By the Caribbean Journal staff

There’s a new private-island destination in the heart of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

A new boutique all-inclusive hotel has quietly opened its doors on the three-mile-long island of Ambergris Cay (not to be confused with the island of Ambergris Caye in Belize).

It’s called Ambergris Cay, and it’s home to 10 private beachfront suites, a restaurant and a pool and bar.

The island, which has its own air strip, is an 18-minute flight from Providenciales.

There are just 10 cottages on the property.

“We are delighted to offer a true private island experience that is so accessible for today’s luxury market,” said Kevin Matier, director of sales and marketing at Turks and Caicos Collection, of which Ambergris Cay is a part. “Ambergris Cay is a convenient hidden jewel in the stunning necklace of pristine islands known as the Turks and Caicos.”

Each of the suites at Ambergris Cay have their own private plunge pools facing the beach, along with high ceilings, windows on three sides, wet bars, stocked mini fridges and outdoor showers, among other amenities.

The all-inclusive program extends to everything from meals and drinks to water sports, golf carts, bikes and in-room dining.

It also includes a complimentary 30-minute spa treatment per person every day.

The island is an ultra-luxe addition to Turks and Caicos, joining a small but rarefied group of private-island getaways in the archipelago that also include the Meridian Club and Parrot Cay.

Ambergris Cay joins three existing hotels in the Turks and Caicos collection, including the Beach House, the Alexandra and the Blue Haven.

For more, visit Ambergris Cay.

— CJ

The post There’s a New Private-Island Destination in Turks and Caicos appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Tourism arrivals to Barbados rose by 2.7 percent last year, a solid performance and another year of positive growth, according to new data from Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.

But the biggest story last year was a continued surge in tourism from the all-important United States market.

The United States was the area of strongest improvement for Barbados, with an 8.4 percent increase in visitors and a total of 204,830 arrivals, a full-fledged surge in visits that far eclipsed growth from the Canadian and United Kingdom markets. 

It’s part of what has been a concerted push over the last several years to attract more American visitors, work that is now paying off.

The island’s Grantley Adams International Airport reported a total of 681,197 visitors in 2018, representing an increase of 17,686 visitors.

“I am delighted by this news and what it says about Barbados’ tourism product,” said William “Billy” Griffith, CEO of BTMI. “It is never easy as a mature tourism destination to maintain growth at these levels in the competitive business landscape in which we operate, but I am pleased that through strategic marketing efforts we have once again proven Barbados’ value as shown by the record number of arrivals at both the air and sea ports throughout 2018.”

“I must commend our tourism teams both here and in our global offices, whose efforts were instrumental in us achieving this record 2.7 percent growth,” Griffith said. “They did a great job individually, and that’s reflected when we look at our overall reporting.”  

The numbers are likely to increase further in 2019, thanks in part to American Airlines’ recent expansion in service to the island from both Miami and Charlotte.

— CJ

The post American Travelers Are Flocking to Barbados appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Apple Leisure Group’s rapidly-expanding AMResorts brand is adding a pair of new all-inclusive hotels on the Caribbean coast of Mexico.

The company has announced two new resort brand management deals as part of a partnership with Oasis Hotels and Resorts.

The two all-inclusive properties will be branded as Now and Sunscape resorts, respectively.

The Now brand will launch at a Cancun resort, while AMResorts is adding its Sunscape brand to a property in the increasingly popular beach hotspot of Akumal.

 “As the market cycle continues to turn, now is the time for owners wanting to ensure future stability for their assets and capitalize on their investments to align with the right partner who can help them weather the cyclical nature of the hospitality industry,” said Javier Coll, executive vice president and chief strategy officer at ALG.

Both resorts are conversions of existing properties, each of which will undergo renovations and reopen under their new AMResorts brand on Jan. 1.

An existing room at the Grand Oasis Tulum. The property will be undergoing a renovation.

The former Grand Oasis Sens will become the Now Emerald Cancun, with 427 rooms; the former Grand Oasis Tulum will relaunch as the Sunscape Akumal Beach Resort and Spa, with a total of 360 rooms.

The former Grand Oasis Sens will become a Sunscape.

AMResorts is planning another Now-branded hotel in the Mexican Caribbean laster this year, with the debut of the Now Natura Riviera Cancun.

The news continues what has been a busy month for AMResorts, including groundbreakings at the company’s Breathless Cancun resort and a pair of new hotels in Saint Lucia.

— CJ

The post AMResorts Is Adding Two More All-Inclusive Hotels in Mexico appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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