What's New

In spite of a record hurricane season in 2005, the Caribbean maintained its trend of positive growth, showing a 3.6 percent increase in arrivals for the year. The region opened its largest convention center, increased airlift, and continued to lure meetings and incentives with more luxury resorts.

Nevertheless, the 2005 storm season dealt the region a few serious blows. One of the hardest-hit destinations was Cancun, blasted in October by Hurricane Wilma. Recovery is moving along quickly, however, with more than $20 million in beach renovations under way, along with widespread hotel projects. Of its 28,000 lodging units, Cancun expects to have 21,585 rooms reopened by June, with 23,358 available by the end of the year. Most restaurants and many area attractions have reopened, as has the Cancun Convention and Exhibitions Center. Construction has also begun on the second runway and a third terminal at the Cancun airport.

Although some of the region's property improvements are a result of the storms, other enhancements can be found. The Puerto Rico Convention Center, the region's largest meeting facility, opened in November with 580,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space. Aruba is investing $200 million in its tourism product, with projects including a $16 million park stretching 10 miles from the airport to the end of the hotel corridor, making it the largest such park in the Caribbean. The island is also undergoing a $34 million expansion at Queen Beatrix International Airport. CuraÇao; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, are undergoing extensive airport expansions as well, in response to growing airlift throughout the region.

Starting in 2007, passengers returning to the United States from the Caribbean will need to present valid passports. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, originally scheduled for implementation in 2006, will require that all air and sea passengers have a passport on return by the end of 2006. This change will not include Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Facilities Update

Aruba

• The OCCIDENTAL GRAND ARUBA RESORT, a luxury all-inclusive, is scheduled to open this month. The former Allegro resort has undergone $24 million in renovations and now features 391 rooms and suites, a spa, a casino, and the Royal Club; a 50-room, boutique-style hotel within the resort offers exclusive check-in, private restaurant, 24-hour room service, and more.

• HYATT REGENCY ARUBA RESORT & CASINO will renovate its meeting rooms this year; completion is scheduled for early winter. The resort has nine meeting rooms and more than 25,000 square feet of meeting and pre-function space.

• This spring, the RIU ARUBA GRAND will close for a $40 million expansion that will add 286 guest rooms. The resort will reopen as the five-star, 451-room RIU PALACE.

• The DIVI ARUBA PHOENIX BEACH RESORT will undergo a $20 million tower construction project scheduled for completion in fall 2007, doubling the size of the existing property.

• The ARUBA MARRIOTT RESORT AND STELLARIS CASINO plans a $3.4 million room renovation late this spring and will spend $12 million renovating rooms in 2007.

Bahamas

• The 291-room BRITISH COLONIAL HILTON NASSAU offers 7,500 square feet of meeting space. Beginning in June, the Hilton HHonors hotel reward category for the hotel will change from a five to a six, a top category of Hilton properties.

• Cable Beach's WYNDHAM, RADISSON, and NASSAU BEACH hotels have been acquired by Baha Mar Resorts Ltd. The properties are undergoing an $85 million capital investment, including renovation and re-branding of the Radisson as a Sheraton and renovations to the Wyndham.

• ATLANTIS, PARADISE ISLAND is undergoing a $1 billion expansion, to be completed in 2007. The hotel will add 1,000 rooms and about 100,000 square feet to the Atlantis Conference Center, nearly doubling capacity at the facility. An outdoor function space will accommodate up to 5,000 guests.

• Four miles from Nassau, RITZ-CARLTON ROSE ISLAND, BAHAMAS is scheduled for a 2009 opening. Along with a marina, the resort plans a spa and meeting space.

Barbados

• The HILTON BARBADOS opened last June. The 350-room resort offers more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 6,217-square-foot ballroom and a Hilton Meetings complex with a boardroom and six meeting rooms.

Cayman Islands

• The WESTIN CASUARINA RESORT & SPA-GRAND CAYMAN is now a smoke-free facility. The 340-room resort has been renovated and added wireless Internet in the lobby. The resort has seven meeting rooms and two ballrooms.

• The beachside suites of the HYATT REGENCY GRAND CAYMAN have reopened, although part of the property remains closed. The resort has a 1,200-square-foot ballroom at the Beach Suites complex.

CuraÇao

• The 196-room HILTON CURAÇAO unveiled an executive floor with 34 guest rooms, two suites, and a lounge. The property also introduced a business center and four Hilton Meetings rooms, making it the largest resort meetings complex on the island; two more meeting rooms are expected by June.

• The 350-room HYATT REGENCY CURAÇAO RESORT, SPA & CASINO is scheduled for completion in late 2007. The resort will include an 18-hole, Pete Dye — designed championship golf course and 28,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space.

Dominican Republic

• The 228-room HILTON SANTO DOMINGO opened last July along the Malecon. Its nearly 17,000 square feet of meeting space includes a Hilton Meetings complex with two boardrooms, seven meeting rooms, and a business center.

• The all-suites SIVORY PUNTA CANA opened in January as the country's second Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The property can host groups of up to 55 attendees and has three restaurants, an 8,000-bottle wine cellar, and a spa.

• The 612-room RIU PALACE PUNTA CANA is scheduled to open this month.

Jamaica

• In Negril, COUPLES SWEPT AWAY is adding a 4,500-square-foot conference center, scheduled for completion this spring.

Mexico

• PLAYACAR PALACE opened in December in Playa del Carmen. The 210-room resort features more than 4,600 square feet of flexible meeting space, a spa, and nearby golf at Playacar Spa & Golf Club.

• The 400-room all-inclusive RIU PALACE RIVIERA MAYA opened in February.

• The 426-room HILTON CANCUN GOLF & SPA RESORT is set to reopen this month after renovations to public areas, ballrooms, and meeting rooms. The resort has 30,000 square feet of meeting space.

• BARCELÓ RIVERA MAYA BEACH RESORT has opened a freestanding conference center in conjunction with two new hotels: the five-star, all-inclusive BARCELÓ TROPICAL BEACH HOTEL and THE BARCELÓ MAYA COLONIAL BEACH HOTEL. The complex includes four hotels offering more than 1,900 guest rooms and meeting facilities that can host up to 850 people. The convention center includes a 12,000-square-foot ballroom and five meeting rooms.

• The FAIRMONT MAYAKOBA, RIVIERA MAYA opened in April, with 397 guest rooms including 34 suites. The resort includes a Greg Norman — designed 18-hole championship golf course.

Puerto Rico

• HYATT DORADO BEACH RESORT & COUNTRY CLUB has added a $6.5 million golf clubhouse and pavilion. The 45,000-square-foot clubhouse, the resort's second, hosts up to 300 people. All four Robert Trent Jones Sr. courses have been renovated.

• The SHERATON OLD SAN JUAN HOTEL has undergone a $7.5 million enhancement of its 240 guest rooms. The waterfront hotel includes 12,634 square feet of flexible meeting space and 10 meeting rooms.

Sint Maarten

• The 310-room WESTIN ST. MAARTEN DAWN BEACH RESORT & SPA is under construction. It is scheduled to open this fall with more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 10,000-square-foot ballroom.

Trinidad

• The 428-room HYATT REGENCY TRINIDAD will open in late 2007 with 43,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 16,000-square-foot ballroom.

• Planned for completion in March 2007, the HILTON TRINIDAD is undergoing a renovation that will increase its inventory from 380 to 419 guest rooms with 20 suites and two expanded executive/honors floors.

U.S. Virgin Islands

• ANNALY BAY resort and residential community is planned for St. Croix. Groundbreaking is planned for mid-2007, and construction will take 10 to 15 years, including three hotels, a conference center, a golf academy, and a Robert Trent Jones championship golf course.

Ask The CVB

Anguilla

ANGUILLA TOURIST BOARD
(800) 553-4939, (264) 497-2759
www.anguilla-vacation.com
Departure Tax: $20
Total Hotel Tax: 10% plus 10% surcharge

Antigua and Barbuda

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA TOURIST OFFICE
(888) 268-4227, (212) 541-4117
www.antigua-barbuda.org
Departure Tax: $20
Hotel Tax: 8.5% room tax plus 10% service charge

Aruba

ARUBA CONVENTION BUREAU
(800) TO-ARUBA, (954) 767-3395
www.aruba.com
Departure Tax: $37 (included in ticket)
Hotel Tax: 18%

Bahamas

BAHAMAS MINISTRY OF TOURISM
(800) 823-3136, (212) 302-2000
www.bahamas.com
Departure Tax: $15 in Nassau, $18 in Freeport (both included in ticket)
Hotel Tax: 6% room tax

Barbados

BARBADOS TOURISM AUTHORITY
(800) 221-9831, (212) 986-6516
www.barbados.org
Departure Tax: $13
Hotel Tax: 7.5% room tax (some hotels may add 10% to 15% service charge)

Bermuda

BERMUDA DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
(800) 223-6106, ext. 213
www.bermudatourism.com
Departure Tax: $25 (included in ticket)
Hotel Tax: 7.25% room tax, 10% to 15% service charge

British Virgin Islands

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS TOURIST BOARD
(800) 835-8530, (213) 736-893
www.bvitourism.com
Departure Tax: $20 ($5 by sea)
Hotel Tax: 7% (many hotels also charge a 10% service charge)

Cancun

CANCUN CONVENTION BUREAU
(800) 833-5254, (202) 797-1222
www.meetingsworldwide.com, www.cancun.info
Departure Tax: up to $28 (usually included in ticket; amount fluctuates with exchange rate)
Hotel Tax: 12%, 15% service charge

Cayman Islands

CAYMAN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
(345) 949-0623, (305) 599-9033
www.caymanislands.ky
Departure Tax: $25
Hotel Tax: 10% room tax, 5% to 10% room service charge

CuraÇao

CURAÇAO TOURIST BOARD
(800) 328-7222
www.curacao-tourism.com
Departure Tax: $22 (may be included in airline ticket)
Hotel Tax: 7% plus 12% service tax

Dominican Republic

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TOURIST BOARD
(888) 374-6361, (212) 588-1012
www.dominicana.com.do
Departure Tax: $20 plus $10 tourist card upon entry
Hotel Tax: 12% plus 10% service charge

Jamaica

JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD
(800) 233-4JTB; www.visitjamaica.com
Departure Tax: $37 (may be included in cost of ticket)
General Consumption Tax: 15%

Nevis

NEVIS TOURISM AUTHORITY
(866) 55NEVIS; www.nevisisland.com
Departure Tax: $17 plus $1.50 Environmental Tax
Hotel Tax: 9% plus 10% service charge

Puerto Rico

PUERTO RICO CONVENTION BUREAU
(800) 875-4765, (202) 457-9262
www.meetpuertorico.com
Departure Tax: none
Hotel Tax: 7% (inns), 9% (hotels without casinos), 11% (hotels with casinos) plus 15% service charge for some hotels

Sint Maarten

SINT MAARTEN TOURIST BOARD
(800) ST-MAARTEN, (212) 953-2084
www.st-maarten.com
Departure Tax: $20; Hotel Tax: 8%

St. Kitts

ST. KITTS TOURISM AUTHORITY
(800) 582-6208, (212) 535-1234
www.stkitts-tourism.com
Departure Tax: $22
Room Tax: 9% plus 10% service charge

St. Lucia

ST. LUCIA TOURIST BOARD
(800) 456-3984, (888) 4-STLUCIA
(212) 867-2950; www.stlucia.org
Departure Tax: $21
Room Tax: 8% plus 10% service charge

St. Martin

ST. MARTIN/FRENCH GOVERNMENT TOURIST BOARD
(877) 956-1234, (212) 475-8970
www.st-martin.org
Departure Tax: $20, Room Tax: 5%

St. Vincent & the Grenadines

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
(784) 457-1502; www.svgtourism.com
Departure Tax: $13, Hotel Tax: 7%

Trinidad & Tobago

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO TOURISM
(868) 675-7034
www.visitTNT.com
Departure Tax: $100TT (about US$17)
Hotel Tax: 10% room tax plus 15% VAT

Turks and Caicos

TURKS AND CAICOS TOURIST BOARD
(649) 946-2321
www.turksandcaicostourism.com
Departure Tax: $35, Hotel Tax: 10% room tax

U.S. Virgin Islands

U.S.V.I. DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
(800) 372-USVI; www.usvitourism.vi
Departure Tax: none; Hotel Tax: 8%

Phantom Planner

• Ocho Rios-bound groups can avoid the delays and bumpiness of the North Coast highway upgrade project with an intra-island flight from Montego Bay to Oracabessa, Jamaica.

• Seaplanes and intra-island flights often have a much smaller luggage allowance than larger aircraft, both for carry-on and checked bags.

• A growing number of Caribbean resorts offer hurricane guarantees for coverage in case trips are interrupted by these storms; hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.

• Although passports are not required for visits to the U.S. Virgin Islands, several popular day cruises take groups to the nearby British Virgin Islands, which will necessitate a passport.

• The Islands of the Bahamas has a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the United States, so meetings held on these islands are tax-deductible. Aruba, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago also have tax agreements with the U.S.

Special Venues

• Up to 400 attendees can be accommodated at PEDRO ST. JAMES on GRAND CAYMAN. The National Historic Site, called the Birthplace of Democracy in the Cayman Islands, includes a 1780 greathouse, expansive lawn area, and multimedia theater. (345) 947-3329, www.pedrostjames.ky

• Attendees can arrive by boat at BERMUDA's ROYAL NAVAL DOCKYARDS for an evening of street parades and galas. Events can be held at the dockyard's parade lawns with a backdrop of the Clocktower Building. Indoors, retailers host special shopping nights; upstairs, two rooms can each host cocktail receptions of up to 400 guests. (441) 234-1709, www.bermudatourism.com

• Near Ocho Rios, JAMAICA, CRANBROOK FLOWER FOREST AND RIVER HEAD ADVENTURE TRAIL offers four landscaped lawns for events in the 130-acre gardens. Along with dining, activities can range from birding to hikes to the garden waterfalls. (876) 770-8071, www.cranbrookff.com.

• At ST. THOMAS' ST. PETER GREATHOUSE ESTATE AND GARDENS, up to 1,000 guests can be accommodated. The property includes gardens, overlooks, and a greathouse with air-conditioned ballrooms. (340) 774-4999, www.greathouse-mountaintop.com.

• At the edge of El Yunque rain forest 35 miles east of SAN JUAN, HACIENDA SIESTA ALEGRE offers a Spanish colonial — style venue. Groups of 200 attendees can dine beneath a tiled roof, and 250 people can be accommodated on the tented lawn. The hacienda is adding a terrace for 175 attendees for use this spring. (800) 762-1458, (787) 504-8449, www.haciendasiestaalegre.com.