is also the site of an international annual free diving competition and a destination for thrill seekers and adventurers. (Origin ECN Vertical Blue International Free Diving Competition is July 16-26 in Dean’s Blue Hole)

While the island teems with beaches and blue holes, there’s more to this island than just its sheer natural beauty.

Lochabar Beach.

When you’re not exploring, head to the Harbor Breeze Villas, where you’ll find an enclave of civility and relaxation just a few minutes from Clarence Town.

The Harbor Breeze Villas.

The property is a village of 15 well-appointed villas surrounded by nature and steps from one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Caribbean, Lochabar Beach

The beach is sugar white sand, nearly a mile long and borders — you guessed it — a blue hole.

For more, check out the Harbor Breeze Villas.

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… housing for nearly 1,700 Puerto Rican hurricane evacuees, saying ending the … lawsuit seeking relief for the Puerto Ricans, whose federal housing assistance vouchers … uninhabitable by the hurricane in Puerto Rico,” he wrote.
Eight plaintiffs filed …

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By Dana Niland and Alexander Britell

The  Cyril E. King Airport in St Thomas will soon begin a major transformation project.

The plan, revealed by the Virgin Islands Port Authority this week, is estimated to cost around $230 million.

The existing airport.

“We’re living in a world now where security regulations have altered how you run your operations and also have a customer base that’s evolved over time, with increasingly higher expectations,” Schnetzer said. “Airpots are competing with each other. Communities and cities are competin gwith each other for business, for tourism. We’re trying to accomplish a number of things at one time – we’re repairing damage that was done to the facilities last year, taking a look at the functionality of the building, and what sort of an image does this facility have for people as they arrive and as they leave.”

The vision for the project includes new jet bridges, parking garages and restaurant expansions, along with a connected ferry terminal that would expedite maritime travel for travelers after exiting the terminal (something that could be a boost for both St John and St Croix and for the nearby British Virgin Islands).

Retail areas will get a major upgrade.

The designs for the ferry terminal include a pedestrian bridge that would allow arriving passengers to walk toward the nearby Lindbergh Bay Hotel and Villas over traffic to the newly-built terminal.

The wider expansion will include an upgraded airline ticketing area, concessions, restrooms, baggage screening, baggage claim and, perhaps most importantly, enclosed loading bridges.

The first phase of the expansion project will include a second level with views of the surrounding area, along with new retail and duty free offerings and a new roof.

The project began several years ago with a master plan process, according to Tom Schnetzer, head of long term projections for the Cyril King airport.

The existing terminal was built 30 years ago when airports functioned differently, Schnetzer said.

“That can be a powerful thing,” he said.

Perez & Perez is the architectural team behind the project, which has designed a number of major aviation projects, including Concourse H at Miami International Airport.

The repairs will not detract from repair and recovery efforts, however, officials cautioned.

“We will continue doing repairs to all of our facilities in relation to the hurricane damage, but in the mindset we want to do for today that which can be useful for tomorrow,” said US Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth Mapp.

The initial design plans were revealed during a presentation at the University of the Virgin Islands this week.

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

The Guyana Tourism Authority says it has been laying the groundwork to support a push to promote community tourism in Guyana.

The agency’s director, Brian Mullis, highlighted several primary objectives, including raising the profile of the organization, undertaking a needs assessment and conducting training sessions in the regions, as well as drafting a community-led tourism framework.

“The leading authorities in tourism say that nature and travel tourism represent 20 to 25 percent of the world tourism market, and that is our market,” Mullis said.

He said that the GTA has been working closely with indigenous communities to restructure and develop plans to further promote tourism in communities across the regions.

An initiative between Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and the Ministry of Business has seen several hinterland communities benefiting from major supports in an effort to develop eco-tourism.

This is part of what the government says is a plan to promote economic growth and community development through the creation of nature-based and community-based eco-tourism businesses in indigenous communities.

The government also said it had allocated funding this year to build eco-tourism lodges, benabs, nature trails, and to provide training of tour guides, customer service, and hospitality in several areas across the country.

That’s a natural progression, given that the vast majority of leisure visitors to the country are doing so for its vast eco-tourism offerings, most notably lodges like the Surama Eco Lodge and the country’s famous Kaietur Falls.

—CJ

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