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 Caribbean tourism authorities see 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 Alec Sanguinetti, director general and CEO of the Caribbean Hotel Association. Along with encouraging new international flights, the islands are working to restore interisland air service. And there has been discussion of ferry service between some islands.

In spite of the difficulties, Sanguinetti said, “Our future has great potential. The investment Ritz-Carlton is putting in the Caribbean is in the billions, and there are others investing heavily.”

Hilton is making major investments. The brand has 13 hotels in the islands and plans to bring another 17 to the Caribbean in the next five years, with additional extensive growth in Mexico, including the Mexican Caribbean, over the next five years.

Facilities Update

Anguilla

• Cap Juluca's new owner plans a complete renovation costing up to $80 million. The 18 guest villas and restaurants will be upgraded; a spa, retail shops, and resort pool will be added; and a second beach will be developed. The hotel will remain open during the phased renovation.

Aruba

• The 481-room Westin Aruba Resort completed the second phase of its $22 million renovation. The resort offers 20,000 square feet of meeting and banquet facilities.

Bahamas

• The Westin and Sheraton Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort have announced a hurricane guarantee policy; this policy is applicable to group reservations as stipulated in their contracts. Cancellation and no-show fees will be waived for the period that Grand Bahama Island is under a hurricane warning. In addition, guests who are unable to travel to the resort because of the closure of Grand Bahama Island international airport or The Westin and Sheraton Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort will be given the option for a full refund or a one-click room category upgrade on their next visit within one calendar year. The 740-room Westin Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort and the 478-room Sheraton Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort offer 95,000 square feet of meeting space.

British Virgin Islands

• Biras Creek Resort on Virgin Gorda offers 31 bungalow-style guest suites. Full-property rentals can be arranged. The resort is on a 140-acre nature preserve. Biras Spa offers spa treatments using indigenous ingredients.

Dominican Republic

• Westin Roco Ki Beach and Golf Resort is scheduled to open north of Punta Cana in 2009. 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.

• In Punta Cana, the all-inclusive Edenh Real Arena has opened with 450 deluxe rooms, 170 superior Rooms, 18 master suites, and a business center.

Jamaica

• Scheduled for a March 2009 opening, the 299-room Solis The Palmyra will be in the Rose Hall area near Montego Bay. The resort will offer guest rooms as well as suites and villas. The resort will include two ocean-view pools, a spa, and four restaurants and will feature 23,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space.

• West of Montego Bay near the town of Lucea, Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa and Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort & Spa have opened. Part of the Fiesta Hotel Group, these resorts offer 1,056 rooms, nine restaurants, and five pools. Five meeting and banquet rooms accommodate 20 to 264 attendees each.

Mexico

• In 2009, the entire Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancun will covert to the Concierge Level plan featuring king beds only, room service with select restaurant menu, two 25-minute massages, nightly turndown service, nightly petit-fours, espresso/American coffee machine, and iPod dock.

Puerto Rico

• The 500-room, $209 million Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel is scheduled to open in September 2009 as the anchor hotel for the 580,000-square-foot convention center. Along with an entertainment complex, the hotel will include two ballrooms, banquet and meeting rooms, and a full-service spa.

U.S. Virgin Islands

• A $47 million project at the 180-room Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, added 55 club suites as well as 15 one-bedroom executive suites and three two-bedroom presidential suites spanning 3,000 square feet. Also new: the Caribbean's first Prada Spa. More than 10,000 square feet of meeting facilities were renovated in the project.

Trip Tips

• A high-speed catamaran connects St. Thomas and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The 300-passenger VI SeaTrans travels between the two islands twice daily Friday through Monday; the journey takes 90 minutes.

• Get off-site: If your group is staying at an all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic, arrange a tour ahead of time. There's a lot to see and do. For ideas, go to www.godominicanrepublic.com.

• For a glimpse of Old San Juan history, attendees might enjoy a free guided tour of La Fortaleza. Built in 1533 as the first fortification for the defense of the colony, La Fortaleza serves as the governor's official residence. www.fortaleza.gobierno.pr

Ask the Tourist Board

Antigua and Barbuda Tourist Office
(888) 268-4227
www.antigua-barbuda.org

Aruba Convention Bureau
(877) 278-2248
www.meetaruba.com

Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
(800) BAHAMAS
www.bahamas.com

Bermuda Department of Tourism
(800) 223-6106, ext. 213
www.bermudatourism.com

Cancun Convention Bureau
(52) 998-8812745
www.cancun.info

Cayman Islands Department of Tourism
(345) 949-0623
www.caymanislands.ky

Dominican Republic Tourist Board
(888) 374-6361
www.godominicanrepublic.com

Jamaican Tourist Board
(800) 294-7687
visitjamaica.com

Mexican Convention Bureau
+52 55 5278 4200, ext. 1500
visitmexico.com

Puerto Rico Tourism Co.
(800) 223-6530

Puerto Rico Convention Bureau
(800) 875-4765
meetpuertorico.com

USVI Department of Tourism
(800) 372-USVI
usvitourism.vi