Tourism to Bonaire continues to sizzle, according to new data from Tourism Corporation Bonaire.
The island welcomed 111,000 air arrivals in 2021, which represented a 70 percent recovery of the destination’s pre-pandemic numbers.
But that was buoyed by even stronger numbers over the last two quarters.
Indeed, since July 21 there has not been a “slow season,” according to Veroesjka de Windt, CEO of BONHATA.
The Delfins Beach Resort in Bonaire.
In the first quarter of 2022, the island saw average hotel occupancy of 72 percent.
That’s been accompanied by what Onno de Jong, COO of Bonaire International Airport, has called “significant growth in the number of passengers” in the second half of last year.
The popular Cactus Blue food truck in Bonaire.
Now the aim is to reach 100 percent tourism recovery by the end of 2022, according to Miles Mercera, CEO of TCB.
The positive news comes ahead of the island’s first major event in years, the highly anticipated Bonaire Rum Week in June.
The world’s greatest rums. The Caribbean’s most glamorous island.
One unforgettable week.
The fifth annual Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth is set for Nov. 1-6, 2022 for a week-long celebration of artisanal rums from the region’s top producers.
It’s a week filled with exciting events, from the opening party at the renowned Le Barthelemy hotel to master classes with celebrated distillers to the Tradewind Rum Expo to rum-and-cocktail pairing dinners and rum-and-cigar after parties.
And then there’s another new addition: a world-first VIP tasting of Caribbean rums from the 19th century.
The event is of course anchored by the annual blind-tasting rum competition, which brings in international judges to select winners in 10 different categories, including choosing the coveted World Champion (Martinique’s Rhum Neisson Armada 88 took the crown last year).
“This year’s Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth will be bigger and better than ever,” said Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal and co-founder of the event. “St Barth is a magical island, and it’s the perfect backdrop for our celebration of ultra-premium, artisanal rums.”
It’s an event that’s equally enjoyable for neophytes and connoisseurs — whether you’re a longtime rum enthusiast or someone looking for a unique gourmet experience in the Caribbean.
And it’s all headquartered at the world’s leading rum bar, the Rhum Room in Gustavia.
“After two years of Covid-restricted, socially-distanced festivals, we are planning to go all out and have a week of Rum themed events, from Master Classes to cigar Evenings, to an outdoor festival, a cocktail competition and of course the Tradewind Rum Expo,” said Christopher Davis, global rum expert, proprietor of the Rhum Room and co-founder of the Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth. “There is something for everyone, and certainly rum aficionados will love the elbow rubbing with world class distillers, blenders and ambassadors, all bringing their A-game to St Barth for the 2022 Caribbean Rum Awards and St Barth Rhum Festival.”
“After speaking to the representatives of all the brands that won last year, there is an undercurrent of competition and preparation for this year and bringing new and special bottles for everyone to taste,” Davis said. “We welcome everyone to sunny St Barth in November to enjoy the best rum the Caribbean has to offer, whether Ron, Rum or Rhum.”
This year’s event is presented by platinum sponsors Tradewind Aviation, WIMCO Villas, The Moorings and Le Barthelemy Hotel and Spa.
Partners also include St Barth Tourism, Davidoff, SC Capital, Empire Social, Global Erudite and Les Ilets de la Plage, the island’s beloved boutique resort.
“We are thrilled and honored to be the exclusive aviation partner of the Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth and the Tradewind Rum Expo,” said David Zipkin, co-founder and CMO of Tradewind Aviation. “The festival is the world’s leading celebration of fine rum and attracts experts and enthusiasts from around the world to learn about and enjoy rum on the beautiful island of St Barth, our most popular destination for Tradewind private and scheduled flights. Looking forward to another fun filled event!”
A Tradewind Aviation plane lands in St Barth.
Tradewind, the premier air carrier to St Barth, operates regularly-scheduled and charter service between San Juan, Puerto Rico and St Barth.
This year’s official villa provider is once again WIMCO Villas.
“The first week of November is an ideal time to visit St Barth,” said Stiles Bennet, president of WIMCO. “The ocean is warm, the island’s restaurants will have all recently reopened for the season, and whether you stay in a villa or hotels, you can take advantage of low season prices. Staging the Caribbean Rum Awards event in this window is ideal. We are excited to support the event for the fourth straight year, and encourage clients to plan a trip to St Barts to sample artisanal rums that they otherwise may never have access to.”
The Moorings is the official yachting partner of this year’s event.
The Moorings is a new partner for this year’s event, bringing the biggest name in Caribbean yacht charters and sailing vacations to the French Caribbean hotspot.
“After a difficult few years during which so many on-water and in-person events were canceled, The Moorings is thrilled to sponsor this unique VIP event in St. Barth this fall with Caribbean Journal,” said Ian Pedersen, senior marketing manager at The Moorings. “It is our hope that events like this shine a light on St. Maarten/St. Martin, St. Barth and the surrounding Leeward Islands as one of the world’s great sailing grounds – welcoming travelers once more – and highlight the resilience and beauty of these islands and communities.”
The beach at Le Barthelemy hotel.
That’s along with Le Barthelemy, St Barth’s premier luxury hotel and a stunning home for the week’s kickoff event.
And if you’re looking to plan your trip to the Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth, the event is working with Epic Experiences and its top St Barth travel advisor, Eva Grodbeg, to curate custom vacations for the week (you can find more here).
While the Tradewind Expo is open to the public, the best way to experience this year’s festival is with a VIP ticket, which includes an all-access pass to VIP parties and master classes and a private rum tasting, among other inclusions. You find VIP tickets here.
Luxury cruise line Silversea has christen its newest ship: Silver Dawn.
The new boutique vessel, the 10th in the company’s fleet, is the third Silversea ship to make its debut in the last nine months.
“Silver Dawn is a jewel in the Silversea fleet and speaks to Royal Caribbean Group’s commitment to delivering the best vacation experiences in a responsible way,” said Jason Liberty, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.
The ship also marks the debut of Silversea’s new wellness program, Otium, which is “inspired by the ancient Roman lifestyle,” according to the company.
The program includes a Roman-influenced spa; a holistic approach to leisure; and even a series of indulgent touches like champagne, chocolate and other gourmet snacks.
Silver Dawn will be heading to the Caribbean in November.
There’s a lot that’s great about Cane Garden Bay in Tortola: a beautiful coastline, lively beach bars, a cool historic distillery, and even a bit of nightlife in a destination — the British Virgin Islands — that’s more known for peace and quiet once the sun settles. Sophisticated, however, is not a word often used to describe this unpretentious beach town on the north shore of the BVI’s largest island.
Quito’s Inn sings quite a different tune. In a town where the norm has been low-slung accommodations with basic amenities, this five-story hotel not only dominates what passes for Cane Garden Bay’s “skyline” but also reigns supreme with its stylish rooms and public spaces.
It’s a bit disorienting to emerge from the elevator and enter the lobby at Quito’s: guests can’t be faulted for thinking they had suddenly been transported to South Beach, or perhaps into the living room of hotel founder Quito Rymer, a reggae singer and composer who may be the most famous man in the BVI. A gleaming grand piano sits waiting for tinkling fingers on one end of the room, an elegant billiards table on the other. In between are plush couches that take full advantage of the unimpeded views of the bay and beach. Just off the lobby are a pool and bar decorated with vibrant artwork by Rymer — who has skills with a paintbrush as well as a guitar — a small spa, and fitness center.
All 21 suites in the hotel are named after Quito’s songs – Love in the Sun, Mix Up World, Reggae Express, and the “beach chic” room decor and amenities far exceed anything else you’ll find in Cane Garden Bay and make a strong run for best accommodations anywhere in Tortola. Even the entry level rooms twin and king rooms, which you can get into for as little as $290 per night in low season, have 400 feet of living space, private balconies with water views, full kitchens, and a bright and cheerful atmosphere with blue-painted tray ceilings, upscaled rattan furniture, spacious baths, and hanging chairs on the balconies.
The larger (935 square feet) Oceanview suites directly face the bay and add seating areas and work desks, and the 1,200-square-foot Cool Water Suites have separate bedrooms and cathedral ceilings; both room classes sleep four (albeit two on pullout couches), making them a good option for families or couples traveling together. At the pinnacle, literally and figuratively, is a 2,160-square-foot penthouse with two bedrooms (one in a loft), 30-foot ceilings, a soaking tub in the bath, and a wraparound balcony well-suited for entertaining, private dinners, or hours spent lounging with a book or working on a tan. It’s a room comparable to the finest private villas you’ll find in the BVI
Built on the base of the hills surrounding Cane Garden Bay, Quito’s Inn isn’t quite on the beach, although the sand — along with the Quito’s Gazebo restaurant — is right across the street.
The Gazebo is one of the hottest spots in Tortola, serving breakfast and lunch and offering daily happy hour drink specials, and entertaining guests with live music several nights a week. Hotel guests can get beach chairs and umbrellas and settle in right in front of the restaurant or wander down the beach for a self-designed pub crawl or in search of activities like day and evening tours in transparent kayaks, snorkel gear, and other water sports fun.
Quito’s Inn is hard to miss in Cane Garden Bay: the yellow painted and red-roofed building is at the east end of the bay, and if there’s any doubt, just look for the giant “Q” painted on the side. Quito’s isn’t brand new: the hotel actually debuted in summer of 2019, but the hangover from Hurricane Irma and the COVID-19 pandemic conspired to dampen attention to what should rightly be seen as a game-changing hotel in Cane Garden Bay and the BVI. The hotel has weathered these storms in style, however, and with prices frozen at 2020 levels, it’s a great time to discover what’s essentially a brand-new hotel that puts a fresh spin on a Tortola beach getaway without detracting in the least from the unpretentious charm that makes Cane Garden Bay great.
Cancun’s newest all-inclusive resort is officially open in the hottest corner of Cancun, Caribbean Journal has learned.
The highly-anticipated new Garza Blanca Resort and Spa Cancun just held its grand opening.
The TAFER Hotels and Resorts property is set on a remote stretch of beach in increasingly popular Playa Mujeres, often dubbed the “New Cancun.”
The hotel has a total of 452 suites, along with four eateries, five pools and three jacuzzis, a spa and a team of dedicated butlers.
The property has 452 suites.
That’s along with an interactive kids club and an adults-only, ocean-view infinity pool.
It’s the Imagine Spa that’s one of the biggest stories at the hotel, with a focus on holistic treatments “inspired by the chakras and Earth’s natural elements,” according to the property. That’s along with a hydrotherapy circuit and medical-grade facial treatments.
The hydrotherapy circuit.
“We are very pleased to welcome guests for the grand opening of Garza Blanca Resort & Spa Cancun this year, providing an entirely new level of modern luxury vacations in Mexico,” said Sasa Milojevic, Chief Operating Officer of TAFER Hotels & Resorts. “This unique beachfront property has already captivated visitors with its unparalleled all-inclusive luxury offerings, thoughtful amenities, and highly-personalized service – we’re thrilled to officially welcome it into our TAFER family.”
It’s part of a growing Mexican portfolio for TAFER, which includes the Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa and Hotel Mousai in Puerto Vallarta, Villa del Palmar Cancun Resort & Spa, Garza Blanca Resort and Spa in Los Cabos, and the Sierra Lago Resort & Spa and Sian Ka’an Village in Cancun.
The company also has new hotels in the pipeline in both Puerto Vallarta and Cancun.
It’s the latest addition to Playa Mujeres, which has seen a wave of new hotels in recent years, from brands like Dreams, Paradisus and Grand Palladium, among others.
