By the Caribbean Journal staff

Spanish hotel chain H10 has launched construction on a 1,000-room hotel project in Jamaica.

It will be the first-ever Jamaica hotel for the chain, which has a heavy presence in Cuba, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Work has already begun in Falmouth on the first 500 rooms of the estimated $250 million project, which will be called the Ocean Coral Spring Hotel.

The news comes a little over a month after H10 opened its most recent Caribbean resort, a 618-room property in the Dominican Republic, the Ocean El Faro in Punta Cana.

Later this year, it will debut another Punta Cana resort called El Beso. 

“The Government continues to champion investment for the revitalization of existing tourism assets and the creation of new tourism infrastructure across the island,” said Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.

Spanish firms have had a massive impact on Jamaica’s tourism development in recent years.

The new Excellence in Trelawny.

“Based on my many meetings with Spanish hotel interests, I know we share the importance of tourism and development,” Bartlett said. “We look forward to the contribution that H10’s properties will make to the sustainable growth of Falmouth’s tourism, your integration into the town and the linkages you will foster with our business community.”

It’s also another signal of the growing allure of Jamaica’s Trelawny parish, the next parish east of the country’s traditional hub of Montego Bay.

The area has seen significant hotel investment in recent years, with projects by brands including Royalton, Excellence Group — and more than 6,000 rooms in development in the wider area.

The post Jamaica’s New $250 Million Hotel Project appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Bermuda tourism is as strong as it has been in years, according to new data from the Bermuda Tourism Authority.

The island saw an 11.7 percent increase in leisure air arrivals in 2018, with a total of 770,700 total visitor arrivals last year.

That represented the third straight year of what the tourism authority called “economic comeback and uninterrupted growth.”

“By every imaginable definition, Bermuda’s tourism industry is on a sustained path of recovery,” said Kevin Dallas, Bermuda Tourism Authority’s chief executive. “Our team put together a totally fresh tourism approach in 2014 and 2015. Stakeholders believed in our vision and helped build on the new foundation. That two-step process is the reason the country’s tourism has progressed so impressively.”

Last year saw a record-breaking number of total vacationers for a second consecutive year, marking the highest number of leisure air arrivals to Bermuda since 2002.

Total visitor spending into Bermuda’s economy climbed past $500 million, while cruise passenger arrivals jumped 34 percent during non-summer months, the BTA said.

“These stellar results represent real men and women in Bermuda’s hospitality industry who have seen positive impacts on their lives – whether they own a small business or call someone else the boss,” Dallas said.

— CJ

The post Another Solid Year For Bermuda Tourism appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

In a massive boost for the tourism fortunes of the island of St John, the Westin St John Resort Villas has officially reopened its doors.

The reopening comes 16 months after Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck the USVI, leading to a large-scale reconstruction effort.

A villa room.

The property, set on Great Cruz Bay in St John, instantly becomes the premier property open on the island, which has already seen the return of boutique hotels like the Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel and Estate Lindholm, among others.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our associates’ dedication in getting The Westin St John Resort Villas ready for our owners and guests,” said Samuel Hugli, general manager of the resort. “Each associate took on the hard work of getting the resort back to its original splendor, even though they and their families and friends were greatly affected by the storms.”

It’s a mix of one, two and three-bedroom villas and townhomes featuring up to 2,850 square feet of interior space.

Every villa has full kitchen appliances, washer and driers, signature Westin beds and  private balconies, among other amenities.

Amenities at the resort range from a spectacular beach to a pool to the new Mango Deli coffee shop to the waterfront eatery called Snorkels.

Snorkels at night.

For years, the Westin and Caneel Bay were the island’s two halo hotels; Caneel Bay is still in the comeback process. Caneel’s return date is still unannounced.

It’s the second Marriott property to reopen in the Virgin Islands since the storm, following last year’s relaunch of the Marriott Frenchman’s Cove in St Thomas.

“The resort looks spectacular,” said Hugli said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to be back providing Caribbean paradise to our owners and guests. We’re even happier that our islands are recovering and thriving.”

For more info, visit the Westin St John.

The post The Westin St John Resort Reopens appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The 371-room Live Aqua Beach Resort in Cancun has completed a multimillion-dollar renovation project, Caribbean Journal has learned.

The Mexican Caribbean property, which is part of the 13-hotel portfolio of La Collection Resorts by Fiesta Americana, has added “reimagined” guest rooms, an upgraded Aqua Club and a refurbished beach and pool area, among other changes.

The Siete eatery.

“We take great pride in offering our guests unforgettable experiences when they stay with us, which is why this much-anticipated renovation of the resort is so special to us,” said said Alfredo Santamaria, General Manager of Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun. “Our guests are always at the core of what we do, and we are excited to showcase all the upgraded areas and stylish new touches we’ve added in even the smallest of details.”

Changes to the rooms and suites ranged from a new aromatheraphy menu to bedside smart consoles to centralized electrical outlets.

The property also renovated its Azul restaurant; added a new outdoor sitting area to the Siete eatery; added a new wine cellar to the MB restaurant and will soon debut a new eatery called Inlaa’Kech.

— CJ

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