Year so far not good Caribbean resort, but that did not stop the opening of hotels in the region. Here is a Travel Agent’s vote for your clients to the Islands, some are open, someone else on the horizon, reflagged or rebuilt from scratch.

Sandals Great Exuma
Unique sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, is a 18-hole Greg Norman-designed golf

Sandal Emerald Bay, Great Exuma
www.sandals.com
Great Exuma, Bahamas
Opening January 22, 2010.

Who should pitch to: As with all Sandals Resorts, Sandals Emerald Bay is intended for two people falling in love-if they were celebrating their wedding with the signature “Weddingmoon”; enjoying their honeymoon; renew their promise, or just go for a romantic vacation.

Best Rooms: All 190 suites are impressive, but go with Beachfront Villas because of space they offer. But if not the character in your priorities, each room will do. Each room overlooks the ocean beach and all served by butlers trained by the Sandals Resorts company through an exclusive partnership with the Guild of Professional English Butler.

Worth Mentioning: Sandals Resorts International announced the purchase of the closed Great Exuma Four Seasons a few months ago. While the property is 500 hectares have Greg Norman championship golf course and world class marina, a new pool complex and additional eating establishments are in the offing.

Contact: New general manager at the resort is Teresa Alfonso. 1-800-SANDALS visit www.sandals.com or call for more information.

Viceroy Anguilla villa room

Viceroy Anguilla Resort & Residences
www.viceroyanguilla.com
Anguilla
Property is scheduled to be completed in November.

Who should pitch to: Anguilla is made for couples, but makes this resort for a great family vacation as well. There are several areas of the hotel is intended for adults, while others welcome children. The resort’s Kids Center will oversee all of their activities, like making a kite / flying and sailing, sand castle building and pottery, safe snorkeling and aqua-Olympics and Caribbean-style campfire.

Best Room: Travel Agent told that the best accommodation is one of the four or five-bedroom Bluff Top Villas, which has a 180 degree view of sunrise and sunset. All the other rooms only sunset.

Worth Mentioning: Viceroy Anguilla has been developed along the 3200 feet from the beach and cliff tops at Meads Bay and Barnes, both of prime beach on the northwest coast of Anguilla desirable. The depth of water and coral shelves are found close to shore, and the shoreline 35-acre resort community. Ready on the edge of water, 8000 square meters Spa at Viceroy Anguilla is based on three principles: Balance, Breath, and Beauty. Handle one’s health holistically, health spa offers a collection of rituals, including massage, body polishes, wraps, facials, manicures and pedicures as well as an array of special requests, class and experience. Ritual spa will be available in the room and the beach while the spa facilities were completed.

Contact: Agent e-mail to Director of Sales and Marketing, Virgil Napier, in Virgil.Napier @ viceroyhotelsandresorts.com.

Junior Suite in the new Spanish Court Hotel

Spanish Court Hotel
www.spanishcourthotel.com
Kingston, Jamaica
Opened June 14, 2009.

Who should pitch to: Although the property to serve all people, its main client is the business community. Its rooms have cable and free wireless Internet and other up-to-date technology of the 42-inch TV to a radio alarm clock with iPod docking station for direct-dial telephone with voicemail VOIP to ensure a smooth business trip.

Best Room: Deluxe and Junior Suite on the third floor has a very good view of Kingston and properties infinity-edge swimming pool which rose three feet out from the second floor Sky Terrace.

Worth Mentioning: The 50-foot-long infinity-edge swimming pool is a mosaic-tile with colored glass. A deck with chaise longue and a limited bar service complete the setup.

Contact: Agent should contact the General Manager Godfrey Lee-Ann (011-876-926-0000, lgodfrey@spanishcourthotel.com).

Family-friendly swimming pool in San Juan Verdanza Hotel

Verdanza Hotel
www.verdanzahotel.com
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Opening December 4, 2009.

Who should pitch to: Despite everyone’s property settings, it is ideal as a home base for the family. All three child-friendly restaurants and, of course, the kids are interested in immediately to the spray park in the pool area (although adults have been known to indulge in the pleasure, too). Plus, thanks to the location, the family within walking distance of facilities such as drug stores, supermarkets and lots of dining options.

Cool Rooms: The most popular rooms are the people on the third floor for a big balcony. There are 24 rooms with balcony-18 with two beds and six beds with a king. This is a choice even in the room on a higher floor with sea and lagoon views.

Worth Mentioning: This formerly Holiday Inn San Juan. With the launch, Verdanza Hotel will be the only independent full service hotel in San Juan Puerto Rico metropolitan area. Only steps from the beach in Isla Verde tourist district, this property has 222 rooms (20 of them suites), three restaurants, pastry shops and more than 15,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space.

Contact: Agent should contact the Reservation Manager Ángel Marrero (787-253-9000, ext. 3140, amarrero@verdanzahotel.com).

Upper deck penthouse at Balcones Del Valle, A RockResort

Balcones Del Atlantico, A RockResort
www.balconesdelatlantico.rockresorts.com
Las Terrenas, Samana, Dominican Republic
Opened in January 2010.

Who should pitch to: main clients must find partners and families to high-end, unique holiday retreat. Multiroom units, which is also ideal for multigenerational vacations.

Cool Rooms: The best rooms will be Penthouse Villas. Each has been built on the top floor of the building, with three bedrooms, extended terrace and additional space. They are unique to the second floor roof, which covers the open places with private jetted plunge pools, and has a commanding view of the resort field, swimming pool and beach.

Worth Mentioning: This property will be equipped with all amenities suited for the traveler from the land-rich luxury transfers to the butler and personal chef services. RockResorts spa with four private treatment Cabanas and three restaurant meals a good dinner will also boast some of the most breathtaking views of the area. Other amenities include two swimming pools with swim-up bar, beach bar and grill, fitness center and gourmet food stores.

Contact: Agent should contact the Regional Director of Sales and Marketing John MacMullen (305-396-4082, JMacMullen@vailresorts.com).

Swimming in the new three-bedroom villa, France’s paradise, in Tortola

Frenchmans Paradise
www.frenchmanslookout.com
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Property officially opened in January 2009

Who should pitch for: This is a three bedroom villa is perfect for a family. Can easily accommodate six people. It is also ideal for couples traveling together.

Best Rooms: All rooms are roughly equal in size (two kings and one double bed room) and has a great view. The biggest is the Master Suite, but not much larger than the others. Good view of the sea and the British and United States Virgin Islands is the biggest selling point.

Worth Mentioning: The Frenchmans Lookout offers the luxury services such as spa treatments, all the staff and the leasing of the 35-foot luxury power boat with a captain.

Contact: Agent should contact the Reservation Manager Wheelis Mary Elizabeth (011-866-940-0200, ml@tvlmarketing.com).

Guests with ocean view at the Radisson Resort Our Lucaya

Radisson Our Lucaya Resort
www.radisson.com / ourlucaya
Freeport, Bahamas
Re-marked, and his debut as a Radisson in July 2009.

Who should pitch to: Radisson Our Lucaya is perfect for weddings and couples, because the stretch of property and various accommodations.

Best Room: The best ocean views and views of the marina was in a room on 7-10 floors. Number of rooms beginning with 12-50 very good also have the sunrise / sunset views. Some corner of a room such as 03 and 05 ignoring both sea and land. 25 Lanai Suites offer exceptional privacy.

Worth Mentioning: The resort has 7.5 hectares of beach and 25,000 square foot spa with various couples’ treatment. In terms of accommodation, guests can customize their experience was in the middle of the action (522 rooms and suites at the Breakers Cay), or they can enjoy a more peaceful retreat (193 of Lighthouse Pointe, 25 Lanai Suite).

Contact: Agencies can contact the on-property Revenue Manager Simor’ne Deborah (866-870-7148, deborah.simorne @ ourlucaya.com).

Tucker’s Point Hotel & Spa
www.tuckerspointhotelandspa.com
Bermuda
Opened April 17, 2009.

Who should pitch to: Like most luxurious property to open in Bermuda in nearly 40 years, the hotel has attracted the elite tourists from all over the world.

Best Room: The 1650-square-foot Walsingham Suite, designed by Paul Duesing, is the most luxurious property with own entrance from the Palm Court and the 340 square meter balcony. This is ideal for in-room entertainment with a separate service entrance and room for 50 guests.

Worth Mentioning: Tucker’s Point Hotel & Spa has a 12,000 square foot spa with eight treatment rooms, hydrotherapy suite SilverTag (one of three spas in the world), 1900 square foot Fitness Center and elevated yoga and tai chi grass.
Contact: Agent should contact the Director of Sales and Marketing Zapach Wendy (781-779-1700, wzapach@tuckerspoint.com).

One-Bedroom Suite on the Seven Stars

Seven Stars
www.sevenstarsresort.com
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
Opened in 2008, new management took over in May 2009.

Who should pitch to: The property is perfect for the family and multigenerational travel.

Best Room: The One-Bedroom Oceanfront Suites have magnificent views and offering great value because they are really a lot of apartments with living room, furnished balcony cover for outdoor living and can sleep up to four (two adults and two children comfortably).

Worth Mentioning: Kids Club will not be applied in November and services will range from maintaining to supervised activities for children up to 12 years. A Kids Scuba program is offered to eight to 10-year-old child under the supervision of PADI instructor.

Contact: Agent should contact the Director of Sales and Marketing Joanne Hogg on Joanne.hogg @ sevenstarsresort.com.

NH Royal Beach
www.nh-hotels.com
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Opening Date: NH Royal Beach will open in time for winter.

Who should pitch to: Like all NH properties, we recommend booking for this pair as a romantic setting.

Cool Rooms: The 373 rooms, we learned that the best will Royal Suites.

Worth Mentioning: This will be the two NH hotels in Punta Cana area. NH Royal Beach will open the door next to the chain’s NH Real Arena, both located in the center of Bavaro.

Contact: Agent in the United States and Canada should call 1-800-232-9860 for more information.