Bahamas Gateway

In a strategic move to leverage St. Kitts' renowned beauty, cultural heritage
and natural attractions - product attributes often sought by a more
sophisticated and discerning traveller - St. Kitts is pursuing the development
of more luxurious accommodations and those vacation pastimes associated with
upscale, experienced travellers.

Among the projects currently planned or underway are:

Luxury Development by Auberge Resorts - Previously referred to as Whispering
Head Resort, this as yet unnamed $78 million project is being developed by
award-winning luxury hotel company Auberge Resorts and will be the company's
first Caribbean property. Set on a 1,700 acre peninsula in the Sandy Bank Bay
area of St. Kitts, the project will include a small luxury hotel, world-class
golf course, spa, villas and fine dining facilities. Construction is expected to
commence in early 2006 and the resort is tentatively scheduled to open in the
fall of 2008. www.aubergeresorts.com.

Heritage Plantation - This upscale community will consist of 19 luxury villas in
four distinctive styles ranging between 5,305 sq. ft. and 8,412 sq. ft. and will
be located on 22 acres of premium land at Scotch Bonnet on St. Kitts' Southeast
Peninsula. It will also feature a 6,500 square foot Landmark Centre containing a
fitness centre, full service spa, practice putting green, tennis court, pool,
whirlpool, children's playground and the Flagstaff Café. Construction on the
first residence began in April 2005 and the villas will be ready for viewing in
October 2005. www.heritageplantation.kn.

La Vallee Golf Course - Located in the Sandy Point area of northern St. Kitts
with spectacular views of the Caribbean, neighbouring St. Eustatius and Mt.
Liamuiga from the tees (especially the 12th), this 18-hole championship golf
course is currently in the first phase of development. Aside from the 18-hole
course itself, the first phase will also include construction of a practice
facility with driving range and putting green as well as a club house.
Construction on the club house is expected to begin in January 2006. Projected
completion date for the golf course is November 2005. Plans for the $12 million
course allot for the future development of a marina, hotel resort, villas,
sports complex and possible expansion of the course to 27 holes. This will be
the second premier golf facility for the island following the opening of the
Royal St. Kitts Golf Club in November 2004.

Rawlins Plantation Inn - This boutique plantation inn on the north side of St.
Kitts is undergoing an expansion to provide more options for those sophisticated
guests seeking an ultimate escape. Currently under construction is a new 1,200
sq.ft. two bedroom cottage complete with a kitchenette, plunge pool, full bath
and shower, washing machine and built-in vacuum system so that guests who want
to remain undisturbed never have to leave the privacy and comfort of their room.
The cottage will be fully wired for the Internet and satellite TV, which can be
provided upon request. The cottage will be available in December 2005 and there
are plans for a second two bedroom cottage to open in February 2006. The
property is also planning to add a 3,000 sq. ft. luxury spa in 2007, featuring a
wellness centre, fitness centre and salon. www.rawlinsplantation.com.

'Our goal for St. Kitts is to create a tourism product that can compete on a
level with the finest destinations in the world,' commented Richard 'Ricky' O.
Skerritt, Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture for
St. Kitts. 'With these new upscale developments, we have effectively positioned
St. Kitts to emerge in the coming years as the next luxury destination of choice
for discerning travellers.'

// posted by Bahamas Webmaster @ 5:39 AM

Las Vegas and Caribbean cruises once again top the list of top fall
destinations being booked by Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates, as the travel
agency announced the results of its 2005 Fall Travel Trends Survey.

The following lists display the top ten domestic and international
destinations for fall 2005, compared to the results from the 2004 survey
conducted one year ago.**

Top 10 Fall Domestic Destinations: 2005

1 - Las Vegas, NV
2 - Orlando, FL
3 - Honolulu, HI
4 - Maui, HI
5 - New York City, NY
6 - San Francisco, CA
7 - Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ
8 - Kauai, HI
9 - Miami, FL
10 - Anaheim/Orange County, CA

Note: Alaska cruising was not offered as option for this question in 2005

Top 10 Fall Domestic Destinations: 2004

1 - Las Vegas, NV
2 - Orlando, FL
3 - Maui, HI
4 - Honolulu, HI
5 - Alaska Cruises
6 - New York City, NY
7 - San Francisco, CA
8 - Kauai, HI
9 - Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ
10 - Miami, FL

Top 10 Fall International Destinations: 2005

1 - Caribbean Cruising
2 - Cancun, Mexico
3 - Riviera Maya, Mexico
4 - Jamaica
5 - Playa del Carmen, Mexico
6 - Mexico Cruising
7 - Rome, Italy
8 - Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos, Mexico
9 - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
10 - London, England

Top 10 Fall International Destinations: 2004

1 - Caribbean Cruising
2 - Cancun, Mexico
3 - Riviera Maya, Mexico
4 - Jamaica
5 - Mexico Cruising
6 - London, United Kingdom
7 - Punta Cana, Dominican Rep.
8 - Playa del Carmen, Mexico
9 - Rome, Italy
10 - Cozumel, Mexico

Other major findings from the Fall Travel Trends Survey:

• 61% of respondents said that comparing their 2005 bookings so far to their
2004 bookings at this time, bookings are higher. 29% said bookings are even,
leaving 10% saying bookings are lower.

• When asked to name destinations that seem to be new or emerging among clients
as popular for fall travel, Costa Rica and Cabo San Lucas were among the top
destinations named. Cabo leapt from # 17 to # 8 on the international
destinations list. Costa Rica did not make the top 10, but was named by 3.6% of
those surveyed.

• Many of the Associates polled expressed concern over the Western Hemisphere
passport guidelines introduced earlier in the year by the U.S. State Department.
Those guidelines have since been revised.

The passport requirements would have required anyone traveling to the Caribbean
to have a passport by December 31, 2005. That deadline will now be pushed further out. "However, we would urge anyone considering a trip to the Caribbean to apply for their passport now, so as not to face the time crunch later," said Block. "Eventually, travelers to the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada will need passports.

Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates have easy access to passport applications and are well-versed in document requirements, no matter what corner of the world you're traveling to."

Business Outlook and Travel Trends

Carlson Wagonlit Travel's 2005 Fall Travel Trends Survey asked respondents to identify key 2005 fall travel trends and to forecast their outlook for business in the year ahead. Here are some of the more notable results:

Regarding 2005 bookings to date, what trends have you noticed? (Associates could select as many answers that applied)

Top 5 Answers Percentage Answered

• International travel seems to be on the rebound 59.8%
• The booking window seems to be lengthening56.7%
• Cruising is becoming more popular 54.9%
• Clients are feeling more confident about traveling farther from home53.7%
• Clients are spending more per vacation48.8%

Which of the following do you hear most often from your customers regarding the impact of high gas prices and/or extra fuel surcharges?

• The extra cost isn't a factor 69.9%
• The extra cost has caused some people to scale back on travel 27.0%
• The extra cost has caused many to scale back on travel 3.1%

* 2005 Fall Travel Trends Survey was of 166 CWT agents taken July 20- August 10,
2005.
** 2004 Fall Travel Trends Survey was of 313 CWT agents taken July 8- August 12,
2004.

// posted by Bahamas Webmaster @ 6:20 AM