St Lucia Update



About Saint Lucia 

One of the Windward Islands of the West Indies' Lesser Antilles, Saint Lucia (pronounced Saint LOO-sha) is nestled halfway down the Eastern Caribbean archipelago. The "Helen of the West Indies," Saint Lucia is known for its natural beauty and diverse attractions, including the signature Piton Mountains - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - a tropical rainforest and one of the world's few drive-in volcanoes. Culturally rich offerings include the bustling marketplace in the capital of Castries, quaint fishing villages along the coastline, and the annual Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival. Saint Lucia's wide range of accommodations includes world-class five-star resorts, all-inclusive resorts, intimate inns and value-oriented properties. Saint Lucia also is home to world class cruise and yachting facilities. The island is continually recognized as one of the Leading Wedding and Honeymoon destinations worldwide.


ISLAND DEVELOPMENTS:

which opened in early November 2014, is set to become the premier scuba diving center in the Eastern Caribbean featuring state of the art facilities at the new complex just south of the Rodney Bay Marina. Amenities include an on-site purpose-built pool and fully equipped classrooms for land-based lectures and demonstrations. The dive center is LEED Certified for achieving high efficiencies in resource use, energy consumption and health and safety of standards. Dive Saint Lucia is a PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Centre (IDC), as rated by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, the world's largest and most popular diver-training organization. 

HOTEL DEVELOPMENTS:

Anse Chastanet debuted the Casaurina Piton Pool Suite on December 15, 2014 featuring scenic views of both the Pitons and the Caribbean Sea, original artworks and sculptures, a spacious bedroom with a four poster bed and a bathroom shower built for two. The suite also includes a private pool measuring 16 feet long and eight feet wide. 

Capella Marigot Bay Resort and Marina officially welcomed guests on December 15, 2014, following an extensive multi-million dollar renovation which began in summer 2014. The resort now features 124 rooms that include 57 suites (many have private Jacuzzi pools) with spacious balconies and extensive views of the bay. Food and beverage concepts have been added including an upscale casual restaurant, The Grill at 14*61, featuring breathtaking views of the Bay and an intimate Rum Cave reminiscent of an authentic Saint Lucian distillery with specialty local rums. The resort also debuted a new Auriga spa concept inspired by Saint Lucia's natural environment and showcasing indigenous local treatments.

The property is also home to the newly re-designed Capella Marina at Marigot Bay, which accommodates some of the most luxurious mega yachts in the world. Guests of the hotel will be able to arrange exclusive charters with a choice of various yachts including luxury and mega yachts. Renovations include a dynamic array of international shops, bars and restaurant for yacht owners and hotel guests, an extended boardwalk, lively sports bar and a recreational room with video and board games.

Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa piloted renovations and upgrades to Harmony, the adult's only wing of the resort, totaling US $5 million. The updates include an expansive new pool featuring a whirlpool, enlarged pool bar with new beach and poolside waiter service, refurbished reception area, a spa refresh with new paint and tiling, and a new wedding facility expanding the current site at the resort's Eternity Beach.

Coco Palm announced the opening of the Golden Palm Events Centre catering to the growing demand of meetings and events in and around the bustling town of Rodney Bay and the capital city Castries. Located at the AlFiona Plaza in Rodney Heights, the new 3,000 square foot Golden Palm conference room accommodates groups up to 200 theatre-style with catering facilities by KoKo Cabana Bistro at Coco Palm Resort. Golden Palm, joining almVille, Kreole, Plantation and Kaiso, is the largest of the five conference rooms run by the resort.

In October, Fond Doux Plantation and Resort unveiled three new Honeymoon Suites to add to the collection of 15 romantic, colonial-style cottages in Soufriere. Each suite (named Hilltop Cashew, Hilltop Nutmeg, and Hilltop Orange) includes a private plunge pool and an outdoor rainforest shower, complete with the same rich character found throughout the property. 

In May 2014, Jade Mountain opened an interactive Chocolate Laboratory where guests not only taste the chocolate grown on property but participate in the full chocolate making process - from bean to bar. An array of year-round chocolate-infused activities are available for guests including tastings, educational estate trips, truffle making classes and an annual Discover Chocolate Festival typically held in the fall. In close collaboration with the resort's Consulting Chef Allen Susser, Jade Mountain's Emerald Estate Organic Chocolate and Chocolate Laboratory are managed by the resort's very own Chocolate Alchemist and Director of Pastry Wouter Tjeertes.

Ladera's 
Paradise Ridge collection is complete offering an elevated experience with exclusive amenities. Comprised of one villa and six suites, each accommodation features only three walls to showcase the incomparable views of the Caribbean Sea and Pitons. Each suite ranges from 1,500 to 2,100 square feet and features handcrafted furniture and guests receive a private butler (available 24/7) with other special offerings such as a Romance Concierge, Moonbow spotting, private in-suite aphrodisiac rum making class and cooking classes with the resorts' Saint Lucian Executive Chef.

Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort and Spa renovated all eight Water's Edge suites completed this December. The updates include new indoor/outdoor bathrooms, furnishings and fabrics.

In 2015, guests of The BodyHoliday can experience the hotel's new groundbreaking genetic testing program, BodyScience. Using cutting edge technologies such as DNA testing, combined with the preventative Eastern approach to well-being, the program will take personalized health, fitness and nutrition programs to the next level. Prices for the testing start from $3,000 per person exclusive of a guest's stay.

The Harbour Club Hotel, a 115 room hotel, is being constructed adjacent the newly completed Dive Saint Lucia in Rodney Bay. The hotel will feature three meeting rooms with a total capacity of 450 people, one fine dining restaurant on the top floor of the hotel building and casual dining at the waterfront. It is scheduled to open in late 2016.

Developments at The Landings St. Lucia include Callaloo, a new open-air restaurant featuring authentic Saint Lucian cuisine located directly on the beach and a new beachfront bar called Turquoise with an expansive premium drink selection and the introduction of "In-Suite Chef Service" to offer guests a more private dining affair.

Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort completed a beach expansion project in fall 2014, valued at US $33 million, which enlarged the beach by 16,000 square feet. The revamp utilized 4,000 tons of sand, 60 palms, three in-water hammocks, new Tiki huts and a total of 1,400 new plants for an added lush, tropical look around the beachside area. Windjammer will continue to renovate throughout 2015 which will include a new stand-alone spa slated to open in May and a new villa luxury project, The North Point, is on schedule to accept reservations in December 2015.

For more information about the island of Saint Lucia, call 1-800-456-3984, 1-888-4STLUCIA, 1-800-869-0377 in Canada, or visit http://stlucianow.com/.



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