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By Alexander Britell

There are certain hotels in the Caribbean that manage to transcend the world of hospitality and enter a realm reserved for legends.

They’re hotels that become destinations, that become bucket-list stops, that become part of the tapestry of Caribbean history.

The Bitter End Yacht Club is one of them.

And for decades, this family-owned 64-acre outpost on the North Sound of Virgin Gorda in the BVI was precisely that, a Mecca for sailors, yachters and all those seeking to add the Bitter End to their own stories.

That was why when Hurricane Irma came and stole away the hotel, the Bitter End never left, tucked in the hearts and minds of those who worked there and those who made it their temporary home for a week or two every year.

The fate of the Bitter End has been top of mind for many Caribbean aficionados over the last few years, as travelers have wondered over the future of their beloved BVI outpost.

And now, two years later, the Bitter End is making its long-awaited comeback.

The Hokin family, which owns the resort, is calling it Bitter End 2.0.

And the reimagined Bitter End will begin with a focus on its heart and soul: yachts, yachtsmen and yachtswomen, the resort said in a statement to guests.

“We have been asked many times, ‘Is Bitter End going to be different?’ or ‘Is Bitter End going to be exactly as it was prior to the storm?’ Hurricane Irma didn’t leave us with an easy answer to either question,” the property said. “What Irma left us with was an unwavering commitment to Bitter End’s spirit and character.”

That means the moorings and docks will be back, along with a new marina lounge.

The Bitter End will also debut a new Clubhouse, this time as a waterfront restaurant and a beach bar, along with watersports, beach services and the Bitter End’s famous club fleet, a massive fleet of watercraft for guests that was always one of the hotel’s prized amenities.

The upcoming 2019-2020 season will see the relaunch of the General Store, along with the return of the Reeftique fashion store.

The centerpiece of the transformed marina will be a new two-story, open-air marina building, with enhanced Wi-Fi, shore power and a new kind of meeting and gathering space.

While it’s not yet clear when the Bitter End will relaunch any rooms or cottages, the Bitter End’s comeback is an essential part of what has been an inspiring tourism renaissance for the BVI in the last two years.

For more, visit the Bitter End Yacht Club.

— CJ

The post The Caribbean’s Iconic Bitter End Yacht Club Is Coming Back appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Sunwing is continuing its Caribbean-Mexico expansion with a pair of new routes to the increasingly popular destination of Mazatlan.

The Canadian travel giant is launching direct flights from both Ottawa and Quebec City to Mazatlan, the company announced this week.

The Ottawa flights will run from Dec. 17 through April 14, 2020.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming tourists from Ottawa on the first-ever direct flight service to México’s Only Colonial City on the Beach, a destination with a beautiful mixture of real Mexico culture and 20 kilometers of swimmable beaches”, said Julio Birrueta, Director of the Mazatlán Tourism Board. “Guests will not only have the opportunity to enjoy great seafood, regional cuisine and a wide variety of activities and local tours, but they will also find authentic hospitality from the local mazatlecos”, he added.

The new Quebec City will launch Dec. 17 as well, running through April 14, 2020.

“We are delighted to be offering this pristine Pacific Mexican destination to our customers in Quebec City this winter. Mazatlán offers an enticing blend of culture, heritage and natural beauty and we’re sure it will be a popular choice,” said Sam Char, executive vice president for Sunwing Travel Group in Quebec.

Mazatlan has been seeing an increase in airlift from a number of carriers, particularly out of the Canadian market.

— CJ

The post Sunwing Launching More Flights to Mazatlan appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Avid, the newest hotel brand by hospitality giant InterContinental Hotels Group, is coming to Mexico.

The first-ever avid [sic] in Mexico has broken ground in Fresnillo, with plans for a 95-room hotel set to debut in the spring of 2020.

“We are pleased to partner with Operadora MBA to develop the first avid hotel in Mexico. This groundbreaking further solidifies the brand’s increasing momentum and we look forward to introducing avid hotels to Mexico. We believe this brand will fill an unmet need in the market and provide great value for guests seeking high-quality hotel accommodations that cater to both business and leisure travelers.”

The project is being developed by Operadora, which said the project would fill a void for more demanding visitors to Fresnillo.

“Operadora MBA is proud to bring the first avid hotel to Mexico and to Latin America. We are confident that together with our knowledge of the local market, and the strength of the IHG brand, we will bring the best hotel experience for business and leisure travelers in Fresnillo,” said Raul Muñoz, principal of Operadora.

Avid is a value-focused brand that is “thoughtfully designed to meet guests’ expectations for the basics done exceptionally well,” according to a description by IHG.

“The response to our first open hotel properties has been very positive all around – from the guest experience to the efficiencies around build costs and operations. We are excited and expect to see similar performance and growth for this brand in Mexico,” said Jennifer Gribble, Vice President, avid hotels.

— CJ

The post IHG’s Newest Hotel Brand Is Coming to Mexico appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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