Pointing to tourism growth rates around 1 percent, compared to world tourism expansion of 7 percent, Alec Sanguinetti, director general and CEO of the Caribbean Hotel Association noted, “The Caribbean is becoming marginalized.” He spoke during a press conference at the Caribbean Marketplace 2008, held in January at Atlantis, Paradise Island, in the Bahamas.

Forecasters had predicted a decline in Caribbean tourism because of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requiring passports for return from all non-American islands. Now, however, the Caribbean sees many factors coming into play — and few that the region can influence. “We cannot impact oil prices, the housing market, or the exchange rate, but we can impact the state of aviation,” said Sanguinetti. “We have some very serious challenges in aviation.” Along with encouraging new international flights, the islands are working to restore a level of interisland air service. There has also been some discussion of launching ferry service between some islands.

In spite of the difficulties, growth is under way on both large islands and small (including private island development). Vernice Walkine, director general, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, underscored the potential for the Islands of the Bahamas. “We have been moving more and more in the direction of upscale product. We are very aggressive in our approach to the meetings and incentives business, and it has been helped by the growth at Atlantis. We have seen a healthy growth in the small meetings market and incentive travel.”

Facilities Update

Aruba

• Bahamas

  Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino completed a $20 million renovation. The 360 guest rooms and suites received all-new interiors, including 32-inch LCD TVs and high-speed Internet access. The resort has 9,245 square feet of meeting space and 11,637 square feet of outdoor function space.

• Barbados

  The first phase of $40 million in renovations of the 411-room Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is complete. The second phase will wrap up in August and will upgrade the North Tower guest rooms. The resort includes the largest casino in Aruba, a 6,500-square-foot spa, and 11,600 square feet of meeting space.

Cayman Islands

• Dominican Republic

  Plans call for a 2010 opening for the 157-room Ritz-Carlton, Rose Island, Bahamas. Along with a yacht marina, the resort plans a spa and meeting space featuring a 4,200-square-foot ballroom, two meeting rooms, and a boardroom.

• Jamaica

  The Reef Atlantis, with 497 rooms, has opened on Paradise Island, the completion of a $1 billion, three-phase expansion at Atlantis. Atlantis has more than 300,000 square feet of meeting space.

• Mexico

  Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach on Grand Bahama Island has completed the first phase of a $3 million renovation to its 276 guest rooms. The all-inclusive resort features more than 9,000 square feet of meeting space.

Puerto Rico

• U.S. Virgin Islands

  Four Seasons Resort Barbados, scheduled to open in 2010, will have approximately 115 rooms and suites. The resort will include meeting space.

• Trip Tips

  Sandy Lane will undergo an extensive refurbishment this summer, closing the hotel, spa, bars, and restaurants (except for the facilities at the County Club and Old 9) from the end of August to the beginning of October.

Ask the Tourist Board

• Mandarin Oriental, Grand Cayman is scheduled to open in 2009 on 10 acres. The 114-room property will be on Barefoot Beach.

• The Ritz-Carlton, Cap Cana, is under construction with a 220-room resort including a spa and marina. The resort will have 8,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 5,800-square-foot ballroom. Guests will have access to Cap Cana's three Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses. The Ritz-Carlton, Cap Cana, and 194 privately owned, beachfront Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Cap Cana, are scheduled to open in early 2010, part of a two-phase, $1.5 billion project.

• Westin Roco Ki Beach and Golf Resort is scheduled to open north of Punta Cana in September. The 337-room resort includes 56 condominium-hotel suites and 20 bungalows and will offer a Nick Faldo-designed golf course, an 18,000-square-foot spa, and 20,000 square feet of meeting space.

• The Barcelo Punta Cana Resort has renovated its 795 guest rooms. The all-inclusive resort has 11,000 square feet of meeting space.

• The 427-room Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort Rose Hall, Jamaica, has completed a multimillion-dollar renovation of its 25,000 square feet of meeting space. Guest rooms have been upgraded.

• Secrets Montego Bay is scheduled to open in late 2009. It will consist of two 350-suite all-inclusive resorts with 14 restaurants, a spa, 24-hour concierge service, and a business center. It will also include a convention hall with a banquet room for up to 600 attendees as well as a 20-person boardroom and four conference rooms.

• Azul Fives Hotel by Karisma is expected to open in December in Playa del Carmen. The resort, available as room-only or as an all-inclusive, will feature 360 suites. It will offer meeting space for up to 250 attendees.

• Aqua Cancun opened in February. Rooms at the 371-room resort, part of the high-end brand from Grupo Posadas, include Bose home theater systems, flat-screen LCD TVs, DVD/CD/MP3 players, and high-speed Internet access. There are 16,500 square feet of meeting space in 17 rooms.

• Barceló Maya Palace opened in December on the Riviera Maya. The fifth and most upscale property in the Barcelo Maya Beach Resort complex, it features 756 suites, five restaurants and three grills, and seven lighted tennis courts. Guests have access to facilities at the other properties in the complex as well as a spa and conference center.

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