FLAMANDS — There are beach restaurants and there are beach restaurants.

This is the latter.

It’s a cool, breezy summer night on the Flamands sand in St Barth, home to one of the island’s greatest eateries: La Case de l’Isle.

This is the signature restaurant at perhaps the signature hotel in St Barth: the Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France, LVMH’s only Caribbean hotel, which opened under the new branding at the end of 2014.

Here, executive Chef Yann Vinsot has put together a superb menu that marries French gastronomic excellence which has become the standard on the island with a light, French Caribbean touch.

Crispy soft egg with passionfruit foam.

That brings spectacular dishes like steamed toothfish with yuzu; a crispy soft egg with sweet potato foam and passionfruit sauce; and local lobster medallions with grapefruit and grilled avocado.

It’s joined by a broad list of more than 150 French wines (and a nice selection of rums, too).

It’s a meal without which any trip to St Barth is simply incomplete.

— CJ

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It’s a must-visit resort in Antigua: The Verandah Resort and Spa, an Elite Island Resorts property that’s become an institution on the island.

Blessed with perfect white sand beaches, spacious rooms and proximity to a national park, this is a tranquil, comfortable retreat, a classic Caribbean hideaway that’s particularly well-suited for families. And it’s eco-friendly, too.

Here’s what it’s like to check in.

The post VIDEO: The Verandah Resort and Spa in Antigua appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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W Hotels has continued its regional expansion with a new resort in Punta Mita.

The new W Punta de Mita is the 48th W Hotel worldwide, and the fifth in the Latin America-Caribbean region.

Its part of the multi-use oceanfront development called Los Veneros.

The new W Punta de Mita

“We are delighted to introduce our new W Escape to Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, a world-class destination for surf and sun, as we continue to grow the brand’s presence in this region,” said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “W Punta de Mita brings a playfully stylish addition to this Mexican hot spot, and we are confident that with the brand’s unique lifestyle programming and cutting-edge design it will become a must-visit destination to the new generation of jetsetters.”

The W Punta de Mita property was designed by ASET/AOMA in collaboration with Oakland-based design firm Mister Important Design and Starwood’s in-house team.

It’s got all of the W signatures, from the WET deck to the Living Room bar to a resident DJ.

In all, there are 119 guest villas, all of which include private balconies or patios, artisanal Mexican tiled floors and headboards fashioned from surfboards or punctured tin.

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The troubled Baha Mar megaresort project in the Bahamas will soon have new life, according to Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie.

The Prime Minister said that the government and the Export-Import Bank of China have signed an agreement under which the resort will be completed and then sold to a “world-class hotel and casino operator.”

The arrangements have been approved by the Supreme Court off the Bahamas.

“This agreement represents a signal achievement for The Bahamas, and a milestone in the troubled history of Baha Mar,” Christie said.

Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie announces the agreement. (BIS Photo)

The project had initially been slated to debut at the end of 2014, until it was delayed and then ended in a hotly-contested bankruptcy.

The $3.5 billion project was set to include an eponymous hotel, a Rosewood, an SLS Lux and a Grand Hyatt hotel, with 2,200 rooms in total.

It also features a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course.

What Christie called a “remobilization” will launch immediately.

“Construction at the site is expected to resume within a few weeks, during the month of September,” Christie said. “The Bank has committed to fund all remaining construction costs to complete the Project. China Construction will finish the works, and will resolve outstanding claims with its suppliers and sub-contractors.”

Christie also said that, under the agreement, thousands of Bahamian creditors owed money by Baha Mar companies would receive “a significant part” of that money.

“Going forward, many of the same people and companies who were previously contracted, will be re-engaged to complete the Project,” he said.

Christie said the government would also be extending “appropriate concessions” to facilitate construction and “promote the successful future operation of the resort.”

While tourism officials had said earlier this year that several potential buyers had emerged, it’s not yet clear how far any such negotiations have gotten.

“The difficulties of a project this size has hit our economy hard,” he said.  “But we will recover.”

The post Bahamas PM: Baha Mar to Be Completed, Sold appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The Grenada Tourism Authority has named a new marketing manager: Francine Stewart.

Stewart’s role will include interaction with key private and public sector partners, the execution of all marketing programs, and the management of marketing expenditure, the GTA said in a statement.

“Marketing Grenada as a destination is huge responsibility and I am honoured to serve my country in this way,” Stewart said in a statement. “My initial focus would be to foster and develop strong relationships with all key stakeholders locally, regionally and internationally. This industry is an interestingly dynamic one with constant competition, making it important for us to directly reach our target audience via the most appropriate mediums at the lowest costs,” said Ms. Francine Stewart when asked about her focus for the upcoming months.

Stewart previously served as resort sales manager for Sandals La Source Grenada.

“With such a diverse background in the travel and tourism industry, I longed to do more for my country on a national level,” she said. “Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique are truly gems in their own sense, deserving of anyone’s vacation. We must be proud to showcase our home and to ensure that each visitor leaves our shores wanting to come back for more.”

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