Tourism continues to grow in the Caribbean, with the islands boasting expansive hotel growth.

Much of that growth is in the Spanish Caribbean. The Dominican Republic reports a 16 percent increase in foreign arrivals. Cancun has bounced back with renovated and improved resorts and a $24 million beach renewal project and is moving away from its spring-break image to one emphasizing luxury resorts. This year Cancun was largely spared by Hurricane Dean, which caused some damage to the south coast of Jamaica.

The region reports growth in visits by religious groups. Sint Maarten met the new growth with a new airport terminal in 2006, one of several airport projects. Curaçao completed new terminal facilities, while Montego Bay, Jamaica; Aruba; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, are undergoing airport expansions.

Caribbean/Facilities Update

Antigua & Barbuda

Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa has completed a $70 million expansion that included a 180-suite Mediterranean Village, bringing total guest rooms to 373; Sandals also expanded the convention facility to 10,425 square feet.

Bahamas

The Westin and Sheraton Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort has an additional 5,000 square feet of event space. The resort consists of the 740-room Westin and the 478-room Sheraton, with more than 45,000 square feet of function space.

Construction is under way on a $2 billion Baha Mar development at Cable Beach, with more than 3,000 rooms. By 2011, the site will include a 300-room W at Baha Mar; a 300-room St. Regis at Baha Mar; and a 700-room Westin at Baha Mar. The complex also includes the reopened 694-room Sheraton Cable Beach Resort, with 25,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, and the renovated 550-room Wyndham Nassau Resort. Baha Mar will include 200,000 square feet of meeting space.

Plans have been announced for Montage Royal Island Bahamas, to open in 2010. This 430-acre private island will be the home of the first Jack Nicklaus Golf Club, an 18,000-square-foot spa, a conference center, and 83 guest accommodations. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2008.

Bermuda

The 235-room Elbow Beach Bermuda is undergoing a multiyear renovation. The resort has completed 97 cottages, a new spa, and gym, and will remain open during back-of-house renovations.

The Fairmont Hamilton Princess, with 410 guest rooms, has renovated its Princess meeting rooms. The rooms are part of the facility's more than 18,000 square feet of indoor meeting space in nine rooms.

Dominican Republic

The Westin Roco Ki Beach & Golf Resort is set to open in May 2008 in Punta Cana. The 315-room resort will include an 18,000-square-foot spa and 20,000 square feet of meeting space.

The Ritz-Carlton, Cap Cana, is under construction with a 220-room resort including a 16,000-square-foot spa and 8,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel is scheduled to open in early 2010.

Jamaica

The $51 million Montego Bay Convention Center is scheduled to open next year at Rose Hall with approximately 300,000 square feet of meeting space.

The 427-room Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort Rose Hall, Jamaica, has completed the first phase of a $15 million project featuring a renovation of all meeting rooms. The resort offers more than 25,000 square feet of meeting and reception space.

Rose Hall Resort and Country Club (formerly Wyndham Rose Hall) is completing a $35 million renovation including a restyling of the 488 guest rooms and 14 suites, a new spa, and renovations to the 11,000 square feet of indoor meeting space.

Plans are under way in Trelawny for the 1,400-acre Harmony Cove. The resort will include a convention hotel with 1,750 guest rooms and a 75,000-square-foot convention center.

Half Moon Resort has opened the new 68,000-square-foot Fern Tree Spa and six beachfront spa suites. The project follows the renovation of the resort's Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed golf course, the beachfront Hibiscus and the Oleander deluxe suites, two restaurants, and more, all part of a five-year master plan.

In Ocho Rios, the 730-room Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort and Spa underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2005. It has 32,000 square feet of space, including an exhibit hall for receptions of up to 2,500 attendees.

The 485-room all-inclusive Riu Ocho Rios Hotel plans to open a new meeting facility late this year.

Mexico

After a $20 million renovation, the 296-room Hyatt Cancun Caribe Resort has opened the Laguna Conference Centre, offering more than 7,650 square feet of space.

The 448-room ME Cancun has launched as the first property in the Americas under the ME by Meliá brand. The resort, formerly Meliá Turquesa, offers a spa and 11,000 square feet of meeting space.

The 601-room Cancun Palace reopened in February. The new 17,000-square-foot convention center offers 10 meeting rooms and a business center.

Palace Resorts plans to open the new Beach Palace in December. The new resort will offer 287 guest rooms and 9,100 square feet of meeting space.

The Fiesta Americana Grand Aqua Cancun will reopen as AQUA Cancun in December. The resort will feature 371 guest rooms, a spa, and 13,864 square feet of meeting space in 17 meeting rooms.

The 402-room Reef Club Cozumel Beach and Dive Resort is becoming the first Wyndham branded property in Cozumel. The resort will be known as the Wyndham Cozumel Resort and Spa after a multimillion-dollar renovation. The all-inclusive resort includes 1,540 square feet of meeting space.

Puerto Rico

Paradisus Puerto Rico, with more than 29,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, has been reflagged the Gran Meliá Puerto Rico.

Work is under way on a 500-room hotel to serve the Puerto Rico Convention Center. The $209 million facility, scheduled to open in 2009, will be a Sheraton with 60,000 square feet of meeting space and a 15,000-square-foot ballroom.

Trinidad

A 428-room Hyatt Regency Trinidad will open in December with 43,000 square feet of meeting space, a 16,000 square-foot ballroom and a 10,000-square-foot multipurpose facility.

Trip Tips!

• Puerto Rico is home to the Caribbean's toughest no-smoking regulations. Smoking is prohibited in most indoor public areas, including convention centers, restaurants, museums, theaters, pubs, nightclubs, and shopping centers.

• The most common group transport in the U.S. Virgin Islands is open-air jitneys, locally called safari buses. Topped by a canvas cover, the larger safari buses can hold 15 to 25 attendees.

• You can arrange a tour for your group of an old sugar plantation in Jamaica. Bellefield Great House, near Montego Bay, offers a glimpse into 18th-century life on the island — for both plantation owners and slaves. It's also available as an event venue.

Ask the CVB

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

Aruba Convention Bureau
(800) TO-ARUBA
www.aruba.com

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

Barbados Tourism Authority
(800) 221-9831
www.barbados.org

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

Cancun Conven. Bureau
(52) 998 8812 745
www.cancun.info

Cayman Islands Department of Tourism
(212) 889-9009
www.caymanislands.ky

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

Jamaica Tourist Board
(800) 233-4JTB
www.visitjamaica.com

Puerto Rico Tourism Co.
(800) 223-6530

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

Trinidad and Tobago Tourism
(800) 748-4224
www.visitTNT.com

USVI Dept. of Tourism
(800) 372-USVI
www.usvitourism.vi