By the Caribbean Journal staff

Blue Diamond Resorts, one of the largest resort companies in Cuba, has completed the first phase of an extensive renovation project at its Memories Trinidad Del Bar all-inclusive hotel.

The property’s makeover included the lobby, pool, the beach area, the restaurants and all the rooms, according to the company.

Blue Diamond also added three new culinary concepts, including new Cuban, Italian and Asian eateries.

The resort’s design, inspired by Cuba’s famous colonial town of Trinidad, has a total of 241 suites, all now with amenities like plasma TVs, minibars and balconies, among others.

The company has also added its Diamond Club premium option to the property, meaning access to exclusive restaurants, beach areas and an exclusive pool.

Blue Diamond took over management of the property at the end of 2018.

— CJ

The post This Cuba All-Inclusive Has a New Look appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Tim Cotroneo
CJ Contributor

A color like you’ve never seen before.

That’s what thrills first time travelers and tugs at the hearts of returning guests at Ocean Club West in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Turquoise blue, green, and all shades in between.

The ocean colors coming at you on Grace Bay Beach are jolting, intense, and intoxicating. Grace Bay’s world class beach is why vacationers choose Providenciales, the tourism hub of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The beauty of staying at Ocean Club West is you never know which brilliant shade will appear as you step out to experience this color-popping Caribbean visual.

The owners of Ocean Club Resorts knew what they were doing when Ocean Club West opened in 1999. That’s because there was already an Ocean Club East which first appeared on Grace Bay back in 1992.

The owners had figured out a Caribbean hospitality success formula with their first resort located one mile down the road. They doubled down on the possibilities for Ocean Club guests by offering twice the amenities with two resorts.

Let’s Do It Again

That’s right, guests staying at Ocean Club West can access all the services, dining, and oh yes, extraordinary ocean views at the original Ocean Club East. To make this ocean color feast twice as easy, Ocean Club offers a shuttle to and from the two properties every 30 minutes. For those who prefer a healthy wind in your hair way of commuting, there are also free bicycles at your service.

If there is any doubt that guests are enamored with Ocean Club’s photogenic sister to the West, realize that 2019 is a record year. The buzz created by Ocean Club West’s picture-perfect ocean color has translated to a steady 92 percent occupancy. If you’re thinking this demand means crowdedness, think again. That issue is one in which Ocean Club is so forward thinking.

A unit at Ocean Club West.

Ocean Club West is beyond spacious. Amidst a pool meets garden-like setting, there are only 86 suites. The suites range from studios to uber-spacious three-bedrooms with kitchens, living areas, and ample balconies offering ocean views. Ocean Club insiders delight in another success secret upon walking out on famed Grace Bay Beach.

Why Grace Bay is a Vacation Treasure

Think of most any other number one ranked travel attraction in the world and you’re usually inhaling because of the crowds. Grace Bay Beach is the delightful exception to this rule.

Despite its international reputation for beauty, you can walk, swim, or sail on Grace Bay Beach throughout the year, and have many parts of this ocean oasis all to yourself. This best kept secret is another reason why Ocean Club West went all in with a second resort.

Okay, so we’ve established that Ocean Club West is a wonderful choice for accommodations. You may be asking, “What else can we do on this colorful island playground?

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner by the Sea

Foodies listen up. Imagine starting your morning with a hot cup of coffee, fresh fruit, and the soothing sounds of ocean waves. Okay, let’s up the ante. To further rejuvenate your senses, let’s throw in a signature view of the Caribbean Sea during breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

Realize these delicious scenarios are something that Ocean Club West guests relish each day when satisfying their hunger palette. If an authentic Caribbean holiday is high on your Turks and Caicos priority list, Ocean Club has you covered.

Fresh catch seafood, jerk chicken, and Providenciales’ trademark conch salad are all options at Ocean Club West’s newly refurbished Solana restaurant. Head down the beach to Ocean Club East, and you’ll find the toes in the sand Cabana Bar, along with fine dining at Opus Restaurant. From a refreshment standpoint with an island kick, ask for a locally brewed Turk’s Head Beer or one of Ocean Club’s vast array of rums.

Explore the True Colors of Providenciales

Yes, Ocean Club West is the ultimate destination for just relaxing on the beach. But why not explore all the beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands have to offer?

Provo Golf Club is located across the street from Ocean Club East and just a mile from your stay at Ocean Club West. Provo is annually ranked one of the best 18-hole courses in the Caribbean.

If you can’t get enough of life on the water, book a snorkeling excursion that includes setting foot on an uninhabited island. Another way to get in touch with your inner Caribbean is by experiencing a kayak tour through the mangroves. If island hopping sounds like a great way to spend the day, ask the Ocean Club West for details on taking a ferry to North or Middle Caicos.

Sunsets Like No Other

A major part of the Ocean Club master strategy is where their two resorts are positioned on Grace Bay Beach. East and West’s prime beach location plays an integral part in a late afternoon tradition that guests can’t get enough of.

You’ll discover that sunsets at Ocean Club West’s Solana Restaurant and at Ocean Club East’s Cabana Bar are the best of times for making memories. Each evening, guests snuggle up to a favorite cocktail, or a significant other, as they watch Grace Bay’s sky transform into amazing shades of gold, bronze, and orange.

As the sun plunges like a giant gumdrop into the Caribbean Sea, guests raise their glasses to toast. Are they thanking the Ocean Club West owners and staff for creating this magic moment? Or are they saying, “I can’t wait until my next Turks and Caicos vacation to experience colors like I’ve never seen before.”

The post At Turks and Caicos’ Ocean Club, The Joy of the Beach appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Caribbean tourism is “robust and resilient,” according to Frank Comito, the chief executive officer of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.

Comito, who was speaking at this week’s CHRIS investment conference in Miami, said the region’s chief economic driver was continuing to grow.

Overall, the region has seen an “exceptional” 2019 so far, growth that includes the Caribbean hotel sector, where four out of every five hotels in the Caribbean reporting a net profit in 2018, according to Comito.

That’s up from three out of four several years ago, he said.

It’s part of a strong recovery from the storms of 2017 in the region.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for growth.

Indeed, the Caribbean still has more than 80,000 vacant hotel rooms every night; filling just 10 percent of those rooms would inject nearly $2 billion annually into the Caribbean economy, Comito said.

— CJ

The post Caribbean Tourism “Robust and Resilient” appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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