By Alexander Britell

It’s one of the most sought-after corners of the Caribbean — that famous triangle of Caribbean hotspots: St Maarten, St Barth and Anguilla.

And just two years after Hurricane Irma, the trio of destinations is in the midst of a significant tourism renaissance, in large part due to its hub: St Maarten.

St Maarten has been leading the way, posting tremendous tourism growth of more than 100 percent in the last year, an essential comeback for the wider area thanks to St Maarten’s crucial role as a regional transit hub — centered on its Princess Juliana International Airport.

St Maarten’s numbers represent what is easily the fastest growth rate in the wider Caribbean region, a strong statement even in a year when a number of destinations are posting solid rates of arrival growth. (The resurgence has been accompanied by a similar comeback on the cruise side).

The El Zafiro resort in St Maarten.

Visitors are finding a new energy in St Maarten, from new beach bars like the world-class Roxxy in Simpson Bay to Sonesta’s marvelously restored Maho and Ocean Point resorts, relaunched favorites like the Oyster Bay Beach Resort — and even new hotels on the way like The Morgan, which is targeting an opening date at the end of this year.

And it’s a comeback that has now been spilling over to its neighbors, including Anguilla.

Indeed, St Maarten is the chief port of entry for visitors to Anguilla, which is almost exclusively reached by public ferry or charter boat from St Maarten (although Caribbean luxury carrier Tradewind Aviation offers service from San Juan to Anguilla as well)

Tradewind’s Caribbean network includes Anguilla with a focus on the peak tourist season.

Anguilla’s tourist board this week reported a total of 55,916 stayover visitor arrivals from January through June, which represented a 16.75 percent over the same period before Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Going further back, this year’s totals represent a 26.03 percent increase over the same period in 2016.

“We are delighted to see the results of the intense work we have put into the marketing and promotion of Anguilla,” said Anguilla’s Tourism Secretary, Cardigan Connor. “We are grateful for the combined efforts of both our public and private sector partners, in producing the desired results. With events such as our recent Summer Festival, and the upcoming Anguilla Cup, we are confident that we will continue to attract and grow the number of visitors to our wonderful island.”

The Nevaeh villa in Anguilla.

In a statement, officials told Caribbean Journal that the increase meant Anguilla was “well on its way to achieve its goal of a 20 percent increase in stayover arrivals for the fiscal year 2019.”

The resurgence has come from Anguilla’s robust hotel sector, led by properties like the Four Seasons Anguilla and Cap Juluca (the latter of which reopened at the beginning of this year), and its from historically strong (and growing) villa sector, home to one of the Caribbean’s most impressive collections of ultra-luxe villas like the popular Nevaeh and a longtime visitor favorite, Tequila Sunrise.

Anguilla will soon be home to another new hotel, the boutique Tranquility Beach resort, set to debut for the festive season in December.

But it all comes back to St Maarten, whose resurgence has been crucial for much of the wider region, including smaller destinations like Statia and Saba as well.

For more, visit St Maarten.

— CJ

The post St Maarten Is Leading a Caribbean Tourism Comeback appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Turks and Caicos’ Wymara Resort has named a new director of sales and marketing, the property announced this week.

The Providenciales resort has tapped industry veteran Jorge Collazo for the role, who previously worked at the resort from 2012-2014.

“I am thrilled to return to Turks and Caicos.  The transformation that is underway at Wymara Resort and Villas will have the travel industry abuzz,” Collazo said in a statement.

Collazo comes to the Wymara after having served most recently on the opening team at the Silversands hotel in Grenada.

“Jorge brings more than a decade of experience to us at Wymara, not least of which includes previous time working in the Turks & Caicos,” said Rolf Lippuner, general manager of the resort. “Jorge’s strengths are not simply found is his ability to sell and market, but his experience has also seen a number of years in hotel operations with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts as a Night Manager, Director of Housekeeping and Director of Revenue. All told, he is incredibly experienced and well-rounded and will help take us to the next level.”

— CJ

The post Turks and Caicos’ Wymara Names New Marketing Director appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Alexander Britell

While San Juan has long been Puerto Rico’s undisputed tourism hub, the island’s efforts to ramp up tourism development have meant a look at new destinations for growth.

That’s what has taken developers to Ponce, the second-most-populous city beyond San Juan, which is now home to what is arguably the most exciting new development concept in all of Puerto Rico.

It’s called Ponce Paradise, and the new “megaproject” design aims to create a “world-class medical and tourism destination,” according to AG&T, a development advisory firm which has been tapped along with Douglas Elliman’s Oceanfront International Group to lead sales and marketing for the project.

The concept, designed by Michael Winstanley Architects and Land Design, will be a full-fledged destination within Ponce.

That will include a “town center,” a marina, a university medical center, a “wellness community,” an agricultural farm-to-table component, a large hotel and a “wellness community,” among other features.

The project will be located a short distance from Ponce’s Mercadita International Airport, east of the Rafael Cordero Santiago Port of the Americas.

The “destination” project’s features will range from a hotel to a university medical center.

In all, the destination would total 900 acres and could mean as much as $1 billion in total investment, according to some estimates.

“Ponce Paradise is undoubtedly a grand and lofty vision that will necessitate the input from community, government, and other key stakeholders alike. We understand this is a long process but one that together can lead to the creation of a once in a lifetime iconic development,” AGT’s Adam Greenfader told Caribbean Journal.

According to AGT, the “eco-friendly” project would leave 60 percent of the site intact, with a “sustainable” design that would work to “help maximize Ponce’s already-existing 21st-century infrastructure airport, port and convention center.”

The project will also include a marina.

The move would create new energy for what is effectively Puerto Rico’s second city, a cultural, artistic and historic hub that has long been in the shadow of the capital, which is about an hour away by car.

The Museo de Arte de Ponce.

The new megaproject would complement a small but robust tourism offering, one that includes the Melia Century Hotel, the oldest hotel in Puerto Rico, the home of Puerto Rico’s most popular rum, Don Q, and a the Art Museum of Ponce, often billed as the largest art museum in all of the Caribbean.

The Melia Century is the oldest hotel in Puerto Rico, built in 1915.

While the concept is very much in its early stages, Ponce Paradise has the potential to become a game-changing project for a Caribbean destination that is very much in need of a few of them.

“The potential of Ponce Paradise is one that cherishes the past, respects the present, and paves the way for a new future,” Greenfader said. “Together we have created some initial development concepts for a world class medical and tourism destination. Ponce Paradise is undoubtedly a grand and lofty vision that will necessitate the input from community, government, and other key stakeholders alike. We understand this is a long process but one that together can lead to the creation of a once in a lifetime iconic development.”

— CJ

The post Ponce Could Be Puerto Rico’s Next Big Destination appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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