Friday, July 29, 2005
$55 Million Contract Signed For Atlantis Conference Centre
Kerzner International, which operates the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island, and Cavalier Construction signed a $55 million deal on Wednesday for the expansion of the resort’s conference center.
Chief Operations Officer at Kerzner International Nan Pallmer said in the past the company has been restricted because there was insufficient space to host various large groups.
"With the expansion, Kerzner International could cater to a broader market attracting larger groups who will eventually turn into return guests seeking to experience the full experience of the resort," she said.
The current conference center features a 25,000 square foot grand ballroom which can accommodate 2,700 persons.
The expanded facility will feature a 50,000 square foot imperial ballroom, the largest in The Bahamas and the Caribbean region, and 30,000 square feet of pre-function space.
In addition the center will have 30 break-out rooms, a boardroom, a large staging area and a new banquet kitchen with additional pantries.
The new conference center will have the capacity to accommodate 5,000 guests.
Chief Operations Officer at Kerzner International Nan Pallmer said in the past the company has been restricted because there was insufficient space to host various large groups.
"With the expansion, Kerzner International could cater to a broader market attracting larger groups who will eventually turn into return guests seeking to experience the full experience of the resort," she said.
The current conference center features a 25,000 square foot grand ballroom which can accommodate 2,700 persons.
The expanded facility will feature a 50,000 square foot imperial ballroom, the largest in The Bahamas and the Caribbean region, and 30,000 square feet of pre-function space.
In addition the center will have 30 break-out rooms, a boardroom, a large staging area and a new banquet kitchen with additional pantries.
The new conference center will have the capacity to accommodate 5,000 guests.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Learning the language of the travel industry
I came across this article by Bill McGee. It is well worth a read for a good chuckle!
Learning the language of the travel industry
The travel
industry has a language all its own. Unfortunately, this can mean trouble for
consumers who aren't fluent.
Every year, millions of passengers request a "direct
flight" when what they really want is a "nonstop flight." This isn't their
fault; it's the airlines that have twisted a nice simple word like "direct" to
mean "an en-route stop without a change of airplanes."
Similarly, many hotel guests request "adjoining rooms"
when what they really want is the private door found in "connecting rooms."
Travel can be confusing, and not speaking its language
can make it even more confusing. The glossary below is designed to make it just
a little easier to understand.
A travel dictionary for the 2000s
No-show n. a hotel guest who is charged for
a stay due to his or her failure to cancel. See also mo-show n.
the double revenue a hotel earns by booking the no-show room.
CDW n. optional car rental coverage that is
unnecessary for most consumers; alternately known as "collision damage waiver"
or "completely disregard whenever."
Code-sharing n. a practice that allows two
or more airlines to cross-sell each other's flights using their own airline
codes; extensive research has shown the primary benefit is confusing passengers
who want to file a complaint.
Family plan n. a rate offered for a family
member to travel at a discount or for free; however, the travel industry's
definition of "family member" may exclude grandparents, grandchildren, siblings,
aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws, parents, children or spouses.
Force majeure n. an Act of God (bad
weather, etc.) that absolves an airline from compensating passengers after a
delay or cancellation. See also force maneure n. an act of airline
management that is later denied by that airline.
Froot Loops, stale n. see complimentary
continental breakfast.
Non-revenue n. passengers, guests or
customers who do not contribute to a travel company's profits (note: this
applies to all passengers aboard United and US Airways flights).
Open jaws n. 1) airline tickets that allow
you to fly into one city and fly out of another city; 2) Las Vegas hotel patrons
after crab claws are added to the $5.99 buffet.
Paperless travel n. the printed
itineraries, confirmations, and receipts that were supposed to be rendered
obsolete by the elimination of airline tickets.
Shoulder season n. term used by resorts to
charge the high rates of peak season while still offering the skeleton staff of
low season.
Spoke n. a city served by an airline from
its hub, in which the last two flights of the evening are routinely cancelled.
Yield management n. a sophisticated
technological mechanism used by airlines and other travel companies to determine
fair pricing; also known as dart board.
Coining New Terms
Many frequent travelers speak in shorthand and have
devised their own terminology to explain the peculiarities of life on the road.
At Consumer Reports WebWatch, we've coined our own term — "fare-jumping"
— to describe the phenomenon of airline rates that suddenly increase right in
the middle of the booking process. Now it's catching on and is starting to be
used throughout the industry.
What follows are additional suggestions to expand the
travel lexicon.
Bin-itis n. a chronic condition caused by
falling baggage from an airplane's overhead storage compartment.
Deck shoes n. the sandals used for a
10-hour period to "reserve" a prime lounge chair on the deck of a cruise ship.
Ignition artery n. the blood vessel in
one's inner ear that bursts upon starting a rental car with a radio adjusted to
the maximum volume by the cleaning staff.
Jackson gallon n. a unit of measurement
used to describe topping off a gas tank by a car rental firm (named for the U.S.
President on the $20 bill).
New York minute n. the accepted length of
time to use the lavatory on a shuttle flight from Washington.
One-and-a-half n. a cruise ship's gym
(named for the number of adults who can fit in it).
Shine-ons n. the shoe mitts one finds at
the bottom of a carry-on bag that were stolen from a hotel on the last trip and
never unpacked.
Taxi-neck n. the traffic logjam that occurs
¾ of a mile from an airport terminal and causes one to miss a flight.
Virtual victuals n. an airborne meal
comprised entirely of crumbs found in the seatback pocket underneath the
ditching card.
Visa freeze n. the frightful stage of an
online travel booking when this message appears: "We are processing your credit
card data."
Undoubtedly you've probably minted a few travel terms of
your own. Feel free to
pass them along and perhaps we can share them with other readers.
Bill McGee, a contributing editor to Consumer
Reports and the former editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, is an
FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher who worked in airline operations and management
for several years. Tell him what you think of his latest column by sending him
an e-mail at USATODAY.com at
travel@usatoday.com. Include your name, hometown and daytime phone number,
and he may use your feedback in a future column.
Friday, July 22, 2005
Hotel internet marketing - inhouse or outsource?
by Richard Walsh
Recent research statistics show that 20 to 25% of the average hotel’s reservations originate from some interaction by the guest through the Internet. This interaction is either as a part of the selection process or a direct online reservation. This percentage is based on actual bookings and it does not consider the telephone bookings that are generated from Internet searches and references. In the months ahead, hoteliers will realize more than half of all their reservations are a direct result of Internet searches and information.
Will these reservations come through a hotel’s proprietary website, the brand website or a 3rd party website? The answer is yes! Yes, online reservations will be made through all of these channels from travelers, travel planners and secure extranets that are connected to various Internet channels. How you market your hotel on each of these channels and probably some new ones, such as the meta search engines is crucial to your business. Successful hotel marketing requires a solution for each.
Gone are the days when hotel marketing was a bold listing in a directory, a 4 color brochure and a connection to the GDS. The amazing shift in sales channels and buying patterns over the past five years has turned the hospitality industry upside down. I would use the term “paradigm shift”, but that is way too trendy.
Now is the time to re-evaluate marketing strategies! Hotel sales are up, room rates are up and the percentage of guest booking through the Internet is escalating at a record pace. The battle of the heavy weights for the guest bookings is on between the brands and the 3rd party merchant sites. The hotelier has to decide what level of inventory and rates will generate the best return from the brand’s Internet and GDS bookings compared to giving away half of their rate to a 3rd party merchant because they do drive sales volume. Mr. Hotelier, remember when the concern was whether to pay a 15% commission to the travel agencies?
There is no doubt that the sales channel for today and even more for tomorrow is the Internet. Hospitality marketing has changed significantly and it will continue to change as the Internet and search engines change. It doesn’t matter anymore whether your hotel is a five star deluxe in Manhattan or a two star at interstate exit 25 or whether you are a mountain resort or an urban conference center. Your website content, search engine position and link affiliations are part of the selection and reservation process by your future guests.
The strategic business decision facing most hoteliers today is whether to take on the personnel and related overhead that is required to manage an effective Internet marketing program, to rely on their brand or to outsource and manage the relationship with a professional Internet marketing agency. There are clearly a growing number of new online marketing tools that can help enable an in-house Internet marketing effort. And, the number of marketing agency choices is overwhelming.
For an effective in-house Internet marketing program, you will need a marketing staff, the demands far out weigh what one marketing manager can do. One person is needed to focus their efforts on managing your traditional marketing programs. Another person, possibly a webmaster, is needed to keep your website current, fresh and appealing. Add an eCommerce manager to manage your daily organic and paid search campaigns as well as interacting with the Webmaster and directing email promotions and broadcasts. And finally, someone has to analyze the Internet data to determine and define the changes and updates that are required so senior management can make an informed decision.
Then there is always the risk of a key marketing person leaving the company. This immediately creates an urgent need for replacement by someone who is proficient with the same Internet programs used by their predecessor or you will have a transition delay in your marketing until the new Internet services are implemented, not to mention termination of existing licenses and contracts. Today’s web-based tools and on-line services are great, but they all require a certain technical aptitude, along with time and talent for creative design, system monitoring and interpreting results. Doing your own Internet marketing in-house definitely gives you control.
On the other hand, your delays, mistakes or distractions will cost you significantly over time.
One alternative to an in-house eCommerce Department is to rely on your brand to market your property through a page or two for your hotel on their site. We all know the risk factor here. The brand’s marketing priorities focus on selling the brand and not your specific property or market. The strategy with most brands does not take into consideration such property specifics as location, local events and attractions, groups, supplemental services (dynamic packaging) or other factors that are unique to the property.
The brands are clearly improving in their Internet marketing efforts, but their values do not change. Their priority is to generate sales volume across all hotels based on the value perception of the brand, brand specific promotions, brand frequent stay programs and other brand specific programs. The brand is an essential element in any successful marketing plan much like and equal to the benefits from the 3rd party sales channels. But, it can be a mistake to assume the brand is your Internet marketing solution.
Another alternative is to outsource your Internet marketing to an Internet Services Agency. But only when there are clearly defined expectation between you and the agency and a measurable set of benchmarks included in the service agreement.
You need to keep in mind, that the basic requirements for a good Internet marketing service are quit different from those that are generally available from traditional advertising agencies. The primary requirement, in addition to a definitive agreement, should be that their core competency is rooted in the hospitality or travel industry. Only those of us in the hospitality industry understand the challenges presented by the variable demands of owners, management companies and the day to day property level business operations. A service as critical as your Internet marketing demands that your supplier(s) clearly understand the unique demands from your guests and the value of each sales channel, including non-Internet channels.
The fundamental nature of the Internet, unlike traditional image or value marketing, is rooted in its ability to enable comparison by the shopper as well as its ability to search for customer/shopper/prospect relational criteria. This is why the importance of the Internet search engines and their peripheral services are so important. The search engines capitalize on the pure nature of the Internet’s ability to empower the customer/shopper to select a hotel based on key marketing factors (keyword or phrases) other than the brand name and to compare their findings.
The marketing factors include location, personal preferences, price, special promotional offers, property specific dynamic packaging and other property specific services and amenities. To implement a successful search engine marketing program either organic or paid requires elements that are not provided by most brands, marketing services that require constant updates of rich optimized website content, page updates, relevant links and more as the search engines change their algorithms on a daily basis. To create and maintain an effective Internet marketing program requires man-power with experience, an aptitude for automated systems and time or redundancy.
The true bottom line for every hotel’s Internet marketing program is measured by its conversion rate. This is the ratio of sales to website traffic and it has a direct impact your true benchmark of success . . . REVPAR and ROI results! In conclusion, Internet marketing is strategic to your overall marketing efforts. Whether you manage hotel Internet marketing in-house with online tools, depend on your brand or you outsource, if you are not getting a minimum return of five to one on your invested time and cost, it is time to re-evaluate your strategy. You need a clear strategy with defined measurable expectations as well as some flexibility in your plan to accommodate unexpected changes resulting from new Internet services and opportunities.
Richard Walsh is V.P. of Business Development for Lodging Interactive, Atlanta.
Recent research statistics show that 20 to 25% of the average hotel’s reservations originate from some interaction by the guest through the Internet. This interaction is either as a part of the selection process or a direct online reservation. This percentage is based on actual bookings and it does not consider the telephone bookings that are generated from Internet searches and references. In the months ahead, hoteliers will realize more than half of all their reservations are a direct result of Internet searches and information.
Will these reservations come through a hotel’s proprietary website, the brand website or a 3rd party website? The answer is yes! Yes, online reservations will be made through all of these channels from travelers, travel planners and secure extranets that are connected to various Internet channels. How you market your hotel on each of these channels and probably some new ones, such as the meta search engines is crucial to your business. Successful hotel marketing requires a solution for each.
Gone are the days when hotel marketing was a bold listing in a directory, a 4 color brochure and a connection to the GDS. The amazing shift in sales channels and buying patterns over the past five years has turned the hospitality industry upside down. I would use the term “paradigm shift”, but that is way too trendy.
Now is the time to re-evaluate marketing strategies! Hotel sales are up, room rates are up and the percentage of guest booking through the Internet is escalating at a record pace. The battle of the heavy weights for the guest bookings is on between the brands and the 3rd party merchant sites. The hotelier has to decide what level of inventory and rates will generate the best return from the brand’s Internet and GDS bookings compared to giving away half of their rate to a 3rd party merchant because they do drive sales volume. Mr. Hotelier, remember when the concern was whether to pay a 15% commission to the travel agencies?
There is no doubt that the sales channel for today and even more for tomorrow is the Internet. Hospitality marketing has changed significantly and it will continue to change as the Internet and search engines change. It doesn’t matter anymore whether your hotel is a five star deluxe in Manhattan or a two star at interstate exit 25 or whether you are a mountain resort or an urban conference center. Your website content, search engine position and link affiliations are part of the selection and reservation process by your future guests.
The strategic business decision facing most hoteliers today is whether to take on the personnel and related overhead that is required to manage an effective Internet marketing program, to rely on their brand or to outsource and manage the relationship with a professional Internet marketing agency. There are clearly a growing number of new online marketing tools that can help enable an in-house Internet marketing effort. And, the number of marketing agency choices is overwhelming.
For an effective in-house Internet marketing program, you will need a marketing staff, the demands far out weigh what one marketing manager can do. One person is needed to focus their efforts on managing your traditional marketing programs. Another person, possibly a webmaster, is needed to keep your website current, fresh and appealing. Add an eCommerce manager to manage your daily organic and paid search campaigns as well as interacting with the Webmaster and directing email promotions and broadcasts. And finally, someone has to analyze the Internet data to determine and define the changes and updates that are required so senior management can make an informed decision.
Then there is always the risk of a key marketing person leaving the company. This immediately creates an urgent need for replacement by someone who is proficient with the same Internet programs used by their predecessor or you will have a transition delay in your marketing until the new Internet services are implemented, not to mention termination of existing licenses and contracts. Today’s web-based tools and on-line services are great, but they all require a certain technical aptitude, along with time and talent for creative design, system monitoring and interpreting results. Doing your own Internet marketing in-house definitely gives you control.
On the other hand, your delays, mistakes or distractions will cost you significantly over time.
One alternative to an in-house eCommerce Department is to rely on your brand to market your property through a page or two for your hotel on their site. We all know the risk factor here. The brand’s marketing priorities focus on selling the brand and not your specific property or market. The strategy with most brands does not take into consideration such property specifics as location, local events and attractions, groups, supplemental services (dynamic packaging) or other factors that are unique to the property.
The brands are clearly improving in their Internet marketing efforts, but their values do not change. Their priority is to generate sales volume across all hotels based on the value perception of the brand, brand specific promotions, brand frequent stay programs and other brand specific programs. The brand is an essential element in any successful marketing plan much like and equal to the benefits from the 3rd party sales channels. But, it can be a mistake to assume the brand is your Internet marketing solution.
Another alternative is to outsource your Internet marketing to an Internet Services Agency. But only when there are clearly defined expectation between you and the agency and a measurable set of benchmarks included in the service agreement.
You need to keep in mind, that the basic requirements for a good Internet marketing service are quit different from those that are generally available from traditional advertising agencies. The primary requirement, in addition to a definitive agreement, should be that their core competency is rooted in the hospitality or travel industry. Only those of us in the hospitality industry understand the challenges presented by the variable demands of owners, management companies and the day to day property level business operations. A service as critical as your Internet marketing demands that your supplier(s) clearly understand the unique demands from your guests and the value of each sales channel, including non-Internet channels.
The fundamental nature of the Internet, unlike traditional image or value marketing, is rooted in its ability to enable comparison by the shopper as well as its ability to search for customer/shopper/prospect relational criteria. This is why the importance of the Internet search engines and their peripheral services are so important. The search engines capitalize on the pure nature of the Internet’s ability to empower the customer/shopper to select a hotel based on key marketing factors (keyword or phrases) other than the brand name and to compare their findings.
The marketing factors include location, personal preferences, price, special promotional offers, property specific dynamic packaging and other property specific services and amenities. To implement a successful search engine marketing program either organic or paid requires elements that are not provided by most brands, marketing services that require constant updates of rich optimized website content, page updates, relevant links and more as the search engines change their algorithms on a daily basis. To create and maintain an effective Internet marketing program requires man-power with experience, an aptitude for automated systems and time or redundancy.
The true bottom line for every hotel’s Internet marketing program is measured by its conversion rate. This is the ratio of sales to website traffic and it has a direct impact your true benchmark of success . . . REVPAR and ROI results! In conclusion, Internet marketing is strategic to your overall marketing efforts. Whether you manage hotel Internet marketing in-house with online tools, depend on your brand or you outsource, if you are not getting a minimum return of five to one on your invested time and cost, it is time to re-evaluate your strategy. You need a clear strategy with defined measurable expectations as well as some flexibility in your plan to accommodate unexpected changes resulting from new Internet services and opportunities.
Richard Walsh is V.P. of Business Development for Lodging Interactive, Atlanta.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Planes, Trains and ... Laptops?; Recent Survey Reveals 34 Percent of U.S. Adult Computer Users Have Vacationed with a Laptop PC
Say farewell to paper maps that refuse to fold up, calling cards that run out at the worst possible moment, and fight-inducing games of 'I Spy'. Today's savvy vacationers are going high-tech to stay informed, in touch and entertained.
A recent survey of U.S. adult computer users, commissioned by Intel Corporation(R) and conducted by Harris Interactive(R), reveals that 34 percent of respondents or their families have taken a laptop PC with them on vacation(1) and half (51 percent) of all respondents are likely to take a laptop PC on a future vacation(2). Ahead of checking and sending work-related email (43 percent), the three most popular uses of a laptop PC for those who say they have taken one on vacation were checking personal e-mail (72 percent); enjoying entertainment such as movies, music and games (56 percent); and gathering trip information online (45 percent).
With a wireless-enabled laptop PC -- such as those based on Intel Centrino(TM) mobile technology -- travelers can surf the Web and connect to the Internet to do things such as check and send e-mail, download movies, play games and create a travel blog(a). All around the world, wireless "hotspots" are popping up at family-friendly vacation destinations and businesses, including:
• Nearly 1,000 Holiday Inn hotels in North America;
• More than 100 U.S. KOA campgrounds and 85 California state parks;
• Eleven commercial airlines that offer or plan to offer Connexion by Boeing(b) in-flight Internet access service, which is currently available on more than 100 routes daily to and from U.S. and international destinations;
• Cruise lines such as Carnival, Holland America, Norwegian and Princess;
• Grand Canyon and Yellowstone national parks;
• Tourist attractions such as Universal CityWalk Hollywood;
• Events such as the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy, Calif. and Bumbershoot in Seattle; and
• More than 6,000 McDonald's restaurants around the world.
Analyst firm IDC estimates that there are likely to be more than 130,000 wireless hotspots worldwide by the end of 2005(3). Travelers can locate wireless hotspots using Intel's hotspot finder at http://intel.jiwire.com.
"The survey results show that mobile technology is making it easy for travelers to research destinations, be entertained and stay in touch with family and friends while away from home," said Ralph Bond, Intel consumer education manager. "Whether it's traveling retirees e-mailing their grandkids vacation notes and photos, families downloading movies and music to enjoy on the road, newlyweds creating Web logs of their honeymoon and reading reviews of romantic restaurants, or out-of-towners researching and buying tickets to local attractions and events, leisure travelers are finding laptop computers useful as all-in-one communication and entertainment devices."
Whether they have or have not taken a laptop on vacation, computer users would find laptop features specifically designed for mobility to be of value when vacationing. Survey respondents said long battery life (62 percent), lightweight design (58 percent) and the ability to surf the Internet wirelessly (55 percent) are the most valuable features of a laptop for vacation use.
(1) "A Study about Laptops & Vacations," an Intel-sponsored online omnibus survey conducted by Harris Interactive(R) in June 2005. Note: Based on the 2004 U.S. Census Current Population Survey, there are approximately 288 million people in the United States, of which about 214 million of them are adults ages 18 and older. Of those adults, a 2005 Harris Poll shows that 74 percent are online, which translates into 163 million people. The Harris Poll(R) was conducted by telephone by Harris Interactive in February and April 2005 among 2,022 U.S. adults aged 18+. Sampling error is +/-2 percentage points.
(2) Fifty-one percent of respondents indicated they are "very likely," "likely" or "somewhat likely" to take a laptop computer with them on a future vacation.
About the Survey
Harris Interactive(R) fielded the online survey on behalf of Intel between June 23 and 30, 2005 among a nationwide sample of 2,547 U.S. adult computer users aged 18 and older, of whom 911 have taken a laptop computer with them on vacation. The data were weighted to be representative of the total U.S. adult computer user population on the basis of region, age within gender, education, household income, race/ethnicity and amount of time spent using a computer per week. Though this online sample is not a probability sample, in theory, with probability samples of this size, Harris Interactive estimates with 95 percent certainty that the overall results have a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Sampling error for the results of those who have taken a laptop with them on vacation is plus or minus 5 percentage points.
(3) Source: IDC Worldwide Hotspot 2004-2008 Forecast and Analysis, Dec. 2004.
A recent survey of U.S. adult computer users, commissioned by Intel Corporation(R) and conducted by Harris Interactive(R), reveals that 34 percent of respondents or their families have taken a laptop PC with them on vacation(1) and half (51 percent) of all respondents are likely to take a laptop PC on a future vacation(2). Ahead of checking and sending work-related email (43 percent), the three most popular uses of a laptop PC for those who say they have taken one on vacation were checking personal e-mail (72 percent); enjoying entertainment such as movies, music and games (56 percent); and gathering trip information online (45 percent).
With a wireless-enabled laptop PC -- such as those based on Intel Centrino(TM) mobile technology -- travelers can surf the Web and connect to the Internet to do things such as check and send e-mail, download movies, play games and create a travel blog(a). All around the world, wireless "hotspots" are popping up at family-friendly vacation destinations and businesses, including:
• Nearly 1,000 Holiday Inn hotels in North America;
• More than 100 U.S. KOA campgrounds and 85 California state parks;
• Eleven commercial airlines that offer or plan to offer Connexion by Boeing(b) in-flight Internet access service, which is currently available on more than 100 routes daily to and from U.S. and international destinations;
• Cruise lines such as Carnival, Holland America, Norwegian and Princess;
• Grand Canyon and Yellowstone national parks;
• Tourist attractions such as Universal CityWalk Hollywood;
• Events such as the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy, Calif. and Bumbershoot in Seattle; and
• More than 6,000 McDonald's restaurants around the world.
Analyst firm IDC estimates that there are likely to be more than 130,000 wireless hotspots worldwide by the end of 2005(3). Travelers can locate wireless hotspots using Intel's hotspot finder at http://intel.jiwire.com.
"The survey results show that mobile technology is making it easy for travelers to research destinations, be entertained and stay in touch with family and friends while away from home," said Ralph Bond, Intel consumer education manager. "Whether it's traveling retirees e-mailing their grandkids vacation notes and photos, families downloading movies and music to enjoy on the road, newlyweds creating Web logs of their honeymoon and reading reviews of romantic restaurants, or out-of-towners researching and buying tickets to local attractions and events, leisure travelers are finding laptop computers useful as all-in-one communication and entertainment devices."
Whether they have or have not taken a laptop on vacation, computer users would find laptop features specifically designed for mobility to be of value when vacationing. Survey respondents said long battery life (62 percent), lightweight design (58 percent) and the ability to surf the Internet wirelessly (55 percent) are the most valuable features of a laptop for vacation use.
(1) "A Study about Laptops & Vacations," an Intel-sponsored online omnibus survey conducted by Harris Interactive(R) in June 2005. Note: Based on the 2004 U.S. Census Current Population Survey, there are approximately 288 million people in the United States, of which about 214 million of them are adults ages 18 and older. Of those adults, a 2005 Harris Poll shows that 74 percent are online, which translates into 163 million people. The Harris Poll(R) was conducted by telephone by Harris Interactive in February and April 2005 among 2,022 U.S. adults aged 18+. Sampling error is +/-2 percentage points.
(2) Fifty-one percent of respondents indicated they are "very likely," "likely" or "somewhat likely" to take a laptop computer with them on a future vacation.
About the Survey
Harris Interactive(R) fielded the online survey on behalf of Intel between June 23 and 30, 2005 among a nationwide sample of 2,547 U.S. adult computer users aged 18 and older, of whom 911 have taken a laptop computer with them on vacation. The data were weighted to be representative of the total U.S. adult computer user population on the basis of region, age within gender, education, household income, race/ethnicity and amount of time spent using a computer per week. Though this online sample is not a probability sample, in theory, with probability samples of this size, Harris Interactive estimates with 95 percent certainty that the overall results have a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Sampling error for the results of those who have taken a laptop with them on vacation is plus or minus 5 percentage points.
(3) Source: IDC Worldwide Hotspot 2004-2008 Forecast and Analysis, Dec. 2004.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Cancun Escapes the Brunt of Hurricane Emily
Cancun Is Up And Running And Ready For National And International Tourism After Hurricane Emily
Cancun's local government, The Municipality of Benito Juarez, reports no injuries or mayor structural damage after Hurricane Emily. The hurricane swept over the south coast of the State of Quintana Roo, at least 80 miles away from Cancun Hotel Zone, during the early morning of Monday, July 18.
Tourists who braved the hurricane in Cancun, the most important tourist destination in Mexico and Latin America, were moved to comfortable shelters located throughout the hotel zone and main downtown area. All of them will be returning to their hotels throughout the day in order to continue enjoying their vacation or will depart as scheduled. In fact, local weather forecasts are predicting plenty of sunshine within 12 hours. Hotel zone services such as electricity, water, communications and local transportation, are working normally. Hotels have reported minimal property damage, mostly downed posts, signs and trees.
The Cancun International Airport began regular operations today at noon, after massive departures on Saturday and Sunday. 'Cancún and all its services providers are ready to serve national and international tourists during this very important summer season', informed Artemio Santos Santos, Director of the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Gerald Moore a tourist from Dallas, Texas how was traveling with his wife and stayed at the Convention Center shelter declared, 'Everything was very well organized here at the shelter. We felt very secure and were continuously updated throughout our stay. We were even invited to leave Cancun, but we didn't accept the offer as we felt everything was planed perfectly.' Phil Marwood, from Toronto, Canada traveling with Sunquest said, 'We want to thank everyone here because we felt really secure at all times.'
Ing. Artemio Santos General Director Cancun CVB
Cancun's local government, The Municipality of Benito Juarez, reports no injuries or mayor structural damage after Hurricane Emily. The hurricane swept over the south coast of the State of Quintana Roo, at least 80 miles away from Cancun Hotel Zone, during the early morning of Monday, July 18.
Tourists who braved the hurricane in Cancun, the most important tourist destination in Mexico and Latin America, were moved to comfortable shelters located throughout the hotel zone and main downtown area. All of them will be returning to their hotels throughout the day in order to continue enjoying their vacation or will depart as scheduled. In fact, local weather forecasts are predicting plenty of sunshine within 12 hours. Hotel zone services such as electricity, water, communications and local transportation, are working normally. Hotels have reported minimal property damage, mostly downed posts, signs and trees.
The Cancun International Airport began regular operations today at noon, after massive departures on Saturday and Sunday. 'Cancún and all its services providers are ready to serve national and international tourists during this very important summer season', informed Artemio Santos Santos, Director of the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Gerald Moore a tourist from Dallas, Texas how was traveling with his wife and stayed at the Convention Center shelter declared, 'Everything was very well organized here at the shelter. We felt very secure and were continuously updated throughout our stay. We were even invited to leave Cancun, but we didn't accept the offer as we felt everything was planed perfectly.' Phil Marwood, from Toronto, Canada traveling with Sunquest said, 'We want to thank everyone here because we felt really secure at all times.'
Ing. Artemio Santos General Director Cancun CVB
Soaring Temperatures - Take Care
The average daily temperature for July is 89 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Department of Meteorology, but this July it has been averaging 91 degrees.
The Department also reported that a temperature of 96 degrees was recorded on July 2, the highest temperature recorded on a July day in decades. Forecasters also say that the humidity level makes the temperature on some days feel well over 100 degrees.
It’s perhaps easy to see why experts are quick to send warnings about the heat. Dr. James Iferenta, clinical director of emergency services at Doctors Hospital, said on Tuesday that it is very important to keep the body hydrated.
"There are a number of things that we advise our patients to do to avoid heat-related illnesses," he said. "The first is to drink adequate amounts of water and not necessarily juices or sodas, but actually water." Dr. Iferenta explained that during this time of year, the body loses a lot of fluid from the surface of the skin.
The second thing to do would be to protect the skin from the sun, he said. "The sun can cause burning and it can cause rashes and irritations," Dr. Iferenta said. "You can actually over a number of years develop skin cancer so it is important to wear sun block to protect the skin from harmful radiation."
Experts say on hot, humid days, increased moisture in the air slows the evaporation of sweat. When sweating is not enough to cool your body, they say, the body temperature rises, and you may become ill.
Even short periods of high temperatures can cause serious health problems, experts advise. They point out that two of the most common types of heat-related illnesses are heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
Heat stroke occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature. As the body temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat strokes can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.
Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of water and salt contained in sweat. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood pressure, and people working or exercising in a hot environment, according to experts, who say if heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to a heat stroke.
Overexposure to the sun can also lead to a number of skin problems including sunburns, sun rashes, and in some cases dry skin and psoriases, according to the experts.
Bridgette Barry, a local esthetician, recommends that before going outside, individuals should clean their skin properly, and then apply sun block to the skin and sun cream to the face.
Ms. Barry said that there are certain times during the day when the sun is at its hottest. She recommends staying inside during those times.
"From noon to about 3pm is the worst time for sun exposure during the day," Ms. Barry said. "The sun that comes into your car is at times worse than standing outside because the car also blocks the natural safeguards, and leaves the body with intense heat."
Experts agree that skin tones have very little to do with heat-related illnesses. In fact, they say in many cases, persons of darker skin tones burn much faster that than persons of lighter skin tones.
Other tips for dealing with the heat include: Plan to do more summer activities in the morning, when it’s cooler; Wear hats that keep the sun off your face and neck and Try to schedule all meetings in your office.
The Department also reported that a temperature of 96 degrees was recorded on July 2, the highest temperature recorded on a July day in decades. Forecasters also say that the humidity level makes the temperature on some days feel well over 100 degrees.
It’s perhaps easy to see why experts are quick to send warnings about the heat. Dr. James Iferenta, clinical director of emergency services at Doctors Hospital, said on Tuesday that it is very important to keep the body hydrated.
"There are a number of things that we advise our patients to do to avoid heat-related illnesses," he said. "The first is to drink adequate amounts of water and not necessarily juices or sodas, but actually water." Dr. Iferenta explained that during this time of year, the body loses a lot of fluid from the surface of the skin.
The second thing to do would be to protect the skin from the sun, he said. "The sun can cause burning and it can cause rashes and irritations," Dr. Iferenta said. "You can actually over a number of years develop skin cancer so it is important to wear sun block to protect the skin from harmful radiation."
Experts say on hot, humid days, increased moisture in the air slows the evaporation of sweat. When sweating is not enough to cool your body, they say, the body temperature rises, and you may become ill.
Even short periods of high temperatures can cause serious health problems, experts advise. They point out that two of the most common types of heat-related illnesses are heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
Heat stroke occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature. As the body temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat strokes can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.
Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of water and salt contained in sweat. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood pressure, and people working or exercising in a hot environment, according to experts, who say if heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to a heat stroke.
Overexposure to the sun can also lead to a number of skin problems including sunburns, sun rashes, and in some cases dry skin and psoriases, according to the experts.
Bridgette Barry, a local esthetician, recommends that before going outside, individuals should clean their skin properly, and then apply sun block to the skin and sun cream to the face.
Ms. Barry said that there are certain times during the day when the sun is at its hottest. She recommends staying inside during those times.
"From noon to about 3pm is the worst time for sun exposure during the day," Ms. Barry said. "The sun that comes into your car is at times worse than standing outside because the car also blocks the natural safeguards, and leaves the body with intense heat."
Experts agree that skin tones have very little to do with heat-related illnesses. In fact, they say in many cases, persons of darker skin tones burn much faster that than persons of lighter skin tones.
Other tips for dealing with the heat include: Plan to do more summer activities in the morning, when it’s cooler; Wear hats that keep the sun off your face and neck and Try to schedule all meetings in your office.
Online travel sales up 53%
Online sales were up 29% for the week ending June 26 over the corresponding week a year ago, reaching $1.32 billion from $1.02 billion, comScore Networks Inc. reports.
By comparison, total retail sales for the week ending June 25 were up 6.9% from the same week a year ago, reports ShopperTrak’s National Retail Sales Estimate.
Online travel sales for week ending June 26 were up 53% to $1.2 billion from $792 million in the corresponding week a year ago, comScore reports
By comparison, total retail sales for the week ending June 25 were up 6.9% from the same week a year ago, reports ShopperTrak’s National Retail Sales Estimate.
Online travel sales for week ending June 26 were up 53% to $1.2 billion from $792 million in the corresponding week a year ago, comScore reports
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Bahamas Mailboats
These are slow boats that leave from Nassau and travel to the Out Islands.
Mailboat journey times can vary from 5 hours to 21 hours, depending on which island you're visiting. For example: Nassau to North Eleuthera and North Andros takes approximately 5 hours, and costs $30-$40; Nassau to Abaco takes approximately 12 hours, and costs 40; and Nassau to Long Island takes 15 hours and costs $45. The long-distance trips show an interesting side of the Bahamas that few visitors see.
The Commonwealth of Bahamas publishes an updated mailboat schedule with sailing times and fares. http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/bahamasweb2/home.nsf/vContentW/2E1DC89CDD0A70FB85256FF800561DD2!OpenDocument&Highlight=0,mailboat
Mailboat journey times can vary from 5 hours to 21 hours, depending on which island you're visiting. For example: Nassau to North Eleuthera and North Andros takes approximately 5 hours, and costs $30-$40; Nassau to Abaco takes approximately 12 hours, and costs 40; and Nassau to Long Island takes 15 hours and costs $45. The long-distance trips show an interesting side of the Bahamas that few visitors see.
The Commonwealth of Bahamas publishes an updated mailboat schedule with sailing times and fares. http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/bahamasweb2/home.nsf/vContentW/2E1DC89CDD0A70FB85256FF800561DD2!OpenDocument&Highlight=0,mailboat
Monday, July 18, 2005
Ouch Mon! Gas Prices to Top 4 Dollars
Leslie Miller was quoted in the press on Thursday 14th July as saying that the price of gasoline in New Providence is expected to go up $4.05 within two weeks and may well hit five dollars per gallon by the end of the summer. At present the Nassau Guardian reports that gasoline which is price controlled sells at Esso $3.59 per gallon, Texaco $3.64 per gallon and Shell at $3.69.
The price hike has been the subject of some controversy out of the Ministry of Trade because the Minister has been saying that through co-operation with Venezuela he would like to start an Energy Corporation which would intervene in the market to lower the price of gasoline. This is not something which this column approves of.
The market price of gasoline is what it is, and maybe this will force the public away from its over reliance on the automobile. Somehow, despite the rise in the price, neither on the fiscal side nor the monetary side does there seem to be any cause for concern to the economy. Demand is as brisk as ever.
The price hike has been the subject of some controversy out of the Ministry of Trade because the Minister has been saying that through co-operation with Venezuela he would like to start an Energy Corporation which would intervene in the market to lower the price of gasoline. This is not something which this column approves of.
The market price of gasoline is what it is, and maybe this will force the public away from its over reliance on the automobile. Somehow, despite the rise in the price, neither on the fiscal side nor the monetary side does there seem to be any cause for concern to the economy. Demand is as brisk as ever.
Redevelopment plan Port of Nassau
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Perry Christie addressed Bay Street stakeholders at a meeting to update them on the status of EDAW'S proposal for Bay Street. As part of the redevelopment plan in the area The Port of Nassau and support facilities may be moved from the current downtown location to South-West New Providence.
Mr. Christie stated that assurances have been provided to his Government that the relocation of the Port will be environmentally sound. The project will include five phases and is expected to extend from Arawak Cay to Montague, while dividing the area into three districts consisting of "The Garden District" that will encompass Arawak Cay to Armstrong Street, "The Heart of Nassau" which will be the downtown area and the "Living Waterfront".
Mr. Christie stated that assurances have been provided to his Government that the relocation of the Port will be environmentally sound. The project will include five phases and is expected to extend from Arawak Cay to Montague, while dividing the area into three districts consisting of "The Garden District" that will encompass Arawak Cay to Armstrong Street, "The Heart of Nassau" which will be the downtown area and the "Living Waterfront".
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Conrad Hotels Announces Conrad Bimini Bay Resort Its First Hotel in the Caribbean
Conrad Hotels signed a management agreement with the Bahamas-based RAV Bahamas Limited to operate and manage Conrad's first hotel in the Caribbean, a luxurious 250-room hotel, spa and casino resort, located on the island of Bimini.
Clem Barter, President of Conrad Hotels, said, "We are honored to have been selected for this exclusive project in one of the most prestigious locations in the Bahamas. This will be an extraordinary property and it will fit our plan to expand in the Americas, as well as in other strategic parts of the world." Gerardo Capo, Chairman of the Board of The Capo Group, owners of the hotel said: "We are pleased that Conrad, one of the world's finest hotel brands, is joining us to operate the hotel component of our Bimini Bay Resort. Our luxurious development, coupled with Conrad Hotels' experience, sets the stage for a success story in the Bahamas." The Conrad Bimini Bay Resort and Casino, is part of an overall new seaside village, the Bimini Bay Resort.
The hotel, which will be built in the second phase of the development, will offer 250 luxurious guest-rooms, several fine restaurants, an elegant marina, a spa and a casino. An additional wing of 160 residences will be constructed adjoining the hotel. In a first phase, The Bimini Bay Resort will comprise 320 residential units, 150 marina berths, assorted retail and several restaurants.
The subsequent phases will also include an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones golf course and residential villas. Overall, the resort will have 1,590 residential units spread over 700 acres, 500 marina berths, and five miles of white-sand beaches. The Conrad Bimini Bay Resort and Casino, located 48 miles east of Miami on the island of North Bimini, Bahamas, is a 15-minute air flight or a 90-minute boat trip away. It will be completed during 2008.
Bimini is the most beautiful island in the Bahamas. Seven miles long, it is the most western island in the Bahamas and the closest foreign island to the US mainland. Acting as a gateway to the Bahamas, Bimini is internationally known as the fishing capital of this region. More on Bimini - http://bahamasgateway.com/bimini.htm
Other Conrad management agreements are in various stages of negotiation in the United States and opportunities are being evaluated in Europe and in the Middle East.
Details on these projects will be announced as plans are finalized. Besides Bimini Bay, new Conrad hotels are scheduled to open in Indianapolis, USA, and Phuket, Thailand in 2006; Las Vegas, USA and in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2007; and Beijing in 2008.
Clem Barter, President of Conrad Hotels, said, "We are honored to have been selected for this exclusive project in one of the most prestigious locations in the Bahamas. This will be an extraordinary property and it will fit our plan to expand in the Americas, as well as in other strategic parts of the world." Gerardo Capo, Chairman of the Board of The Capo Group, owners of the hotel said: "We are pleased that Conrad, one of the world's finest hotel brands, is joining us to operate the hotel component of our Bimini Bay Resort. Our luxurious development, coupled with Conrad Hotels' experience, sets the stage for a success story in the Bahamas." The Conrad Bimini Bay Resort and Casino, is part of an overall new seaside village, the Bimini Bay Resort.
The hotel, which will be built in the second phase of the development, will offer 250 luxurious guest-rooms, several fine restaurants, an elegant marina, a spa and a casino. An additional wing of 160 residences will be constructed adjoining the hotel. In a first phase, The Bimini Bay Resort will comprise 320 residential units, 150 marina berths, assorted retail and several restaurants.
The subsequent phases will also include an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones golf course and residential villas. Overall, the resort will have 1,590 residential units spread over 700 acres, 500 marina berths, and five miles of white-sand beaches. The Conrad Bimini Bay Resort and Casino, located 48 miles east of Miami on the island of North Bimini, Bahamas, is a 15-minute air flight or a 90-minute boat trip away. It will be completed during 2008.
Bimini is the most beautiful island in the Bahamas. Seven miles long, it is the most western island in the Bahamas and the closest foreign island to the US mainland. Acting as a gateway to the Bahamas, Bimini is internationally known as the fishing capital of this region. More on Bimini - http://bahamasgateway.com/bimini.htm
Other Conrad management agreements are in various stages of negotiation in the United States and opportunities are being evaluated in Europe and in the Middle East.
Details on these projects will be announced as plans are finalized. Besides Bimini Bay, new Conrad hotels are scheduled to open in Indianapolis, USA, and Phuket, Thailand in 2006; Las Vegas, USA and in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2007; and Beijing in 2008.
Caribbean Culture Should Lead Tourism Charge, Says CHA President
Berthia Parle, the President of the Caribbean Hotel Association, wants Caribbean governments to place arts, culture and music at the top of their tourism agenda.
Speaking at the recent Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference in Miami, the Caribbean hotelier said people around the world love Caribbean culture, and stakeholders ought to get serious about promoting the region's offerings to international audiences.She called on governments, ministries of tourism and tourist boards to engage Black Entertainment Television as the region's premier promotions vehicle given the results the network has delivered to her native St. Lucia and other island nations through the production of jazz and music festivals over the years.
"I really want to thank BET for raising the profile of the Caribbean and of St. Lucia. I know our jazz festival is as successful as it is (through) the involvement of BET from a production standpoint and also from the added visibility that we have received from the television channel."She said visitors to St. Lucia have credited BET and the jazz festival for their decision to vacation on the island. "That kind of publicity I don't think we can ever afford to pay for," said Parle, who runs the successful Bay Gardens Hotel in Rodney Bay. She also thanked for the network for producing a recent documentary on the small hotel sector in St. Lucia.
"The culture of the Caribbean is infectious and well known the world over," responded Cybelle Brown, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for BET Digital Networks. Thanking Parle for the "endorsement," Brown also a St. Lucian, announced that the network will re-double its efforts to capture the spirit of regional festivals and share it with audiences throughout North America and the Caribbean.
Speaking at the recent Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference in Miami, the Caribbean hotelier said people around the world love Caribbean culture, and stakeholders ought to get serious about promoting the region's offerings to international audiences.She called on governments, ministries of tourism and tourist boards to engage Black Entertainment Television as the region's premier promotions vehicle given the results the network has delivered to her native St. Lucia and other island nations through the production of jazz and music festivals over the years.
"I really want to thank BET for raising the profile of the Caribbean and of St. Lucia. I know our jazz festival is as successful as it is (through) the involvement of BET from a production standpoint and also from the added visibility that we have received from the television channel."She said visitors to St. Lucia have credited BET and the jazz festival for their decision to vacation on the island. "That kind of publicity I don't think we can ever afford to pay for," said Parle, who runs the successful Bay Gardens Hotel in Rodney Bay. She also thanked for the network for producing a recent documentary on the small hotel sector in St. Lucia.
"The culture of the Caribbean is infectious and well known the world over," responded Cybelle Brown, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for BET Digital Networks. Thanking Parle for the "endorsement," Brown also a St. Lucian, announced that the network will re-double its efforts to capture the spirit of regional festivals and share it with audiences throughout North America and the Caribbean.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Bahamian Recipes (E-book) - Now Available
Bahamian Recipes (E-book) - A Taste of the Bahamas
Over 50 Simple-To-Cook Recipes now available to Bahamas Gateway readers for Only $6.95 US in MS E-book format.
This completely new regional Electronic-Book features Fritters and more fritters, Bahamian Ham & Banana Mix, Island Minced Pie, Rumball Cookies, Boiled Fish, Johnny Cake, Goombay Smash, and many more favorites ''from the islands of ocean blue where Columbus landed in 1492.''
To order see - http://bahamasgateway.com/bahamas_recipe_book.htm
Over 50 Simple-To-Cook Recipes now available to Bahamas Gateway readers for Only $6.95 US in MS E-book format.
This completely new regional Electronic-Book features Fritters and more fritters, Bahamian Ham & Banana Mix, Island Minced Pie, Rumball Cookies, Boiled Fish, Johnny Cake, Goombay Smash, and many more favorites ''from the islands of ocean blue where Columbus landed in 1492.''
To order see - http://bahamasgateway.com/bahamas_recipe_book.htm
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
The Bahamas - Getting There & Away
As a follow-up to numerous requests for getting to and getting around in the Bahamas, I thought this post might help.
The Bahamas is well served by plane from north America. Its proximity to Florida means regular, relatively inexpensive flights from Miami, Ft Lauderdale and Orlando, as well as other East Coast gateways like New York and Boston. Bahamasair, the national airline, flies between Miami and Nassau and Freeport; West Palm Beach, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale and Nassau; and West Palm Beach and Marsh Harbour. Air Canada flies between Nassau and Toronto and Montreal. British Airways flies directly between London and Nassau or Freeport. American Airlines, Delta Airlines and Virgin Atlantic connect the UK and The Bahamas via Miami, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.
From within the Caribbean, Air Jamaica flies four times weekly between Nassau and Montego Bay. Cubana has flights between Havana and Nassau. Travellers pay a 15.00 departure tax when leaving The Bahamas (18.00 from Freeport).
The Bahamas is by far the most popular port-of-call in the Caribbean for cruise ships; they anchor at Nassau and Freeport. The sheltered waters of the 1200km (750mi) archipelago attract scores of yachties each year. There are ports of entry on every island.
The Bahamas has seven international airports, including the two major hubs: Nassau International Airport and Freeport International Airport. Some flights also land at Paradise Island Airport, Marsh Harbour (Abacos), North Eleuthera and Governor's Harbour (Eleuthera), and George Town (Exumas). Even on the more remote Out Islands, a taxi usually shows up to meet incoming flights (if not, someone at the airport will radio for a taxi on your behalf).
Getting Around
Travelling by bus will cost a bomb, except for Nassau and Freeport, where private 'jitneys' (minibuses) operate within the city (but not to the airport), and there is no public transport on any of the Family Islands. This leaves car rental as the best transportation option. Several major international car rental companies have outlets in Nassau and Freeport, supplemented by small local firms.
On the Family Islands, there are few established agencies. Although the minimum age to obtain a driver's license in The Bahamas is 17, renters must be 21 (some companies only rent to those 25 or older). You can drive on your foreign license for up to three months; an International Driver's License, required for longer stays, can be obtained from the Road Traffic Department in Nassau or the AAA office in the USA or UK. Remember to drive on the left.
Other transportation rental options include motorcycles, scooters and bicycles (usually only one gear), which are available primarily in Freeport and Nassau.
There's no shortage of taxis in Nassau and Freeport, where they can be hailed on the streets. Taxis are also the main local transportation on the Family Islands, though you'll need to summon one by radio or telephone.
Intra-island flights offer the only quick and convenient way to travel between islands. Bahamasair serves Grand Bahamas and the larger Out Islands. The schedules change frequently and at short notice (no attempt is made to notify passengers with advance reservations of schedule changes). The airline operates on a hub-and-spoke system, to and from Nassau. Thus, if you want to fly between adjacent islands, such as Cat Island and Long Island, you'll have to return to Nassau.
If you plan on a lot of island-hopping, you begin to feel like a yo-yo. Worse, you may need to stay overnight in Nassau between flights. You can also charter a small aircraft - which, if you plan to do a lot of island hopping and can get a few people together, is cost effective and time saving.
Inter-island ferries are not as ubiquitous as you may imagine, but there are a few. Water taxis, for example, ply between Nassau and Paradise Island. Bahamas FastFerries is the only high-speed ferry in the islands; it links Nassau and Eleuthera. Government-run ferries also link islands that are a short distance apart, such as North and South Bimini; Mangrove Cay and South Andros; and Crooked and Acklins Islands. Mail boats leave Potter's Cay Dock in Nassau, usually on twice-weekly trips, serving all the inhabited islands under government contract. They traditionally sail at night for journeys lasting six to 24 hours. All the vessels are slow and notoriously unreliable. Marinas are strewn about the islands like confetti at a wedding, and yachts for hire are not hard to find.
The Bahamas is well served by plane from north America. Its proximity to Florida means regular, relatively inexpensive flights from Miami, Ft Lauderdale and Orlando, as well as other East Coast gateways like New York and Boston. Bahamasair, the national airline, flies between Miami and Nassau and Freeport; West Palm Beach, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale and Nassau; and West Palm Beach and Marsh Harbour. Air Canada flies between Nassau and Toronto and Montreal. British Airways flies directly between London and Nassau or Freeport. American Airlines, Delta Airlines and Virgin Atlantic connect the UK and The Bahamas via Miami, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.
From within the Caribbean, Air Jamaica flies four times weekly between Nassau and Montego Bay. Cubana has flights between Havana and Nassau. Travellers pay a 15.00 departure tax when leaving The Bahamas (18.00 from Freeport).
The Bahamas is by far the most popular port-of-call in the Caribbean for cruise ships; they anchor at Nassau and Freeport. The sheltered waters of the 1200km (750mi) archipelago attract scores of yachties each year. There are ports of entry on every island.
The Bahamas has seven international airports, including the two major hubs: Nassau International Airport and Freeport International Airport. Some flights also land at Paradise Island Airport, Marsh Harbour (Abacos), North Eleuthera and Governor's Harbour (Eleuthera), and George Town (Exumas). Even on the more remote Out Islands, a taxi usually shows up to meet incoming flights (if not, someone at the airport will radio for a taxi on your behalf).
Getting Around
Travelling by bus will cost a bomb, except for Nassau and Freeport, where private 'jitneys' (minibuses) operate within the city (but not to the airport), and there is no public transport on any of the Family Islands. This leaves car rental as the best transportation option. Several major international car rental companies have outlets in Nassau and Freeport, supplemented by small local firms.
On the Family Islands, there are few established agencies. Although the minimum age to obtain a driver's license in The Bahamas is 17, renters must be 21 (some companies only rent to those 25 or older). You can drive on your foreign license for up to three months; an International Driver's License, required for longer stays, can be obtained from the Road Traffic Department in Nassau or the AAA office in the USA or UK. Remember to drive on the left.
Other transportation rental options include motorcycles, scooters and bicycles (usually only one gear), which are available primarily in Freeport and Nassau.
There's no shortage of taxis in Nassau and Freeport, where they can be hailed on the streets. Taxis are also the main local transportation on the Family Islands, though you'll need to summon one by radio or telephone.
Intra-island flights offer the only quick and convenient way to travel between islands. Bahamasair serves Grand Bahamas and the larger Out Islands. The schedules change frequently and at short notice (no attempt is made to notify passengers with advance reservations of schedule changes). The airline operates on a hub-and-spoke system, to and from Nassau. Thus, if you want to fly between adjacent islands, such as Cat Island and Long Island, you'll have to return to Nassau.
If you plan on a lot of island-hopping, you begin to feel like a yo-yo. Worse, you may need to stay overnight in Nassau between flights. You can also charter a small aircraft - which, if you plan to do a lot of island hopping and can get a few people together, is cost effective and time saving.
Inter-island ferries are not as ubiquitous as you may imagine, but there are a few. Water taxis, for example, ply between Nassau and Paradise Island. Bahamas FastFerries is the only high-speed ferry in the islands; it links Nassau and Eleuthera. Government-run ferries also link islands that are a short distance apart, such as North and South Bimini; Mangrove Cay and South Andros; and Crooked and Acklins Islands. Mail boats leave Potter's Cay Dock in Nassau, usually on twice-weekly trips, serving all the inhabited islands under government contract. They traditionally sail at night for journeys lasting six to 24 hours. All the vessels are slow and notoriously unreliable. Marinas are strewn about the islands like confetti at a wedding, and yachts for hire are not hard to find.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Bahamians Celebrate Rake and Scrape
Arthur's Town, Cat Island - If the cultural heritage of a nation is where its heart beats, then for the Bahamas that must be here in the land of rake and scrape music. In honour of legendary rake and scrape artist, the late Tony 'The Obeah Man' McKay, Bahamians from Grand Bahama through Acklins thronged this town last weekend the seventh annual Cat Island Rake and Scrape Festival. It brought together some of the country's finest artists, musicians, performers, and culinary connoisseurs in a dynamic expression of things Bahamian.
From the religious to the secular, from the humorous to the serious, from toddlers to seniors, all found room for expression and appreciation here at one the nation's foremost cultural events. "Culture is very important but, more important is heritage," said Cat Islander Winston Saunders, chairman of the National Cultural Development Commission. "If you preserve your heritage, you're in good standing because culture changes almost daily. "When you have the heritage, you have the grounding which allows all the various cultures to flow over you but you're still grounded in your rake and scrape...in your old story telling...even in the old rock oven here. You will never forget it even though you have a microwave."
Cat Island natives are unique. Genetically they are a mixture of the English loyalists, African, Spanish and French peoples. The predominantly racial feature is African. The influence of these cultures is evident in the music, dance, stories, games and foods. The original rake an' scrape band consists mainly of persons playing the accordion of concertina (European in origin), the drum (African) and the carpenter's saw (a European surrogate for the outlawed African gambee or grooved wood), history shows. Many native musicians created music from whatever indigenous materials that were available - coconut shells, bottles, wash board, tubs, and animal skins.
Rake and scrape band is traditionally used to accompany the Bahamian quadrille and the heel-and-toe polka all relics of the initial mixture of Africa and Europe. Although mainly secular, rake an' scrape music is fast making its way into religious expression as was evident during the religious night. And all this has caught the eye of the Ministry of Tourism whose senior director for Family Islands affairs, Mrs Angela Cleare, lauded the work of the festival committee headed by Allworth Nigel Rolle, assisted by Yvonne Woods, manager of Heritage Tourism.
"These festivals are very, very important because visitors come to the Bahamas not just for sun, sand and sea but to learn about the destination they lived in," she said. "That is why the Ministry of Tourism has been working with the various committees to showcase the local culture on every island. "We try to come up with a signature event on each island which can be promoted on our web site so visitors can have a reason to come other than to lie on the beach. "These festivals mean a lot to all of the local people who make money from them. They mean a lot to visitors who get to learn about our heritage. It means a lot to the Bahamians many of whom have come from the other islands to enjoy themselves here."
Master musician, producer and director Fred Ferguson, entertainment consultant at the Ministry of Tourism, hailed Cat Island as "the hub of the rake and scrape music. There is no better place than here to hold such a festival. "Cat Island has laid claim to the birth place of rake an' scrape music. It is the only place that you can get the true sound of rake and scrape - Boar Hog and the Rooters, Offie and the Web Sites. They play it with the most passion." The preponderance of foreign cultural expressions in the Bahamian society "is of major concern to me," said Ferguson, leader of the Tingum Dem band. "That's why I work so hard with anyone who is interested in preserving our culture.
"But, we need the leaders to take charge and understand what it is and how important it is to the country and the people. Until we recognize that then we are on a spiraling path to cultural hell." Among the features at the festival this year was Bush Doctor Emily Rolle of Arthur's Town, now living in the Lot. Her specialty is the 21-gun salute, the efficacy of which she swears by. "This medicine is good for people with various complaints," she said. "If you have pain around your waist...if you're tired...if you can't have babies..."
In former days when natives did not have access to modern medicine, they relied on various potions drawn from special leaves, roots and barks. Bush medicine as it came to be known was passed on to succeeding generations. Mrs Rolle learned it from her grand father Sam Web of Arthur's Town, farmer Rupert Stubbs in Dumfrey's and Ernest Black, a friend in San Salvador. They are all deceased. "Some of the people I gave this bush medicine to produced twins on the first go," she beamed. Her 21 gun salute includes lignum vitae, man root, Madeira bark, love wine, strong back and five fingers.
"We call it the 21 gun salute because it is so good, the men say when they use it, they salute," she said. "It increases their energy. It gives you a little bit more pep in your step at bed time." Martha Smith and Christine Lightbourne featured native teas - fever grass, five finger, dill seed, strong back, gamalamee, pear leaf and others all of which are touted as beneficial in some way. Princess Styles from Old Bight showed off her assortment of straw hats, mats, bags, with decorative styles like hole in the wall, the lace and the sour sop.
Mike Halkitis chairman of Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) was pleased with the handicraft. BAIC recently completed a training course here in the art of straw work. "We are happy to continue playing our part in promoting the local handicraft industry," he said. "There is renewed interest among Bahamians in the straw work. "Bahamians come from other islands to events such as this to patronize the local artisans. Tourists come here to enjoy things uniquely Bahamian and we need to have as many of these things available to them.
Courtesy of Bahamas Information Services
From the religious to the secular, from the humorous to the serious, from toddlers to seniors, all found room for expression and appreciation here at one the nation's foremost cultural events. "Culture is very important but, more important is heritage," said Cat Islander Winston Saunders, chairman of the National Cultural Development Commission. "If you preserve your heritage, you're in good standing because culture changes almost daily. "When you have the heritage, you have the grounding which allows all the various cultures to flow over you but you're still grounded in your rake and scrape...in your old story telling...even in the old rock oven here. You will never forget it even though you have a microwave."
Cat Island natives are unique. Genetically they are a mixture of the English loyalists, African, Spanish and French peoples. The predominantly racial feature is African. The influence of these cultures is evident in the music, dance, stories, games and foods. The original rake an' scrape band consists mainly of persons playing the accordion of concertina (European in origin), the drum (African) and the carpenter's saw (a European surrogate for the outlawed African gambee or grooved wood), history shows. Many native musicians created music from whatever indigenous materials that were available - coconut shells, bottles, wash board, tubs, and animal skins.
Rake and scrape band is traditionally used to accompany the Bahamian quadrille and the heel-and-toe polka all relics of the initial mixture of Africa and Europe. Although mainly secular, rake an' scrape music is fast making its way into religious expression as was evident during the religious night. And all this has caught the eye of the Ministry of Tourism whose senior director for Family Islands affairs, Mrs Angela Cleare, lauded the work of the festival committee headed by Allworth Nigel Rolle, assisted by Yvonne Woods, manager of Heritage Tourism.
"These festivals are very, very important because visitors come to the Bahamas not just for sun, sand and sea but to learn about the destination they lived in," she said. "That is why the Ministry of Tourism has been working with the various committees to showcase the local culture on every island. "We try to come up with a signature event on each island which can be promoted on our web site so visitors can have a reason to come other than to lie on the beach. "These festivals mean a lot to all of the local people who make money from them. They mean a lot to visitors who get to learn about our heritage. It means a lot to the Bahamians many of whom have come from the other islands to enjoy themselves here."
Master musician, producer and director Fred Ferguson, entertainment consultant at the Ministry of Tourism, hailed Cat Island as "the hub of the rake and scrape music. There is no better place than here to hold such a festival. "Cat Island has laid claim to the birth place of rake an' scrape music. It is the only place that you can get the true sound of rake and scrape - Boar Hog and the Rooters, Offie and the Web Sites. They play it with the most passion." The preponderance of foreign cultural expressions in the Bahamian society "is of major concern to me," said Ferguson, leader of the Tingum Dem band. "That's why I work so hard with anyone who is interested in preserving our culture.
"But, we need the leaders to take charge and understand what it is and how important it is to the country and the people. Until we recognize that then we are on a spiraling path to cultural hell." Among the features at the festival this year was Bush Doctor Emily Rolle of Arthur's Town, now living in the Lot. Her specialty is the 21-gun salute, the efficacy of which she swears by. "This medicine is good for people with various complaints," she said. "If you have pain around your waist...if you're tired...if you can't have babies..."
In former days when natives did not have access to modern medicine, they relied on various potions drawn from special leaves, roots and barks. Bush medicine as it came to be known was passed on to succeeding generations. Mrs Rolle learned it from her grand father Sam Web of Arthur's Town, farmer Rupert Stubbs in Dumfrey's and Ernest Black, a friend in San Salvador. They are all deceased. "Some of the people I gave this bush medicine to produced twins on the first go," she beamed. Her 21 gun salute includes lignum vitae, man root, Madeira bark, love wine, strong back and five fingers.
"We call it the 21 gun salute because it is so good, the men say when they use it, they salute," she said. "It increases their energy. It gives you a little bit more pep in your step at bed time." Martha Smith and Christine Lightbourne featured native teas - fever grass, five finger, dill seed, strong back, gamalamee, pear leaf and others all of which are touted as beneficial in some way. Princess Styles from Old Bight showed off her assortment of straw hats, mats, bags, with decorative styles like hole in the wall, the lace and the sour sop.
Mike Halkitis chairman of Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) was pleased with the handicraft. BAIC recently completed a training course here in the art of straw work. "We are happy to continue playing our part in promoting the local handicraft industry," he said. "There is renewed interest among Bahamians in the straw work. "Bahamians come from other islands to events such as this to patronize the local artisans. Tourists come here to enjoy things uniquely Bahamian and we need to have as many of these things available to them.
Courtesy of Bahamas Information Services
CARICAD Celebrates Milestone
The Barbados-based Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD) celebrates a significant milestone on Friday, June 10, when it convenes its 25th Annual Board of Directors Meeting in Basseterre, St. Kitts.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Happy Independence Bahamas
Thirty-two years ago this country gave birth to a nation. On July 10, 2005 the occasion will be celebrated in grand style.
Yesterday's Incident In London
The Prime Minister of Britain, the Rt Hon Tony Blair, has confirmed that a number of explosions in Central London was a terrorist attack and there are a number of fatalities. It is not confirmed who is responsible.
The explosions took place around 8.00am in Edgware Road, Kings Cross, Liverpool Street, Russell Square, Aldgate East and Moorgate underground stations and on a bus in Tavistock Square.
Statement From VisitBritain
The police have not indicated who has caused these explosions so VisitBritain will therefore not speculate at this stage what impact, if any, there could be on the visitor economy.Our main concern is for the people who have been affected by this incident and we will monitor the situation and update our overseas offices as required.
At this stage there is no reason for people to cancel their trip to Britain or London. However, they should be aware that there is major transport disruption in Central London.
The explosions took place around 8.00am in Edgware Road, Kings Cross, Liverpool Street, Russell Square, Aldgate East and Moorgate underground stations and on a bus in Tavistock Square.
Statement From VisitBritain
The police have not indicated who has caused these explosions so VisitBritain will therefore not speculate at this stage what impact, if any, there could be on the visitor economy.Our main concern is for the people who have been affected by this incident and we will monitor the situation and update our overseas offices as required.
At this stage there is no reason for people to cancel their trip to Britain or London. However, they should be aware that there is major transport disruption in Central London.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Starwood to Develop Cotton Bay Villas in Eleuthera, Bahama
Starwood's First Luxury Collection Property in the Bahamas Will Feature Resort Villas and Private Estate Residences
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced that it has signed an agreement with Eleuthera Properties, Ltd., a company chaired by prominent Bahamian businessman, Franklyn R. Wilson CMG, to develop Cotton Bay Villas, an exclusive new resort that will be a member of Starwood's prestigious Luxury Collection. Evoking images of a nostalgic and bygone era, the magnificent 1,500-acre project will be unveiled in two phases with Phase I comprising of two and three bedroom villas, 114 estate lots and a spectacular 26,000-square foot Clubhouse.
The soft opening is scheduled for December 2006 with 25 premier beachfront units and Clubhouse with full amenities and services and a private marina. Completion of the 73 guestroom resort is scheduled for December 2007. Future phases will include an 18-hole championship golf course, wellness center/spa, additional real estate development and expansion of the marina.
Eleuthera is approximately 100 miles long and less than one mile wide. The island is a destination for an elite clientele and home to many international celebrities with access to the island from Nassau and south Florida by commercial air carriers and private jets. Cotton Bay derives its name from the term "to cotton," a local term that refers to a "place where people befriend one another while being at peace with nature.""We are thrilled to have our first Luxury Collection property in The Bahamas located on Eleuthera - considered one of the most exclusive addresses in the world," said Stephen Alden, senior vice president of The Luxury Collection. "The island's natural scenic beauty and lush vegetation make Cotton Bay Villas an ideal destination for the discerning leisure traveler looking for the ultimate vacation experience.
Cotton Bay Villas will evoke a casual elegance, combining simplicity with island style to create a distinctively elegant atmosphere along with the impeccable service that is the hallmark of The Luxury Collection."Cotton Bay Villas will feature a spectacular octagonal enclosed pavilion situated on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic, the perfect venue for weddings and social events.
The Clubhouse will include a Bahamian-fusion restaurant featuring a well-renowned island chef. Guests at the resort will have access to two small, private islands which feature a 20-acre bird sanctuary and a seven-acre secluded beach. Owners and guests at the resort will have preferred access to the resort's private marina in Davis Harbour, accommodating yachts up to 70 feet. Only minutes away, guests will enjoy world-class fishing grounds and phenomenal scuba-diving, snorkeling and other recreational water sports.
This spectacular new resort is currently part of the Audubon International Signature program, which acknowledges environmentally-friendly developments. As a member of this program, Cotton Bay Villas will be home to a plant nursery and an on-site horticulturist dedicated to nurturing the property, saving trees and other foliage from cleared land for replanting throughout the development. Environmental integrity as well as economic viability will ensure that the island's unique ecological systems and scenic landscapes will be preserved for the enjoyment of residents and visitors.
To sophisticated travelers worldwide, The Luxury Collection delivers the finest hotel experiences through their unparalleled attention to their guests' needs and preferences, their exceptional and distinctive properties and seamless integration of the customs, culture and environment of each property's locale. Members of Starwood's Luxury Collection include such world-class hotels and resorts as the Hotel Gritti Palace, Venice; The Phoenician, Scottsdale, Arizona; Hotel Imperial, Vienna; Hotel Cala di Volpe, Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, Italy; and, Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa, French Polynesia.
Guests staying at Cotton Bay Villas will also be able to earn their way toward free travel through the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) program, consistently rated the best hotel frequency program in the world. With more than 700 participating hotels and resorts around the world, the program is the industry's most global and offers a structure focused on simplicity and flexibility in redemption options and inclusion of all Starwood's brands.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced that it has signed an agreement with Eleuthera Properties, Ltd., a company chaired by prominent Bahamian businessman, Franklyn R. Wilson CMG, to develop Cotton Bay Villas, an exclusive new resort that will be a member of Starwood's prestigious Luxury Collection. Evoking images of a nostalgic and bygone era, the magnificent 1,500-acre project will be unveiled in two phases with Phase I comprising of two and three bedroom villas, 114 estate lots and a spectacular 26,000-square foot Clubhouse.
The soft opening is scheduled for December 2006 with 25 premier beachfront units and Clubhouse with full amenities and services and a private marina. Completion of the 73 guestroom resort is scheduled for December 2007. Future phases will include an 18-hole championship golf course, wellness center/spa, additional real estate development and expansion of the marina.
Eleuthera is approximately 100 miles long and less than one mile wide. The island is a destination for an elite clientele and home to many international celebrities with access to the island from Nassau and south Florida by commercial air carriers and private jets. Cotton Bay derives its name from the term "to cotton," a local term that refers to a "place where people befriend one another while being at peace with nature.""We are thrilled to have our first Luxury Collection property in The Bahamas located on Eleuthera - considered one of the most exclusive addresses in the world," said Stephen Alden, senior vice president of The Luxury Collection. "The island's natural scenic beauty and lush vegetation make Cotton Bay Villas an ideal destination for the discerning leisure traveler looking for the ultimate vacation experience.
Cotton Bay Villas will evoke a casual elegance, combining simplicity with island style to create a distinctively elegant atmosphere along with the impeccable service that is the hallmark of The Luxury Collection."Cotton Bay Villas will feature a spectacular octagonal enclosed pavilion situated on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic, the perfect venue for weddings and social events.
The Clubhouse will include a Bahamian-fusion restaurant featuring a well-renowned island chef. Guests at the resort will have access to two small, private islands which feature a 20-acre bird sanctuary and a seven-acre secluded beach. Owners and guests at the resort will have preferred access to the resort's private marina in Davis Harbour, accommodating yachts up to 70 feet. Only minutes away, guests will enjoy world-class fishing grounds and phenomenal scuba-diving, snorkeling and other recreational water sports.
This spectacular new resort is currently part of the Audubon International Signature program, which acknowledges environmentally-friendly developments. As a member of this program, Cotton Bay Villas will be home to a plant nursery and an on-site horticulturist dedicated to nurturing the property, saving trees and other foliage from cleared land for replanting throughout the development. Environmental integrity as well as economic viability will ensure that the island's unique ecological systems and scenic landscapes will be preserved for the enjoyment of residents and visitors.
To sophisticated travelers worldwide, The Luxury Collection delivers the finest hotel experiences through their unparalleled attention to their guests' needs and preferences, their exceptional and distinctive properties and seamless integration of the customs, culture and environment of each property's locale. Members of Starwood's Luxury Collection include such world-class hotels and resorts as the Hotel Gritti Palace, Venice; The Phoenician, Scottsdale, Arizona; Hotel Imperial, Vienna; Hotel Cala di Volpe, Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, Italy; and, Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa, French Polynesia.
Guests staying at Cotton Bay Villas will also be able to earn their way toward free travel through the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) program, consistently rated the best hotel frequency program in the world. With more than 700 participating hotels and resorts around the world, the program is the industry's most global and offers a structure focused on simplicity and flexibility in redemption options and inclusion of all Starwood's brands.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Bahamas Cuisine Team Brings Home Awards
With judges calling it 'the stiffest competition in the history of the Taste of the Caribbean' culinary classic, The Bahamas team managed to capture two key distinctions and an overall team bronze in the regional faceoff last week in Miami.
Once again this year Executive Pastry Chef Sally Gaskins from the Sheraton and Westin @ Our Lucaya excelled capturing the honour for Most Outstanding Desert. She impressed the judges and the audience during the opening round of competition with her assortment of guava cheesecake, chocolate-spiced island cake filled with banana cream and served with homemade avocado-mint ice cream, papaya stew and mano coulis. Gaskins was unable to defend her title as Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year when the overall team failed to qualify for the final round of competition.
Lyford Cay Club Bartender Wilfred Sands, in his first competition, landed a bronze medal, coming in third place overall. This was the best showing in this category ever for The Bahamas team. His signature drink, the 'Rum Dum', has been a Lyford Cay Club mainstay since he invented it in 1971. It's mix of Light Bacardi Rum, lemon juice, simple syrup, water, raw egg white and dark rum delighted the judges and the audience taste testers.
The Bahamas team members, all from the Sheraton and Westin at Our Lucaya, included team leader Dwain Clare, Chef Neil Rolle, Chef George Williams, Chef Devin Johnson, Executive Pastry Chef Sally Gaskins and Bartender Wilfred Sands..
Four days of intense competition matched the Bahamas team with the best throughout the region as they vied for top honours in the team, menu, pastry and bartender categories. The competition is a highlight of CHIC 2005, a Caribbean Hotel Association annual event.
The Bahamas team was organised by the Bahamas Hotel Association, with support from the Bahamas Culinary Association, the Ministry of Tourism, and the College of The Bahamas School of Hospitality and Tourism Studies. The team's participation was made possible because of the generous support of Continental Connection Airlines, Bacardi and Company, Grand Bahama Food Company Limited, the Ministry of Tourism, the Lyford Cay Club and Sheraton & Westin at Our Lucaya.
See our Bahamian recipes at www.bahamasgateway.com/cuisine.htm
Once again this year Executive Pastry Chef Sally Gaskins from the Sheraton and Westin @ Our Lucaya excelled capturing the honour for Most Outstanding Desert. She impressed the judges and the audience during the opening round of competition with her assortment of guava cheesecake, chocolate-spiced island cake filled with banana cream and served with homemade avocado-mint ice cream, papaya stew and mano coulis. Gaskins was unable to defend her title as Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year when the overall team failed to qualify for the final round of competition.
Lyford Cay Club Bartender Wilfred Sands, in his first competition, landed a bronze medal, coming in third place overall. This was the best showing in this category ever for The Bahamas team. His signature drink, the 'Rum Dum', has been a Lyford Cay Club mainstay since he invented it in 1971. It's mix of Light Bacardi Rum, lemon juice, simple syrup, water, raw egg white and dark rum delighted the judges and the audience taste testers.
The Bahamas team members, all from the Sheraton and Westin at Our Lucaya, included team leader Dwain Clare, Chef Neil Rolle, Chef George Williams, Chef Devin Johnson, Executive Pastry Chef Sally Gaskins and Bartender Wilfred Sands..
Four days of intense competition matched the Bahamas team with the best throughout the region as they vied for top honours in the team, menu, pastry and bartender categories. The competition is a highlight of CHIC 2005, a Caribbean Hotel Association annual event.
The Bahamas team was organised by the Bahamas Hotel Association, with support from the Bahamas Culinary Association, the Ministry of Tourism, and the College of The Bahamas School of Hospitality and Tourism Studies. The team's participation was made possible because of the generous support of Continental Connection Airlines, Bacardi and Company, Grand Bahama Food Company Limited, the Ministry of Tourism, the Lyford Cay Club and Sheraton & Westin at Our Lucaya.
See our Bahamian recipes at www.bahamasgateway.com/cuisine.htm
IMS Voyager Reservation Software
On www.bahamasgateway.net we have set-up a copy of IMS Voyager Reservation Software, an Internet enabled system which looks after hotel bookings plus rentals or charters for tour, bus, boat, other equipment and small aircraft operators.
The IMS Voyager Tour Reservation Software enables guests visiting your website to do exactly this, confirming their rooms or tours in 'real-time'. You close the sale immediately, without having to bother with time-consuming emails and faxes between guests and your Reservations staff.
Availability checks and instant confirmations eliminate email exchanges between Guests and your Reservations Department. Valuable reservations staff time is saved because reservation requests will no longer have to be manually processed.
Wholesale tour operators and travel agents can check availability and book instantly, thus closing a sale without having to wait for your reservations staff to confirm a room by email. Access to their contract rates is password-protected. Guests find the Internet reservations system easy-to-follow, with uncluttered screens and prompts.
Your staff will enjoy using the 'back-office' and they will love the auto-generated emails each time a guest makes a reservation on the system - it saves them so much time!
email us for more info...
The IMS Voyager Tour Reservation Software enables guests visiting your website to do exactly this, confirming their rooms or tours in 'real-time'. You close the sale immediately, without having to bother with time-consuming emails and faxes between guests and your Reservations staff.
Availability checks and instant confirmations eliminate email exchanges between Guests and your Reservations Department. Valuable reservations staff time is saved because reservation requests will no longer have to be manually processed.
Wholesale tour operators and travel agents can check availability and book instantly, thus closing a sale without having to wait for your reservations staff to confirm a room by email. Access to their contract rates is password-protected. Guests find the Internet reservations system easy-to-follow, with uncluttered screens and prompts.
Your staff will enjoy using the 'back-office' and they will love the auto-generated emails each time a guest makes a reservation on the system - it saves them so much time!
email us for more info...
New Blog for Bahamas Gateway
Hi,
We have just set up a blog so as to provide you with the latest news and views from the Bahamas.
Our older website www.bahamasgateway.com has just been updated to a newer look and we have also launched www.bahamasgateway.NET which is orientated more to the Caribbean plus the Bahamas.
Enjoy!
webmaster@bahamasgateway.com
We have just set up a blog so as to provide you with the latest news and views from the Bahamas.
Our older website www.bahamasgateway.com has just been updated to a newer look and we have also launched www.bahamasgateway.NET which is orientated more to the Caribbean plus the Bahamas.
Enjoy!
webmaster@bahamasgateway.com
