THE US Virgin Islands is hoping to more than double UK arrivals following the launch of Caledonian Airways’ new direct charter service to the island of St Thomas.
The ex-Gatwick DC-10 flights started last week, replacing a short-lived Britannia Airways service chartered exclusively by yachting operator Sunsail for last winter.
Caledonian’s flights, which continue to Antigua, operate fortnightly during May and June, weekly during July-August, fortnightly again in September and then weekly from October. The airline’s Highland First premium cabin service will be available during the winter season. Last year, only 4,000 Britons visited the three islands that make up the USVI, and most of those went to the main destination of St Thomas.
Now the USVI Tourism Office in London is hoping to encourage more to visit the two lesser-known islands of St John and St Croix.
USVI Tourism Office UK manager Jenny Spurgeon said:”This new flight has the potential to really open up the US Virgin Islands to the UK market. Our challenge is to raise their profile and promote the attractions. We are working hard to encourage operators to use the new direct service and are targeting St Croix for special interests.”
The tourism office’s small UK budget is due to be reviewed in light of the new service. But Spurgeon said: “We will be increasing support for both the consumer and the trade. “Our first sales mission from the islands arrives in October and we will be working with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation.”
The UK operators featuring the USVIs use the British Airways service to San Juan, Puerto Rico, with onward connections. Caledonian’s sister tour operation, Style Holidays, is already selling a limited number of St Thomas hotels based on the direct flight, with prices from £699 for seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Beach Resort.
n groups team up to promote puerto rico
Harlequin Worldwide Travel and British Airways have joined forces with the Ritz Carlton San Juan Hoteland Casino to promote holidays to the little-known Spanish Caribbean islandof Puerto Rico. Anintroductory packagecosting £1,496 includes return BA flights, seven nights’ accommodationand onward flights to visit the Ritz Carlton SanJuan’s sister property on St Thomas in the USVirgin Islands.
n sandy beach appoints UKrepresentative
Sandy Beach Island Resort on Barbados’ south coast has appointed its first UK representative following a number of improvements to the property. ITG Salesand Marketing, based in Uxbridge, Middlesex,has been signed up toraise the profile of the127-room property in the UK and Europe through increased sales andmarketing activity.
n resort joins forces with harlequin travel
Windjammer Landing Beach Resort on St Lucia has teamed up with Harlequin Worldwide Travel to offer a scuba-diving package.Valid until December 17, the Dive Windjammerdeal includes sevennights’ accommodation, breakfast and dinner,eight tank dives inclusiveof tanks and air, othercomplimentary watersports and transfers toand from the airport.Prices start at £1,375, including British Airways flights.
LADERA, a small exclusive property on St Lucia, is one of a number of St Lucian hotels planning to increase their profile in the UK and Europe.
At present, 70% of 24-room Ladera’s business, as well as many other small hotels on the island, comes from the US market, with only 10% from the UK.
One reason for the new effort is the cancellation of American Airlines’ weekly Miami-St Lucia feeder flights.
Ladera general manager Magnus Alnebeck said: “We want to raise our profile in the UK and Europe in the hope that we can replace some of the US business we expect to lose because of American Airlines’ defection. We already feature in the majority of specialist UK operators’ brochures, such as Caribtours and Caribbean Connection, but are looking at ways of boosting the amount of bookings we get from them.”
Ladera’s isolated hill-top location close to the volcanic Pitons on St Lucia means it appeals to customers who enjoy nature.
Alnebeck plans to promote soft-adventure holidays based at the hotel, including rainforest walks and nature trails.
POPULAR all-inclusive resort Club Antigua has closed to undergo major renovation.
Up to $25m is being spent on the resort, which is part of Odyssey Resorts International, formerly Clubs International. When it reopens on November 15 two resorts will emerge – the rebranded Odyssey Resort Antigua and the adult-only Xanadu Resort Antigua.
The 338-room Odyssey Resort Antigua will be made up of five villages and the 100-room Xanadu Resort will highlight relaxation and service.
HARROGATE-based specialist Complete Caribbean is adding more islands to its 2000 brochure following its debut programme.
The Dominican Republic, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos are being added, as well as a selection of new properties on islands already featured.
Complete Caribbean business development executive Gaynor Pickard said: “The brochure will be larger at 92 pages, up from 70, and we will be looking at expanding the number of properties we offer on many of the islands.”
In the Dominican Republic the five-star Caso de Campo in Punta Cana is being introduced, while in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Sandals Beaches resort and the Crystal Bay will appear for the first time.