Appleton has begun a major expansion of its Appleton Rum Estate Tour Complex in Jamaica.

The $7.7 million USD project is slated to begin in January and will add 25,000 square feet to the existing facility.

The main building will be a welcome center with a theater, a luxury bar, a five-star restaurant and other amenities.

The project is slated for completion in time for the 2017/2018 winter tourist season.

“This is a very critical area where quality investment is needed. When you look at the fact that some 39 million United States (US) leisure travellers choose a destination based on the availability of culinary activities, while another 35 million seek out culinary activities after a destination is decided upon, (it) only goes to show the kind of potential we are talking about,” said Jamaica Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett.

— Caribbean Journal Staff

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After showing positive signs in September, Caribbean hotel occupancy declined again in October, according to the latest report from hotel analytics firm STR.

The Caribbean’s hotel occupancy fell 2.5 percent to 54.7 percent in October, down from the same month in 2015.

Average daily rates fell 3.1 percent to $147.45, while revenue per available room fell 5.5 percent to $80.71 in October.

For the year, hotel occupancy is now down 2 percent to 67.1 percent, with average daily rates down a slight 0.2 percent to $198.62 and RevPar down 2.1 percent to $133.31.

STR’s data surveyed 1,903 hotels comprising 238,902 hotel rooms in the wider Caribbean region.

— Caribbean Journal Staff

The post Caribbean Hotel Occupancy Continues to Slide appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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With 33 pristine white-sand beaches, Anguilla is a beach lover’s delight. But unless you get way more vacation time than we do, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to hit them all in one trip. Which is why we’ve come up with this list of the top 10 strands on Anguilla. If you’re there for a week you’ll have to squeeze in two on some days but hey, there are worse problems to have! CJ Travel Editor Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon has the story on the Best Beaches in Anguilla.

Rendezvous Bay With calm water, soft sand, and panoramic views of St. Maarten in the distance, what’s not to love about this stunner on the southwest coast? Book a room at CuisinArt Resort & Spa and call it your own.

The post The 10 Best Beaches in Anguilla appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Just like you, we’ve been eager to see the new overwater bungalows at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Jamaica. And we recently checked into one of five oases just offshore from the Montego Bay resort for a preview.

And we’re impressed. Each of the 1,200-square-foot, one-bedroom “villas,” (which will welcome guests next month) has its own infinity pool and over-water hammock; a freestanding bathtub and private deck with steps down to the sea.

There are two viewing windows in the floor (one in the bedroom, one on the deck), and private butler service is included in the rate.

A dozen 900-square-foot overwater rooms, scheduled to be complete next spring, are already in hot demand.

See more in the latest CJ video at the top.

— Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, CJ Travel Editor. 

The post VIDEO: Touring the New Sandals Overwater Bungalows in Jamaica appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Turks and Caicos-based InterCaribbean Airways is significantly expanding its service to Tortola.

The carrier will be launching two daily flights between San Juan and Tortola’s Beef Island International Airport beginning Dec. 19.

Four days per week, the carrier will operate triple flight service, for a total of 18 flights each week.

Long Bay in Tortola.

“Since we first began service into the San Juan [market] to Tortola we have seen a steady increase in the demand for our flights,” said Trevor Sadler, chief executive officer of InterCaribbean. “We are pleased to respond to this demand with significant increase in flights between two favorite islands and in addition to new daily flights from Tortola to Antigua.”

InterCaribbean is operating the service on EMB 120 aircraft, the fastest turbo prop aircraft in its class.

“The BVI Tourist Board is pleased that interCaribbean Airways is demonstrating its commitment to bring convenient air transportation to the region and applauds the airline’s recent decision to increase service to the BVI,” said Sharon Flax-Brutus, director of tourism for the British Virgin Islands. “The increase in service between the BVI and Antigua and the BVI and San Juan is welcome news as it will help address the challenge of airlift and accessibility to the destination.”

— Caribbean Journal Staff

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