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Jamaica Secures Airlift arrangements Post Thomas Cook – Bartlett

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has secured airlift arrangements with Condor Airlines as part of efforts to lessen the impact of the recent collapse of Thomas Cook.

Following a meeting with Oliver Feess, Manager announced that ground will be broken in Hanover for the 2000 room Princess Hotel and Resort by year end. The Announcement follows a meeting with chairman of the hotel chain, Mr. Robert Plana yesterday at World Travel Market in London.


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“Today we met with Chairman of Princess Hotels who will be in Jamaica next Monday for meetings to finalize arrangements for ground breaking and commencement of construction within the shortest possible time.

We are anticipating that construction will begin in the first quarter of next year given that all the developmental approvals have been completed and 18months after, the first 1000 rooms will be ready to be opened,” said Minister Bartlett.

Princess Hotels & Resorts is a hotel chain specialising in holiday and urban hotels in top class tourist resorts. Founded in 1967, it is ranked eighth in the Spanish market, with 3.700 employees and 19 establishments, offering 7.140 rooms. Earlier this year, the Spanish hotel chain committed to investing US$500 million in the construction of 2,000 rooms in Hanover.

Minister Bartlett added that, “We have been in dialogue with Princess for quite a while and my last visit to FITUR in Spain culminated in the announcement then, that they had acquired the properties in Green Island in Hanover and that they were ready to start construction as soon as possible.

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Time elapsed and the necessary approvals have been sought through our local authorities and planning agencies and we are satisfied now that they are fully ready to begin operations.” 

Currently, Jamaica’s room stock is 32,000. Under the 5x5x5 growth strategy, the aim is to have 15,000 additional rooms by 2022.

Speaking on the significance of the addition of these new rooms, Minister Bartlett says that “Hanover will have, when we add the component in Negril, along with the Grand Palladium, Round Hill and Tryall, close to 6000 rooms.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

The St. Regis Atlanta Celebrates the Completion of Its 10th Anniversary Re-Imagining

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Southern Elegance Meets Modern Travel Amenities

In celebration of its gala 10th Anniversary, The St. Regis Atlanta, an unparalleled in-town resort located in the exclusive enclave of Buckhead, is delighted to announce the completion of its property-wide refresh. The renewal, which combines historical elements and traditional Southern elegance with the needs of today’s connected traveler, includes a revitalization ­­of the guest rooms; the creation of a luxurious, three-story event space, Maisonette; an expansion of the St. Regis Bar; and the introduction of The Garden Room an immersive enchanted garden restaurant from the operators and culinary team behind Atlas, the hotel’s renowned fine-dining restaurant.  

The St. Regis Atlanta’s rich history is reflected throughout the renewal. The hotel’s acclaimed Georgian architecture and tailored, romantic gardens, designed in homage to the surrounding historic homes in Buckhead, have been amplified throughout the property. Throughout 2019, the property will present a variety of 10th anniversary-centric offerings and experiences, including culinary events in the interactive kitchen, to celebrate its first-decade milestone. 

“We could not be more delighted with our completed make-over or more eager to share it with our guests,” said Guntram Merl, general manager of The St. Regis Atlanta. “First-time visitors will be captivated and returning guests will be delighted to find their favorite features not only beautifully refreshed and modernized, but even more expansive and elegant than before.”

The renewed guest rooms are sophisticated and calming, with sage tones in the rooms and hues of auberge and raspberry in the suites.  Each of the 151 guest rooms, including 31 suites, is elegantly appointed with the comforts of a fine home, featuring five-fixture white marble bathrooms, iPad controls for smart room functionality, plush linens and luxurious bathroom amenities, all set off by an abundance of natural light. The newly-built three-story event space, Maisonette, which includes The Maisonette Gallery and the Maisonette Pavilion, meets the needs of any meeting, event or social gathering.  Maisonette also features a full-service Chef’s Kitchen, which can be used to present interactive culinary experiences.  

The celebrated St. Regis Bar, long Atlanta’s favorite venue for convivial social gatherings, was expanded by connecting it to The Wine Room, allowing for more guest seating. The Garden Room, a newly constructed 3,070-square-foot restaurant, boasts 100 seats and a new bar surrounded by an additional 24 stools. The all-season restaurant encompasses a compelling curved glass and steel art structure and lavish landscaping to create a modern take on a Southern garden party serving signature cocktails and locally-sourced small plates.  

The property commissioned Daroff Design to renovate the guestrooms including the unparalleled Empire Suite, as well as to develop Maisonette. The Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry carried out the architecture and design of The Garden Room. 

Since the property’s debut in April 2009, it has developed into a 26-floor luxury escape for guests, a home to 53 St. Regis Residences, more than 24,000 square feet of contemporary meeting and event space, two exclusive bars featuring world-class culinary options, and a state-of-the-art fitness facility that overlooks an exquisite 40,000-square-foot Pool Piazza and Poolside Café & Bar. Each guest room and suite is attended by the signature St. Regis Butler Service, an ever-present yet unobtrusive service dedicated to meeting the needs of discerning global travelers.  Located within the exclusive Buckhead community, The St. Regis Atlanta is conveniently within walking distance of Atlanta’s finest specialty shopping, restaurants, art galleries, and landmark corporations.

The St. Regis Atlanta is located at Eighty-Eight West Paces Ferry Road in Atlanta. For reservations or more information, please call (404) 563-7900 or visit stregisatlanta.com. 

About The St. Regis Atlanta

Combining timeless sophistication with an unrivaled luxury, The St. Regis Atlanta Hotel & Residences debuted April 14, 2009. The 26-floor development features 151 luxuriously appointed guest rooms and suites, 53 St. Regis Residences, more than 24,000 square feet of contemporary meeting and event space, two exclusive bars, world-class culinary options, a state-of-the-art fitness facility that overlooks an exquisite 40,000-square-foot Pool Piazza and poolside Bar, a 7,800-square-foot Remède Spa, and Astor Court, the resort’s distinctive upper lobby restaurant offering compelling cuisine and an unparalleled ambiance. Each guest room and suite is attended by the signature St. Regis Butler Service, an ever present yet unobtrusive service dedicated to meeting the needs of discerning global travelers. The property continues to be listed among the Top Hotels in the South by Condè Nast Traveler for its Readers’ Choice Awards, and in 2017 and 2018 it received a Gold Badge in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hotels in the USA. The St. Regis Atlanta Hotel & Residences is located at 88 West Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead. For more information, please call 404.563.7900 or visit stregisatlanta.com.

Media Contacts: Evan Nicholson, Grecia Corleto and Juliona Miller at Glodow Nead Communications, (415) 394-6500 or StRegisAtl@GlodowNead.com

Hotel room boom sparks investments

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Jamaica is being prepared for a boom in hotel rooms over the next five years. It is expected that 12,000 new rooms will be added to existing room stock over that period, brining millions of US dollar investment to the island.

The investment line-up includes US$250 million by H10 Hotels to build 1000 rooms in Trelawny and over US$500 million by Amaterra to build out 5000 rooms across a multifaceted development also in that parish, starting with at least 1,200 hotel rooms for which ground was recently broken.

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett outlined these investment deals at his Sectoral presentation in Parliament yesterday.

“Jamaica’s tourism is experience record growth in arrivals and earnings and this has attracted more investment in our highly sought after product. What we are seeing is surge in hotel construction and expansion from various chains who see Jamaica as a very viable tourist destination.

TOURISM TEAM: Minister of Tourism, on Edmund Bartlett (4TH left) is flanked by executive members of his team at the Ministry of Tourism following his Sectoral Presentation to Parliament on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. From left are: Executive Director of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), Dr Andrew Spencer; Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Hon Godfrey Dyer; Regional Director, Jamaica Tourist Board, Odette Soberman Dyer, and Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Dr Carey Wallace

In fact, data from JAMPRO has indicated that Foreign Direct Investments in 2017 generated US$173.11 million or 19.5% of total Foreign Direct Investment,” said Minister Bartlett

The parish of Hanover is set for an investment of US$500 million by Princess Hotels & Resorts on 2000 rooms while Hard Rock will be building 1100 rooms in Montego Bay.

Over in St Ann, the first phase of the Karisma development will see US$200 million invested in building 800 rooms and Moon Palace is to spend USD$160 million in 700 rooms.

Recently, 120 rooms were opened at S Hotel in Montego Bay and later this year the Wyndam Hotel in Kingston will add 250 more rooms with 220 by AC Marriott, also in Kingston.

Outlining these projects, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett expressed elation that his target of having 5,000 hotel rooms within five years earning US$5 billion, was being exceeded, as he made his presentation in Parliament’s Sectoral Debate today.

Even as the development of hotel rooms continue apace, Minister Bartlett reported to the House that the tourism industry was undergoing daily changes requiring appropriate response to remain relevant, fashionable and viable. This, he said, called for innovation and the development of new systems, processes and methodologies to reimagine the sector.

For further information contact:

Corporate Communications Unit

Ministry of Tourism,

64 Knutsford Boulevard,

Kingston 5.

Tel: 876-809-2906

Expression of interests launched for new carrying-capacity studies for La Digue, Mahe and Praslin

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The Seychelles Ministry for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine have recently launched 2 expression of interests for carrying capacity studies to be undertaken on La Digue as well as Mahe and Praslin. The aim of the studies is to determine the current status of the islands and the acceptable amount of tourism development that can occur while still remaining sustainable, and assist the government in taking informed decisions on all future tourism development projects.

The Carrying-Capacity Study for La Digue dates back to 2013 and the results have led to the policy directive of setting a moratorium on the development of tourism accommodation establishments to 5 rooms per developer. This moratorium is supposed to be valid for a period of five years and the time has come to commission a new Carrying-Capacity Study.

Moreover, in 2018 the President announced that La Digue would be a model of sustainability as part of the National Vision 2033.  An eco-tourism strategy specific to the island for the next 15 years has been developed and the Carrying-Capacity Study on La Digue will aim to align with the established vision and provide recommendations to policy makers pertaining to future development on the island in view of assuring its sustainable development.

As for Mahe and Praslin, the Carrying-Capacity Study was commissioned in 2016 and set to be reviewed in 2020.  The results of the Carrying-Capacity Study has led to a number of policy directives and a set moratorium on the number of rooms that can be developed per promoter which is 20 rooms for Northern Mahe and 24 rooms per promoter for  the rest of Mahe and Praslin.

The carrying-capacity analysis will determine the ability of the ecosystem of La Digue, Mahe and Praslin and the various segments thereof to withstand all impacts of additional tourism development activities. The studies will apply the perspectives of Physical carrying capacity, Ecological carrying capacity, Social carrying capacity and Economic carrying capacity in order to develop a balanced overall assessment.

Consultants interested to undertake the study have to submit their expression of interest to the Department of Tourism by Friday, April 26, 2019 by 1500 hours. Results of the two carrying capacity studies will determine whether or not to maintain the moratorium currently in place on La Digue, Mahe and Praslin.

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Hawaii hotels: Flat average daily rate, lower occupancy so far in 2019

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For the first three months of 2019, Hawaii hotels statewide reported flat average daily rate (ADR) and lower occupancy, which resulted in lower revenue per available room (RevPAR) compared to the first quarter of 2018.

According to the Hawaii Hotel Performance Report published by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), statewide RevPAR declined to $236 (-3.3%), with ADR of $292 and occupancy of 80.8 percent (-2.7 percentage points) in the first quarter of 2019.

HTA’s Tourism Research Division issued the report’s findings utilizing data compiled by STR, Inc., which conducts the largest and most comprehensive survey of hotel properties in the Hawaiian Islands.

For the first quarter, Hawaii hotel room revenues fell by 4.7 percent to $1.13 billion compared to the $1.18 billion earned in the first quarter of 2018. There were more than 74,300 fewer available room nights (-1.5%) in the first quarter and approximately 190,500 fewer occupied room nights (-4.7%) compared to a year ago. Several hotel properties across the state were closed for renovation or had rooms out of service for renovation during the first quarter.

All classes of Hawaii hotel properties statewide reported RevPAR declines in the first quarter of 2019 except Upper Midscale Class properties ($134, +0.6%). Luxury Class properties reported RevPAR of $452 (-5.4%) with ADR of $594 (-1.2%) and occupancy of 76.1 percent (-3.3 percentage points). At the other end of the price scale, Midscale & Economy Class hotels reported RevPAR of $155 (-5.0%) with ADR of $187 (-0.5%) and occupancy of 83.1 percent (-3.9 percentage points).

Comparison to Top U.S. Markets

In comparison to top U.S. markets, the Hawaiian Islands earned the highest RevPAR at $236 in the first quarter, followed by the San Francisco/San Mateo market at $210 (+15.9%) and the Miami/Hialeah market at $208 (-3.5%). Hawaii also led the U.S. markets in ADR at $292 followed by San Francisco/San Mateo and Miami/Hialeah. The Hawaiian Islands ranked fifth for occupancy at 80.8 percent, with Miami/Hialeah topping the list at 83.0 percent (-2.1 percentage points).

Hotel Results for Hawaii’s Four Counties

Hotel properties in Hawaii’s four island counties all reported RevPAR decreases in the first quarter of 2019. Maui County hotels led the state overall in RevPAR at $337 (-2.7%), with ADR at $428 (-0.9%) and occupancy at 78.6 percent (-1.5 percentage points).

Kauai hotels earned RevPAR of $228 (-10.2%), with flat ADR at $305 (+0.2%) and lower occupancy of 74.8 percent (-8.7 percentage points).

Hotels on the island of Hawaii reported a decline in RevPAR to $225 (-9.7%), due to a combination of decreases in both ADR ($285, -2.0%) and occupancy (79.1%, -6.7 percentage points).

Oahu hotels earned slightly lower RevPAR at $196 (-0.9%), with ADR at $236 (+0.8%) and occupancy of 83.0 percent (-1.4 percentage points).

Comparison to International Markets

When compared to international “sun and sea” destinations, Hawaii’s counties were in the middle of the pack for RevPAR in the first quarter of 2019. Hotels in the Maldives ranked highest in RevPAR at $575 (+4.5%) followed by Aruba at $351 (+11.2%). Maui County ranked third, with Kauai, the island of Hawaii, and Oahu ranking sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively.

The Maldives also led in ADR at $737 (+5.2%) in the first quarter, followed by French Polynesia at $497 (-1.1%). Maui County ranked fifth, followed by Kauai and the island of Hawaii. Oahu ranked ninth .

Oahu trailed Phuket (84.5%, -6.3 percentage points) in occupancy for sun and sea destinations in the first quarter. The island of Hawaii, Maui County and Kauai ranked fourth, fifth and ninth, respectively.

March 2019 Hotel Performance

In March 2019, RevPAR for Hawaii hotels statewide declined to $227 (-4.3%), with ADR of $285 (-1.1%) and occupancy of 79.6 percent (-2.7 percentage points).

In March, Hawaii hotel room revenues fell by 5.9 percent to $373.3 million. There were more than 27,200 fewer available room nights (-1.6%) in March and approximately 66,850 fewer occupied room nights (-4.9%) compared to a year ago. Several hotel properties across the state were closed for renovation or had rooms out of service for renovation during March. However, the number of rooms out of service may be under-reported.

All classes of Hawaii hotel properties statewide reported RevPAR declines in March. Luxury Class properties reported RevPAR of $443 (-7.2%) with ADR of $583 (-3.1%) and occupancy of 75.9 percent (-3.4 percentage points). Midscale & Economy Class hotels reported RevPAR of $150 (-2.9%) with ADR of $182 (+0.8%) and occupancy of 82.0 percent (-3.1 percentage points).

Hotel properties in Hawaii’s four island counties all reported lower RevPAR for March. Maui County hotels reported the highest RevPAR in March at $336 (-1.4%) with ADR of $421 (-1.6%) and flat occupancy (79.8%, +0.2 percentage points).

Oahu hotels reported lower occupancy (80.4%, -2.3 percentage points) and flat ADR ($230, -0.2%) for March.

Hotels on the island of Hawaii continued to face challenges in March, with RevPAR dropping 11.2 percent to $216, ADR to $272 (-4.9%) and occupancy to 79.2 percent (-5.7 percentage points).

RevPAR for Kauai hotels fell to $213 (-14.6%) in March, with declines in both ADR to $286 (-4.5%) and occupancy to 74.4 percent (-8.8 percentage points).

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