Atlantis Paradise Island is in the midst of a major relaunch, with the biggest change set to debut on July 16 when the rebranded Coral Towers become The Coral hotel.

The Coral is a transformation of the former Coral Towers, with a new Lobby Lounge including an ice cream parlor and bakery, along with redesigned contemporary rooms and suites.

“We’ve taken a step back to look to the future of Atlantis and truly understand what motivates today’s travelers to choose a destination,” said Howard C. Karawan, President and Managing Director of Atlantis, Paradise Island.

The new lobby.

The rooms come in either King or double queen configurations with a variety of views including terrace, harbor and water, along with bathrooms with new flooring, vanity accents and modern showers and bathtubs.

Designer Jeffrey Beers has created a new poolscape, with private cabanas, family-friendly water activities and a swim-up bar featuring locally-made Bahamian fruit.

A room at The Coral.

Aimed at families, The Coral will also feature a dedicated family trip planner along with a “Coral’s Kids’ Concierge,” who will “assist families with information about the resort’s purposeful activities to connect them to local Bahamian culture and ecology, opportunities to explore the coral reefs and marine environments and to spend time together in pursuit of indelible learning moments.”

The Coral is part of a wider change that will include a transformed Marina Village set to debut this fall.

While the resort has been around for more than two decades, this year Atlantis sought to cultivate a new identity centered around the “authentic” Bahamas, something that will be a major focal point of the new Marina Village, which will feature an authentic fish fry, conch salad shacks and a local brewery.

Atlantis also recently launched Art Walk, a market where every other Saturday where guests can support local artists and sample local products.

The post Atlantis’ Big Relaunch Begins July 16 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Fast-growing Panama-based carrier Copa Holdings has announced an order for 15 new Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft.

The company will be the first airline in Latin America to operate what is the newest addition to Boeing’s MAX portfolio.

“Due to the long-term success we’ve had operating 737 NG we had placed a sizable order of 737 MAX aircraft for our future, and the 737 MAX 10 provides additional flexibility for certain segments of our network,” said Ahmad Zamany, Copa Airlines’ Vice President of Technical Operations.

The MAX 10 will be introduced around 2020, with what Boeing bills as the “highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market.”

Copa provides service to 75 destinations in 31 countries through its operating subsidiaries, including much of the Caribbean.

“We are thrilled that Copa Airlines is one of the launch customers for the 737 MAX 10,” said Van Rex Gallard, vice president, Latin America, Caribbean and Africa Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The 737 MAX 10 will be the most profitable single-aisle airplane, offering the lowest seat costs ever and will help Copa Airlines grow their business and win market share in the competitive single-aisle market.”

— CJ Staff

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There’s a major new resort on the Caribbean coast of Mexico: The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun.

Palace Resorts’ newest project has more than 1,300 guest rooms, nine outdoor swimming pools, an adults-only “unique day club” with a live DJ spinning poolside, five swim-up bars, a beach club, a children’s waterpark, a six-lane bowling alley and more than 80,000 square feet of meeting and events spaces.

The property also has 10 new restaurants, ranging from the Asian “Jade” to a steakhouse called “JC.”

A swim-up room.

Wellness is also a focus, thanks to a new 76,876-square-foot “Awe-Spa” containing a whopping 60 spa suites, along with a hydrotherapy circuit, plunge pools, steam and sauna rooms and more.

The resort, which is located within the brand’s signature Moon Palace Cancun, was envisioned by Palace Resorts’ exclusive designer, Francois Frossard, aiming for a “new standard in “luxury all inclusive” accommodations.

“The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun is without a doubt our most unbelievable project yet,” said Gibran Chapur, executive vice president of Palace Resorts. “Palace Resorts envisioned a property that would truly take luxury, convenience, and entertainment and upscale culinary dining and combine it to surpass any traditional, luxury all-inclusive around.”

The on-site bowling alley.

Prices start at $295 per person per night, according to the company.

Palace has 10 all inclusive resorts in the Caribbean.

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The Sandals Foundation is partnering with CLEAR Caribbean in an effort to establish two coral nurseries aimed at restoring lost coral coverage in St. Lucia, as well as providing a habitat for marine life inside the Soufriere Marine Managed Area.

Corals and coral reefs play in protecting coastlines from the damaging effects of waves and tropical storms and as a means of shelter for marine organisms.

“We are delighted that Sandals Foundation is supporting this coral restoration project in St. Lucia,” said Dr. Owen Day, Executive Director of CLEAR Caribbean. “Coral restoration is a proven strategy to help propagate and replant corals that have greater resilience to diseases and the impacts of climate change.”

“We all depend upon the Marine environment, especially the Islands in the Caribbean like St. Lucia,” said Jonathan Hernould, Sandals Foundation’s Environmental Officer. “Coral Reefs are an essential part of the Marine ecosystem and without them we would have no fishing industry and our tourism industry would suffer greatly. With the help of CLEAR Caribbean and this coral restoration programme we are helping to restore the coral reefs in St. Lucia that so many people depend upon.”

The fishing industry is one of the major economic contributors in Caribbean countries and is heavily dependent on coral reefs.

With this motivating factor, the Foundation has undertaken a self-imposed mandate of coral conservation through partnerships across the Caribbean.

The project is a partnership between the Government of St Lucia, the Diving Association, the Soufriere Marine Management Association, the Soufriere Fisherman’s Cooperative and CLEAR Caribbean Ltd.

Sandals Foundation has assisted the establishment of five coral nurseries in the islands of Jamaica and St. Lucia, and stated its commitment to bringing public awareness to the harmful effects of environmental negligence while promoting proactive methods for individuals organizations alike.

The post A New Boost for Coral in St. Lucia appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Sandals has officially launched its new resort project in St. Lucia.

The company held a launch event this weekend for the new Sandals LaSource Saint Lucia, which will be the fourth Sandals Resorts International property on the island.

The more than 330-suite resort gets its name from Sandals’ LaSource Grenada property, representing an expansion for the LaSource sub-brand, one of the company’s most innovative resorts.

It will include over-the-water bungalows, along with Sandals’ Skypool, Rondoval and swim-up suites.

Sandals LaSource Saint Lucia will be located along Pigeon Island Beach, adjacent to Sandals Grande Saint Lucian.

The resort, which will break ground later this year, will introduce new culinary concepts including the American-inspired “Tavern,” Greek restaurant “Eros” and a noodle shop, among 10 total restaurants.

Guests will have access to the three other Sandals resorts on the island.

Crucially, Sandals LaSource Saint Lucia will be the first Sandals property to have continuous winding river pools surrounding every room block, all with unobstructed access to the main pool.

SRI Chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart at the launch event.

“We continue to be the innovation leader and the designs we reveal are proof of that,” said Gordon “Butch” Stewart, founder and chairman of Sandals Resorts International.

The resort will also have a rooftop infinity-edge sky pool, along with two additional pools including a 9,000-square-foot, curved-glass-fronted infinity pool with a swim-up bar and an adjacent fire pit lounge area.

Other additions include an entertainment facility with a four-lane bowling alley, game room, living room and bar.

Stewart led the ceremony, joined by St. Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness and St. Lucia Tourism Minister Dominica Fedee.

It’s the latest in a wave of activity for the company in St. Lucia, where it recently debuted new overwater bungalows and purchased the island’s only 18-hole golf course, the Saint Lucia Golf Club.

The latter is being renamed the Sandals St. Lucia Golf & Country Club at Cap Estate.

That’s as the company plans another new resort, Sandals Royal Barbados, slated to open later this year.

“Saint Lucia has been and continues to be an excellent destination for Sandals offering our guests beauty, tremendous facilities and attractions and truly friendly people. We are thrilled to continue our long tradition of investment here, adding even more reasons for holidaymakers to visit Saint Lucia,” Stewart said.

— CJ

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