By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

The Riviera Nayarit in Mexico is continuing to surge as a travel destination, according to new data.

The destination on Mexico’s Pacific Coast saw a 5 percent increase in North American visitors during the first half of 2019, compared to the same period last year.

The Riviera Nayarit is best known as the home of the chic hotspot of Puerto Vallarta and the sprawling Punta Mita luxury development, among others. (The area is also set for the 2020 debut of a highly-anticipated new resort from Auberge).

“We had one of our strongest years to date in 2018 and are proud to see our numbers for the first half of this year are on pace to outperform that success,” said Marc Murphy, managing director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We are seeing an increase in not only the average occupancy rates at our properties, but also in the rates at which those rooms are being sold, which signifies a positive impact on the local economy as we attract higher spending travelers.”

The Four Seasons Punta Mita.

From January to June 2019, the area welcomed 244,692 American tourists and 191,402 Canadians — a 4.4 percent and 5.8 percent increase, respectively, over 2018.

Tourism has contributed over $785 million in revenue for the destination, of which $649 million came from international tourists.

The Riviera Nayarit’s southern region of Bahia de Banderas maintained an average hotel occupancy rate of 82.4 percent with an average low density occupation rate of 2.44 guests per room.

Average occupancy rates at four- and five-star properties also saw an increase, officials said.

— CJ

The post Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit Is Surging appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Couples Sans Souci resort in Jamaica is planning a major renovation, Caribbean Journal has learned.

The Ocho Rios-area all-inclusive property will be launching a $7 million renovation project that will begin May 1, 2020.

The project is slated for completion in late October 2020, according to the resort.

Couples Sans Souci will close May 1, 2020 and partially reopen July 1, 2020.

“Making improvements at Couples Sans Souci is part of our overall approach to refine our guest experience continuously,” said Abe Issa, Chief Operating Officer of Couples Resorts, in a statement. “Creatively reinventing spaces and adding new elements of luxury infused with local inspiration is what makes our properties shine.”

The resort’s last renovation came in 2015, when it renovated 72 suites and its Palazzina restaurant.

The property, perhaps most famous for its role as a filming location for the James Bond film Live and Let Die, is set on 35 acres of cliffside bluffs.

— CJ

The post Jamaica’s Couples Sans Souci Plans Major Renovation appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Saint Lucia’s Bay Gardens Resorts has appointed travel professional Kelly Fontenelle-Clarke as its representative in the United States market.

The Atlanta-based representative has more than two dozen years of marketing experience, including many years working for her homeland with the Saint Lucia Tourist Board and the newly-formed Saint Lucia Tourism Authority.

“We are very happy to welcome Kelly Fontenelle-Clarke to the Bay Gardens family, as we seek to enhance our presence in the important United States market,” said Sanovnik Destang, Executive Director of the family-owned portfolio of resorts in Saint Lucia. “As Kelly grows our influence among U.S. tour operators, travel agents and meeting planners, we expect to meet and surpass our sales goals in the years ahead.”

Destang described Fontenelle-Clarke as having a proven track record for driving success and achieving top-tier results in travel and tourism marketing. “Her expertise is largely unmatched and we are honored to welcome her to the family.”

Fontenelle-Clark played an integral role in the Saint Lucia Expert Loyalty Program, which reached more than 20,000 agents over five years, and developed the Romance Specialist Program, which helped to strengthen Saint Lucia’s reputation as a leading romance destination.

The post Saint Lucia’s Bay Gardens Plans New U.S. Push appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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