By the Caribbean Journal staff

Hyatt’s Hyatt Centric Brand is expanding again in the region with its second property in Central America.

The brand is slated to open a 138-room Hyatt Centric in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, a debut that comes on the heels of the debut a new Hyatt Centric in Guatemala.

The Hyatt Centric San Salvador, set in the Soho Cascadas mixed-use project, is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of this year.

It will be managed by GHL Hotels, which manages a number of properties in the region.

The brand has been rapidly expanding its footprint in the wider Caribbean Basin, with plans for a new Hyatt Centric in Barbados also in the pipeline.

The latter is set to open in Barbados next year.

“The hospitality Hyatt Centric San Salvador will offer travelers will surprise the market,” said Fernando Paiz, president, LATAM Hotel Corporation. “Continuing our relationship with the Hyatt Centric brand, we’re confident we can demonstrate our expertise to guests, helping them tap into the city’s cosmopolitan hot spots or unique destinations known only to locals.”

The project is the brainchild of LATAM Hotel Corporation, which also owns Hyatt-branded properties in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua.

It is planning to open a new Hyatt Place in San Pedro Sula, Honduras in the third quarter of 2018.

The post Hyatt Centric Expanding in Central America appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Alexander Britell

It’s the late evening and Saint Lucia is awake.

This is the sound of the island at night, the shake of trees and the call of birds and the calming hum of the natural world.

It’s not often you get the chance to stay in the heart of a rainforest, in the core of a cacao plantation, your cottage hugged by fruit trees.

But Saint Lucia’s Fond Doux plantation is no ordinary place to stay.

This is a full-fledged eco-hotel, a tiny colonial-style boutique property set on a working 250-year-old plantation.

This is Saint Lucia as it once was, as it still is, hand crafted and home made.

There are 15 cottages tucked across the 134-acre plantation, ranging from one-bedroom secluded retreats to a two-bedroom standalone cottage to our favorite, the one-bedroom cottages with its own private plunge pool.

Yes, it’s a working cacao plantation.

The food is local and authentic at the on-site Bamboo and Cocoa Pod restaurants, true Creole cooking with real ingredients. There’s a spa, too, the Mama La Terre, with unique treatments like flight relief massages and even hot spring journeys.

It is a place for finding oneness with the natural world, for hiking, for breathing the kind of air you can’t find anywhere else, for enjoying the colors of Saint Lucia’s wild side.

But you can’t stay here without immersing yourself in the culture of cacao, eating, drinking (in cocoa tea) and even making it, experiencing every step of the process from cocoa harvesting to drying to grinding to the finished product.

Its all thanks to the painstaking work of Saint Lucian hoteliers Eroline and Lyton Lamontagne, who have turned this family-run resort into one of the Caribbean’s most unique destinations.

For more information, visit Fond Doux.

The post Saint Lucia’s Fond Doux Plantation, a Unique Caribbean Eco-Hotel appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

The Bahamas has made no secret of its ambition to turn the island of Grand Bahama into a tech hub and innovation center, and its plans got a big boost with the recent announcement that GIBC Digital would be launching a new office on the island.

GIBC provides digital solutions in automation, data intelligence, cyber and fraud, customer experience as well as regulation and compliance.

“This government has been focused on making technology the third pillar of our economy and it has been our vision to advance not just the economy, but the digital economy in Grand Bahama,” said Minister of State J. Kwasi Thompson. “Today, we are seeing some of the fruits of the Grand Bahama Technology Hub Initiative.

“This is a project which advances the entire Technology vision for Grand Bahama. It involves capital investment, providing employment, and providing the necessary training in the technology industry,” he said.

“Today’s announcement by GIBC represents a significant investment in Grand Bahama’s economy,” he said. “GIBC intends to invest a minimum of $2.5 million this year to establish its office in Grand Bahama.”

“I am excited that this investment will enable the hiring of 50 persons to work along with the company both locally and regionally,” he said.

The hiring process has already begun.

“We are further pleased that this investment also involves training of Grand Bahamians for the technology industry,” said Thompson. “In addition to the initial investment, GIBC has indicated they will invest another $1 million through deployment of employees from the United States, the UK, and other areas to The Bahamas to conduct training and direct work.

“GIBC anticipates that for each skilled job created, another 2.5 jobs will result in our local service, and tourism sectors, resulting in an estimated economic impact of over $10 million in the first year alone,” he said. “Further, GIBC’s has expressed plans to expand its Bahamian operations to over 150 employees and build a state-of-the-art, sustainable Data and AI center within three years, bringing an economic impact of $50m by 2020.”

GIBC is one the first companies to benefit from the Commercial Enterprise Act in Grand Bahama.

They have been granted approval, which has enabled them to set-up their office quickly.

“Grand Bahama should be pleased and proud that a global technology company has chosen not only to set up an office, but to invest in the lives of our people, and to be a part of this important technology initiative,” said the minister.

President of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Ian Rolle, described the day as “significant” and said it was the beginning of something new in the technology sector.

“Both the government and the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s vision for this place is to increase the population in a very unique way,” said Rolle.

The post Grand Bahama Tech Hub Vision Moves Forward appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Windstar Cruises has hired a team of sommeliers to serve guests on sailings around the world, including in the Caribbean.

The new wine experts provide an enhancement for guests as the summer cruise season begins, building on the ongoing, fleet-wide upgrades to the small ship line’s wine, beverage and culinary programs.

“Our new sommeliers will offer their all-encompassing knowledge of wine to guests, as well as to our dining room and bar servers by holding frequent tastings and educational classes,” explains Windstar Cruises Director of Hotel Operations Peter Tobler. “Travel is an excellent way to expand your wine repertoire. Our sommeliers will share their wine expertise, tasting tips, and make recommendations for varietals from nearby the ports of call.”

“Most importantly, they will help guests select the best wine to pair with our gourmet food selections,” he continued. “When on holiday, this is the best way to complete each day.”

The sommeliers were chosen for their training, knowledge and experience worldwide having worked in a broad spectrum of wineries, restaurants travel and hospitality providers such as Celebrity, Disney and Seabourn cruise lines, Hermitage and Radisson hotels, and Le Cheval Blanc in Bordeaux, among others.

Justin McAuliffe was the first to offer sommelier services to guests sailing in Asia, and he will be joined by Antony Graz Pradeep, Vitor Da Encarnacao Custodio, Marko Pejic and Slaven Cosic, who will rotate among four ships.

Windstar sommeliers lead wine tastings on board each cruise– generally one to three are offered depending on the length of the voyage–for a nominal fee.

In addition, the sommeliers may accompany guests on culinary-themed shore excursions to local wineries and restaurants.

Windstar also recently announced a multi-year partnership as the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation.

This year’s culinary-themed cruises will feature not only James Beard-recognized chefs, but also top sommeliers from across the U.S., including Belinda Chang and Shelley Lindgren, Jon McDaniel and Katie Bell.

The sommeliers will partner with onboard chefs to create food and wine pairings reflecting the culture of their travels.

As the line enhances its wine offerings, it has also expanded those for beer and spirits, and is now offering lower daily prices for any beverage package to guests sailing 14-day and longer, back-to-back Star Collector Voyages.

The line launched a new beverage package program in the fall, allowing for a variety of tiered levels of premium products.

The post Windstar’s New Wine Program appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Independent hotel brand Preferred Hotels and Resorts has added a new member property in the Caribbean.

The eco-focused Hotel Xcaret outside Playa del Carmen on the Caribbean coast of Mexico is the latest property to join Preferred, which is the world’s largest independent hotel brand.

The all-inclusive property is focused on its vast eco-park holdings, giving guests access to six nature parks in the area, among other amenities.

The Xcaret was one of three hotels in Mexico to join, along with the Hotel Playa Grande and the Casa del Mar in Los Cabos.

The post Mexico’s Xcaret Joins Preferred Hotels appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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