Air France has tapped one of the Caribbean’s top chefs for a new in-flight menu.

The carrier has announced that Guadeloupe-born Chef Babette de Rozieres will be creating dishes on the menu in Air France’s business and premium economy cabins.

Three dishes, renewed each month, will be available on Air France flights to the Caribbean, including on departure from Cayenne, French Guiana, Fort de France, Martinique and Pointe a Pitre, Guadeloupe to Paris Orly.

The menu will also be available on flights on the regional network between Martinique and French Guiana.

The meals range from fillet of cod marinated in lime with a saffron cream sauce and plantain risotto to free-range chicken leg with crunchy vegetable confits and basmati rice.

A native of Guadeloupe, de Rozieres worked in Parisian hotels including the George V and the Meridien and bought her first restaurant in Paris in 1978.

She is now a passionate ambassador of Caribbean cuisine and culture.

The post Air France Taps Guadeloupe Chef for New In-Flight Menu appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Fast-growing AMResorts has expanded its Caribbean portfolio with another new all-inclusive resort: the adults-only Breathless Montego Bay Resort & Spa in Jamaica.

The hotel is Breathless’ first Jamaica property.

“Jamaica tops travelers’ lists as a sought-after destination on a consistent basis,” said Gonzalo del Peon, President of AMResorts. “The introduction of the adults-only Breathless Montego Bay Resort & Spa provides guests the ultimate party atmosphere of Breathless in the vibrant and unique setting of Montego Bay.”

The 150-suite resort is surrounded by the Montego Bay Marine Park and features the only rooftop pool and bar in Jamaica.

Also on hand are a beach club, fire pits, cabanas, five bars and lounges, free Wi-Fi (and in-room tablets) along with themed parties, among other amenities.

“Montego Bay is the perfect addition to our growing Breathless Resorts & Spas brand, meeting the high expectations of today’s social traveler,” said Alex Zozaya, CEO of Apple Leisure Group. “The Breathless brand has now grown to four properties, all in destinations where travelers are looking for excitement and entertainment during their vacations. We are happy to answer this need by providing an energized atmosphere for sophisticated singles, couples and groups of friends.”

Guests at Breathless also get access to the nearby Secrets St. James Montego Bay and Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay.

“Montego Bay has become one of the top destinations in the Caribbean,” said Javier Coll, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Apple Leisure Group. “The island’s inherent beauty paired with the destination’s ease of travel made Montego Bay the natural choice for our latest opening.”

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The world’s newest superyacht concept is something rather special.

Oceanco has released the designs for its new “Amara” 394-foot private yacht, and it’s basically a floating resort.

The design was released at the Dubai International Boat Show.

“In designing the exterior lines of Amara, I wanted to portray a very strong and muscular form that was progressive in design but with a timeless appeal,” says designer Sam Sorgiovanni. “Its long bow accentuates the vessel’s generous proportions.”

The yacht has living and entertainment facilities for up to 20 guests, with an interior with natural timber, stone and textural carpets and fabrics.

The yacht’s lower level deck opens to reveal an “expansive” beach club resort, offering access to the sea; port starboard and aft.

The yacht even has a “wellness” area with its own banya, hammam, beauty treatment lounge and even a 16-person cinema.

The upper deck boasts a waterfall that cascades down into the main deck’s swimming pool; it’s also home to an owner’s apartment with a private plunge pool and open-air aft deck dining for more than 20 people.

The post The New Oceanco Amara Superyacht Is a Floating Resort appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Barbados posted very strong tourism growth in 2016, according to the latest numbers from Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.

The island reported 631,513 stayover visitors in 2016, a 6.7 percent increase compared to 2015 and a new record for air arrivals in a single year.

That was one of the highest tourism growth rates of any Caribbean destination.

“This growth stands to have a positive impact on every Barbadian,” said Barbados Tourism Minister Richard Sealy. “An increase in stay-over visitors, and an increase in average visitor spend, translate to new and growing opportunities for individuals in the Barbados labour force, as well as the overall economy.”

The country’s strongest growth was in November, when arrivals grew by 18.5 percent compared to the same period in 2015.

While the United Kingdom remained Barbados’ strongest source market at 35 percent of arrivals, it was the U.S. market that showed the most growth, with an increase of 14.1 percent in U.S.-based arrivals last year.

The latter is a major credit to Petra Roach, Barbados’ tourism director for the U.S. market, who has helped spearhead a major push with new partnerships and promotional work.

It’s also thanks to the efforts of hotel companies like Elegant Hotels, which operates six resorts on the island (like the terrific  Waves boutique all-inclusive and has done significant work to promote Barbados in the United States in particular.

That’s without metioning the new JetBlue flights from Fort Lauderdale, which have added much-needed airlift from South Florida.

The US represented 27 percent of the overall market for Barbados last year. (Barbados was named Caribbean Journal’s Destination of the Year in 2015).

Are you looking to head to Barbados this year? Choose your next hotel here.

— Caribbean Journal Staff

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“This is the way Caribbean hotels used to be,” I think to myself.

And when you’ve been to as many Caribbean hotels as I have, it’s not something you often think.

There are just 12 units here, seven stone-walled cottages and five villas, all of them just a step off the beach, all of them with outdoor “garden” showers and ocean views.

There are three meals every day, all included with the stay, served buffet style, with the evening soundtrack a local crooner and a Cat Island breeze.

There are no bartenders; just an honor bar, stocked with spirits (and rum punches) and open 24-7.

The aforementioned features make it, for all intents and purposes, an all-inclusive resort. But not like any you’ve ever been to.

It all means that, despite being in a place as exotic as you’ll find in the region, you’ll never feel wanting.

The cottage called Shane’s Shack.

It all means that this is one of the Caribbean’s great places to escape.

This is the classic little beach resort — toes in the sand, rum punch, the joy of seclusion — all the Caribbean cliches, except here they’re actually true.

As I take a drink from the honor bar, walk the three steps to the sand and look out at the water, I think back to another time.

This is the way Caribbean hotels used to be. And the way one still is.

— Alexander Britell

To book a stay at Fernandez Bay Village, click here.

The post VIDEO: Fernandez Bay Village: The Classic Boutique Beach Resort appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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