Jamaica is looking to reposition its historic town of Falmouth, a town that is coming to its own as a full-fledged travel destination.

Jamaican tourism officials say they’ll be marketing the capital of the Trelawny parish “in its own unique way.”

Falmouth is often packaged as part of the tourism offerings of greater Montego Bay, something officials say they want to change. 

“Falmouth currently lacks what you would call identity branding,” said Jennifer Griffith, permanent secretary in Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism. “The hotels and attractions that are in Falmouth are marketed or are perceived to be in Montego Bay, while those that are closer to St. Ann are being identified with the resort town of Ocho Rios. Now that is about to change.”

Falmouth, which is filled with Georgian architecture and centuries-old buildings, is also home to several of Jamaica’s most popular attractions, from Chukka Good Hope to rafting on the Martha Brae river to the Hampden Estate rum experience. 

The town “has been transformed into a first choice destination,” Griffith said, pointing to new hotel projects like the recently-debuted Excellence Oyster Bay and the Royalton properties in the area.  

“Falmouth has truly turned the corner where it now deserves its own branding and where it can finally free itself from the shackles of its more celebrated neighbors,” she said. 

— CJ

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Luxury resort brand Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts is coming to The Bahamas. 

The Singapore-based company is partnering with Island Developers on the new Banyan Tree illa Bahamas on the island of Bimini. 

The new project, designed by renowned architect Chad Oppenheim, will be the first-ever resort in The Bahamas to feature overwater bungalows. 

The property will consist of 50 keys and 54 luxury residences. 

All of the hotel suites will come with private terraces and plunge pools, with hotel amenities including a signature Banyan Tree Spa and a series of curated events like music series and oceanside meditation gatherings. 

It’s another major project for Bimini, which will soon see the debut of the Beach Club at Bimini, a project developed in partnership with Virgin Voyages. 

Illa Bimini was first announced last year.

“illa Bimini represents a vision to bring the highest level of luxury and service to The Bahamas while being environmentally sensitive in our approach. We are ecstatic to align ourselves with a brand that shares that vision in Banyan Tree,” said Alejandro Capo, Principal of illa Bimini.

The project will be the first-ever Banyan Tree-branded hotel in the wider Caribbean. 

The company does operate several hotels in Cuba under other brands. 

“With this signing, we are proud to bring our founding brand of Banyan Tree to the beautiful island of Bimini,” said aid Peter Hechler, Head of Regional Operations MENA, Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts. “As our first luxury resort in the Bahamas, Banyan Tree illa Bahamas will showcase the best of our brand’s ethos of creating a sanctuary for the senese, while deeply connecting with the environment and local culture. This also represents our Group’s continued strategic intent to expand into the Americas, a part of the world we have a great affinity for.”

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One of the Caribbean’s greatest regattas is back again in the British Virgin Islands for 2020.

Next month, some 800 sailors and crew from around the world will descend on Tortola for the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival.

This year, the festival will be held from March 30 – April 5.

“The BVI is the mecca for sailing for three very important reasons,” said Bob Phillips, chairman of the regatta. “With its 64 islands and rocks, you never run out of interesting and challenging places to sail. We have protected water in the Sir Francis Drake Channel where most of the racing is done, so even when trade winds are blowing their normal 15, 18, and 20 knots, you still have comfortable conditions for most sailors with the opportunity for ocean-like conditions if desired.”

With all the choices that the BVI has with natural lay marks and islands, the Race Committee has multiple course possibilities to tap into, to mix up the racing each race day. 

Race officers initiate the design of courses on the water to match the tactical conditions, especially in shifting weather so that racing is always challenging.

“Not only is the racing superb, but for those who want to combine a race holiday with cruising before or after, our islands are unbelievably lush with anchorages every 20 minutes – it’s just a comfortable, beautiful place to sail,” Phillips said.

About 60 percent of the BVI Spring Regatta fleet comprises sailors who return year after year, excited for the racing conditions and the opportunity to meet new people as well as reunite with sailing friends.

Jeremy Jablonksi, owner/skipper of the Hanse Avanti, has participated in Spring Regatta annually for many years. 

He won his class last year by just one point over longtime racing friends on the GS52 Cachondo, owned/skippered by Jose Teixidor. 

“Racing against Cachondo last year was an amazing play of minds and sail trim, which was fantastic – the Regatta is always challenging and fun for us,” Jablonski said.

Most of Pamala Baldwin’s young career racing crew have returned to sail with her this season on her boat Liquid, a J122.

Baldwin is a long-time regular on the Caribbean race circuit and prides herself on providing a steppingstone for young sailors to professional racing.

“Team Liquid are looking forward to the challenging conditions that BVI Spring Regatta delivers every year,” said Liquid’s skipper, Jules White. “It always attracts a competitive fleet for us and the variety of courses throughout the week gives every boat a chance to play their hand. It’s always a favorite for us and a pleasure to race in such beautiful waters.”

Local BVI sailors will be engaging in their own “backyard” racing as well.

Mark Sanders from Tortola will be racing his Corsair 31 Island Hops in which he handily won the Sport Multihull class last year with an 8-point lead.

“I have always enjoyed the BVI Spring Regatta from both a social perspective but more so the actual racing element itself,” Sanders said. “The competition is fierce, with many talented racers from all over participating. Last year’s Round the Island race gave us record breaking conditions of SE 18-24kts, it was a day to remember.” 

“We took Island Hops in over 20 knots for the first time, under jib and main alone, then rounded the eastern point of Scrub, launched our rather large Code, and took off like a robber’s dog,” he said. “Island Hops was one of only five boats out of 55 to complete the rounding, which we did in under 3 hours – about the same as the Volvo 70, but on a slightly smaller budget!”

Racing in the competitive sports multihull fleet and knowing local conditions intimately, Joe San Martin, from St. Croix says the BVI Spring Regatta offers “the perfect racing environment.”

He has raced the event 17 times on Piglet, his 23′ Newick trimaran, the first of the small trimarans to enter the Regatta almost 20 years ago. 

Since then, local BVI sailors have embraced sports trimarans with some 8 boats expected to compete this year.

“We absolutely love the venue and everything in Nanny Cay,” San Martin said. “The Nanny Cay staff are committed and involved in the event – there is no better in the Caribbean.”

For more, visit the BVI Spring Regatta.

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In a tremendously important step for Grand Bahama’s post-Dorian recovery, American Airlines has officially resumed its flights to the island. 

American has relaunched daily nonstop flights between Miami and Freeport, Grand Bahama. 

“American has proudly served the Bahamas for more than 30 years and we are thrilled to be able to once again connect Freeport and Marsh Harbour to the world,” said Richard Elieson, American’s Vice President of International Operations and President of Cargo. “Air connectivity is critical to ongoing recovery efforts.” 

The move comes just about two months after Bahamian national carrier Bahamasair relaunched the first regularly scheduled flights to the island since Dorian. 

“This much needed service will go a long way towards facilitating the recovery of our destination and the return of visitors to Grand Bahama Island,” said Ian Rolle, Acting Chairman of the Grand Bahama Island Tourist Board. “This represents a major milestone in our recovery efforts, and augurs well for the future of our industry.”  

Grand Bahama has quietly been experiencing a tourism recovery. 

Many of its hotel have already reopened, including the popular Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach all-inclusive and Old Bahama Bay Resort, along with properties like the Ocean Reef Resort, the Pelican Bay Hotel, the Royal Islander, the Castaway Resort and Suites, the Bell Channel Inn and the Sunrise Resort and Suites, among others. 

Another hotel property, the Flamingo Bay Resort and Marina, is slated to open this quarter, while the Bootle Bay Fishing Lodge will relaunch for its season in May. 

The island’s crucial cruise sector has also recovered, with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and Carnival already having returned to the destination. 

Grand Bahama’s renaissance comes as Abaco, the other Bahamas destination hit hard by Hurricane Dorian, has also quietly begun to rebound. 

Indeed, South Abaco, home to the renowned Abaco Club on Winding Bay and the Sandpiper Inn, is back and open for business. 

— CJ

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