Caribbean visitors who want something a bit special on the accommodation front may be attracted by Itopia, a 400-year-old, three-bedroom Jamaican country house available through Island Outpost (represented on the Jamaica Tourism stand).
Island Outpost will also be promoting Geejam, which offers a retreat for travellers with a passion for music, film, fashion and photography. It was originally built to be a recording hideaway, but founder and music producer Jon Baker has transformed it into an ‘insider escape’.
Trinidad and Tobago (CA1025)
At the Tourism Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago’s stand you’ll have the chance to meet more than 100 of the islands’ stakeholders and even take a simulated flight in Trinbago Air’s carbon-free flight deck.
Trinidad and Tobago will also launch its school programme, Sounds Like Tobago at WTM. The scheme invites UK children between five and 11 to discover Tobago through a series of projects, supported by packs that include games, puzzles and competitions.
There’s also the launch of its plans for sports tourism in 2009, involving special guests Dwight Yorke and Brian Lara.
Grenada Board of Tourism (CA1095)
Grenada is sponsoring the steel band at the Caribbean street party on Tuesday November 11 from 5.30pm, to celebrate 35 years of independence in 2009.
It will also be displaying what is said to be WTM’s first interactive ‘destination kiosk’, where visitors can get instant training, book appointments with hoteliers, destination management companies and partners and enter competitions.
Grenada will also be launching its new branding and brochure at World Travel Market 2008.
The destination will be benefiting from more flights this winter: Monarch Airlines is launching a route to Grenada on December 17, flying from Gatwick on Wednesdays. British Airways increases its services to Grenada to twice weekly for the peak winter sun season, flying direct on a Tuesday and a Friday.
Elite Island Resorts (CA3025)
Elite Island Resorts will be unveiling new incentives and business developments for the trade.
Visitors will also be treated to a refreshing rum punch cocktail and learn more about promotional activities including the chance to win the use of a Porsche; a plant-a-palm-tree-in-the-Caribbean initiative and details of how to win £500 worth of vouchers in time for Christmas.
Treasure Beach Hotel (CA3000)
Love and marriage are top of the agenda of Barbadian property Treasure Beach Hotel’s plans for 2009. A variety of wedding and honeymoon packages have been created to suit different requirements but all have a common thread – intimacy and personalisation.
New for 2009, the hotel is offering a ‘sand ceremony’, which involves the bride and groom filling a vase of sand as they recite their vows – or a ‘sunset ceremony’ under a grand mahogany tree overlooking the glistening Caribbean Sea.
Spa destination Rosewood’s Little Dix Bay hotel, located on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, has completed a $31 million refurbishment, which involved rebranding its spa as Sense. It has also just launched ‘Poolates’, an activity in water that using the basic principles of Pilates.
Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa (CA1090)
For spa lovers who fancy a break from lounging around, visit the all-inclusive Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa, which has launched paintballing excursions.
Its Kai Mer Spa offers treatment rooms with ocean views and private outdoor showers, a Swiss hydro shower, steam rooms, saunas, massage, plus new manicure and pedicure patios and treatments such as the Organic Rainforest Facial.
Almond Resorts (CA2010)
Almond Resorts will be offering free hand and foot massages on Monday and Tuesday and hosting a celebration dinner on Monday November 10 at Mosimann’s.
Almond Beach Club and Spa is being closed for the final phase of a multi-million dollar redevelopment programme and will reopen in early December.
It also plans to further invest in Almond Casuarina Beach in Barbados to develop a state-of-the-art spa and meetings and conference centre. Work commences next year. It has also expanded Almond Morgan Bay, St Lucia to create 100 extra rooms. There are also new suites at Almond Smugglers Cove, St Lucia, refurbished rooms and a new children’s pool area.
Couples Resorts (CA1090)
Following a $22 million renovation, Couples Ocho Rios is being relaunched as Couples Tower Isle. The new name is a historical reference to the resort’s beginnings as a private island paradise and a 1950s and 1960s Hollywood hang-out.
The upgraded 226-room all-inclusive resort will also boast a new wedding gazebo, vegetable and juice bar, pool grill, spa with 10 treatment rooms, swimming pool with swim-up bar, new dive pool, gym, aerobics room, photo shop, gift shop, games room and a floating dock at the resorts’ own private island.
