Jetsettersblog

The Westin Resort, Aruba is offering upgrades to its all-inclusive package for 2009. Nightly rates start at $400 per person, per night, based on double occupancy, through April 16, and include accommodations, meals, activities, special events, and tax and service.

Children ages 4 through 12 can be added to the room for an additional daily charge of $50, and teens ages 13 through 17 for $75. Unlike many other all-inclusive programs, this comes without wristbands and unexpected surcharges. New to the resort’s all-inclusive roster in 2009 include room service, Westin Kids Club, beach palapas, and an off-property dining credit.

The all-inclusive package features accommodations; breakfast, lunch and dinner at a variety of resort restaurants or room service; $25 dining voucher per person (one voucher per person for a four-night stay and two vouchers per person for stays of seven nights or more); premium alcohol, wine and beer by the glass; Westin Kids Club with half or full-day programs for children ages 4 to 12; private weekly Renewal Ritual including drinks and hors d’oeuvres (Mondays);

Westin Unwind with nightly drink and appetizer specials to transition from day to evening; Beach Palapas (up to a $50 value), based on availability; non-motorized water sports including rafts, snorkel equipment and kayaks; use of nearby tennis courts; and WestinWORKOUT fitness center access. Search under Hotel Offers on the website and when booking ask for rate plan SOPAIP.

For more information, call 877-822-2222 or visit www.westin.com/aruba

Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts announced the Winter 2008 Partners in Paradise Award recipients: Richard Poitras, strategic planner and founder of Horizons.com, and Carrie Plato, Caribbean strategy and buying leader of the Mark Travel Corporation.

Poitras was recognized with the Meeting Planner Partner Award and Plato received the Travel Industry Partner Award. The highly esteemed Partners in Paradise Awards are presented to the most extraordinary meeting and travel industry partners, recognizing their overall contributions to Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts.

“These two, dynamic professionals have been selected to receive Marriott’s top industry honor for displaying qualities that exemplify the ideal Marriott partner — organization, leadership, flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm,” said Steve Cook, area director of sales and marketing for Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts.

Launched in 2006, the bi-annual Partners in Paradise Award program is a way of recognizing individuals whose contributions to Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts properties go above and beyond the financial opportunities alone.

Twice a year, the sales team nominates one meeting planner and one travel industry partner to receive this prestigious award. Winners are not only featured on ParadiseByMarriott.com and in a newsletter that is distributed to travel and meeting trades, but they also receive a personal letter, an engraved plaque and a $500 American Express gift certificate.

MLT Vacations added three popular island destinations in the Caribbean through the company’s NWA WorldVacations and Continental Airlines Vacations brands. The tour operator began offering Antigua, Turks & Caicos, and St. Lucia vacation packages Dec. 18.

NWA WorldVacations will offer all three island getaways while Continental Airlines Vacations will offer the islands of Antigua and Turks & Caicos. Vacations package components will include round-trip air, accommodations at a Sandals or Beaches Resort, and ground transportation.

Rental car options and more lodging selections will be announced in the spring of 2009, and optional car rental. More accommodation options are coming in spring 2009.

MLT Vacations, one of the largest providers of vacation packages in the United States, manages multiple package vacation brands, including NWA WorldVacations, Worry-Free Vacations, and Continental Airlines Vacations.

NWA WorldVacations offers vacation packages via scheduled air service on Northwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines and other airline partners, with convenient connections from many U.S. and Canadian cities, to destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia, including luxury vacation packages and destination weddings and honeymoons.

Worry-Free Vacations offers charter vacation packages from several U.S. cities to destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean. Continental Airlines Vacations offers vacation packages via scheduled air service on Continental Airlines with convenient connections from many U.S. and Canadian cities, to destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.

For more information, visit www.worldagentdirect.com

Aruba unveiled 2009 travel packages designed to appeal to every type of traveler. Promotions are available at multiple hotels and resorts and provide great value in addition to exciting offerings for families, couples, divers, spa aficionados and more.

With numerous air service options from the U.S., including 13 direct flights, Aruba offers travelers easy accessibility, attractive rates and a wide range of activities to choose from while vacationing on the island.

With the completion of a $50 million dollar renovation, the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino has created a hotel within a hotel concept with the opening of the new Tradewinds Club, an exclusive club experience on the hotel’s eighth floor. The Aruba Marriott is now offering guests the Tradewinds Indulgence Package, which includes a room on the eighth floor of the hotel with water views and a private balcony; a $100 resort credit and the fourth night free.

Guests can also take advantage of the perks offered by the Tradewinds Club, including five food and beverage servings daily, complimentary internet service and upscale amenities. The Tradewinds Indulgence Package is available for stays Jan. 4 to Dec. 18. Rates start at $494 per room, per night, with a minimum four night stay. For more information, call 800-228-9290 and use booking code P51or visit www.arubamarriott.com.

The new Three for Free Package from Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino offers travelers a triple cluster of rewards — a fifth night free, a complimentary one-category room upgrade and full breakfast for two daily for guests. Guests using an American Express card to pay for their room will receive the added bonus of a special welcome amenity upon check-in and complimentary late check-out. The Three for Free package offers a 25 percent savings, and is available for stays now through March 31. Rates start from $525.

For more information, call 800-55-HYATT or visit www.aruba.hyatt.com

The Scuba in Aruba Package, offered by the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa, features five dives with a three-night stay, seven dives with a five-night stay, and unlimited dives with a seven-night stay. The package includes a welcome martini and the option to swap any of the dive trips for a Larimar Spa treatment. All instruction and activities are through Unique Sports, a five-star Gold Palm/National Geographic facility located at the resort. The Learn to Dive option lets guests who are staying seven nights become fully certified. Rates for the Scuba in Aruba package begin at $1,670. The package is available for travel Jan. 4 to April 18, based on double occupancy Garden View accommodations. For more information, call 800-333-3333 or visit www.radisson.com/aruba

The Escape! Family Package, offered by The Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino includes accommodations in an Island Suite or Ocean Suite for the number of nights selected; complimentary use of non-motorized water sports on Renaissance Island, the resort’s private island exclusively for guests; breakfast for two daily with children aged 12 and under for free; an in-room movie; pizza and a beverage; and milk and cookies nightly. Rates for the Escape! Family Package start from $546 for Island Suite accommodations for stays from Jan. 4 through April 16; and from $363 for Island Suite accommodations for stays from April 17 to Dec. 21. For more information, call 011-297-583-6000 or visit www.renaissancearuba.com

The Family Fun Package, offered by the Westin Resort Aruba, includes a $100 resort credit per day; children ages 5 and under eat free from the kids menu; children aged 6 to 12 receive 50 percent off items on the regular menu and a free souvenir cup with unlimited soft drinks, juices and milk; a special check-in area and orientation with a member of the Westin “Fun Team”; a single room with a guaranteed connecting room or a suite; a complimentary crib or roll-away as needed; age-appropriate amenities for each child upon arrival; and an evening of entertainment arranged by Westin’s “Director of Fun.” The Family Fun Package is valid for travel now through March 31.

For more information, call 877-782-0149 and request rate code FML

The Larimar Spa Package offered by The Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa includes accommodations for two guests for four, five or seven nights, a welcome martini and three spa treatments per person, which can be substituted for rounds of golf. Guests staying for seven nights receive five treatments in the oceanfront hideaway. The Larimar Spa draws guests with 40-plus services including four signature treatments incorporating aloe, black beach stones, Palmera rum and Seroe quartz crystals, all of which are indigenous to Aruba. Rates for the Larimar Spa Package begin at $2,375. The package is available for stays between Jan. 4 and April 18, based on double occupancy Garden View accommodations. For more information, call 800-333-3333 or visit www.radisson.com/aruba

The All-Inclusive Honeymoon Packages offered by the Divi & Tamarijin Aruba include luxury accommodations (guaranteed preferred Deluxe Oceanfront accommodation with patio or balcony at Tamarijin Aruba; guaranteed Oceanview or Beachside accommodation with patio or balcony at Divi Aruba); full use of both resorts; a bottle of champagne; a candlelight dinner at the Sunset Beach Bistro;

a free first night anniversary certificate; and a remembrance gift.

Additionally, guests staying at either property also receive all meals and snacks throughout the day at a choice of 10 dining options, unlimited beverages, use of three freshwater pools, use of the Divi Wind Sports Center with 30-foot rock climbing wall on the beach, fitness center and non-motorized watersports; and activities including tennis, volleyball, bikes, theme nights and nightly entertainment. All-Inclusive Honeymoon Packages are available year round, and start from $446 at the Tamarijin Aruba and from $476 at the Divi Aruba.

For more information, call 800-554-2008 or visit www.diviaruba.com  or www.tamarijnaruba.com

For more information on Aruba, call 800-TO-ARUBA or visit www.aruba.com

Dive Friends Bonaire, the island’s largest independent dive facility, has exciting plans for visiting Bonaire divers for 2009, with new programs and other enhancements to make each dive vacation unique.

Photographic and videographic services will be augmented on December 21, 2008 when Capture Photo Bonaire joins Dive Friends at the Dive Friends @ Dive Inn location on the southern section of the oceanfront promenade. Capture will provide underwater camera rentals and sales, classes in underwater photography or videography, digital image processing, as well as camera repairs.

Having the expertise of Capture’s imaging specialists will enable guests of Dive Friends Bonaire to begin, or improve upon, their own underwater photographic endeavors, or let the experts join in on a dive to capture the moment forever in video or still photography, so divers can share their underwater vacation memories with family and friends. There will be a Grand Opening in early 2009 to celebrate.

Dive Friends Bonaire’s two retail stores in Kralendijk—Dive Friends @ Divers Discount and Dive Friends @ Dive Retail Outlet—offer the most complete selection of dive equipment and surf and beach apparel on Bonaire. Additionally, Dive Friends is pleased to announce that they have been named an authorized dealer for both ScubaPro and Uwatec, and therefore, new equipment from both manufacturers will be available in January.

For popular beach- and surf-wear, the new 2009 collection of Oceancore board shorts is available, along with new Body Glove rash guards. The high-quality t-shirt line by Deep Down is available in the stores in January, 2009, and just in time for holiday shopping is the latest collection of Reef sandals and apparel. Coming in 2009 is a Dive Friends Bonaire Buyers Card, jointly sponsored by Reef, which will provide Dive Friends’ customers with a buying card. After ten purchases on the card, customers will receive 10% of the total value of prior purchases off their next purchase; some restrictions apply—contact Dive Friends for more information.

For those divers who enjoy continuing their diving education, Dive Friend Bonaire’s has added a new PADI distinctive specialty to their instruction roster, entitled The PADI Shore Diver Distinctive Specialty. Since many of Bonaire’s visitors have experience with boat diving only, this course will help familiarize participants with enjoyment of the island’s shore diving locations—there are fifty official dive sites on Bonaire’s leeward coast. The course includes a short academic session with two dives where participants will learn the necessary skills to independently plan and conduct safe, easy, and fun shore dives.

Dive Friends Bonaire is one of Bonaire’s premier diving facilities offering full diving and snorkeling services while still providing personal attention. Two retail stores are available in Kralendijk, in addition to four diving facilities.

For additional information about all their services, visit their web site at www.dive-friends-bonaire.com  or e-mail: info@dive-friends-bonaire.com

Contact: Dive Friends Bonaire
Phone +(599) 717-2929, Fax +(599) 717-2929

Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa announces tailored vacations for special interests with the launch of three 2009 themed packages. The Scuba in Aruba, Romantic Escape and Larimar Spa vacation packages include memorable Aruban activities and plenty of time to do nothing at all but lounge under a palapa on the island’s best stretch of beach. The packages are available January 4 - April 18, 2009 for stays of three to seven nights; rates listed below are per room based on double occupancy Garden View accommodations.

“We are all watching the economy and the current challenges it presents,” states Francis Purvey, director of sales and marketing for Radisson Aruba. “Our packages include a variety of activities within their pricing, so guests can enjoy greater value while on vacation at Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa.”

- Diving and Exploring -

Underwater enthusiasts can explore the Caribbean Sea with the Scuba in Aruba package beginning at $1,670. Guests booking the package receive five dives with a three-night stay, seven dives with a five-night stay, and unlimited dives with a seven-night stay.

The package includes a welcome martini and the option to swap any of the dive trips for a Larimar Spa treatment. Known for numerous wrecks and a diversity of reef sites, the warm waters off Aruba excite both the new diver and seasoned professional. Preferred dives include the California Wreck, a 100 year-old ship surrounded by large coral formations and an abundance of fish or the brain coral and sea fans of the Arashi dive. All instruction and activities are through Unique Sports, a five-star Gold Palm/National Geographic facility located at the resort. Not a certified diver? The “Learn to Dive” option lets guests who are staying seven nights become fully certified.

- Pampering and De-stressing -

Radisson Aruba’s Larimar Spa package begins at $2,375 and travelers get a comprehensive spa experience. The package includes accommodations for two for four, five or seven nights, a welcome martini and three spa treatments per person, which can be substituted for rounds of golf.

Guests staying for seven nights receive five treatments in the oceanfront hideaway. The Larimar Spa draws guests with 40-plus services including four signature treatments incorporating aloe, black beach stones, Palmera rum and Seroe quartz crystals – all of which are indigenous to Aruba.

- Hugs and Kisses -

Couples can canoodle while enjoying a sunset sail or relax during a massage with the Radisson Aruba Romantic Escape package. Beginning at $3,000, the package includes a bottle of champagne upon arrival, daily breakfast for two, a romantic sunset sail and a 50-minute couples massage. Guests booking this package will also enjoy a private dinner at the resort’s AAA Four Diamond-rated Sunset Grille or “Dinner by Torchlight” right on the beach. Each dinner includes one bottle of house wine.

For information and reservations, call Radisson Hotels & Resorts toll-free at (800) 333-3333 or visit www.radisson.com/aruba

- Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa -

The Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa is situated on 225,000 square feet of the best beach on the island of Aruba. With an exceptional staff, many with the resort over 15 years, the AAA Four Diamond-rated property is notable for its gracious service, white sandy beach, lagoons, waterfalls, manicured gardens and 353 guestrooms, including 30 luxurious suites and exclusive Plaza Club accommodations. Radisson Aruba also features three restaurants including Sunset Grille, the island’s only AAA Four Diamond-rated restaurant at a resort; a 30,000-sq.-ft. pool area with two free-form pools; 16,000-sq.-ft. casino; 13,000-sq.-ft. Larimar Spa; PADI watersports facility, and over 15,000 sq ft. of meeting space.

As part of an ongoing expansion in the region, Radisson will add a second showcase resort to its Caribbean portfolio with the opening of the Radisson St Martin Resort, Marina & Spa in the December 2008.

The Westin Resort, Aruba is featuring a Vacation Bailout, allowing guests who book a five-night getaway to receive a $150 resort credit, while stays of six nights or more qualify for a $200, which can be used toward dining, activities or many other resort services. The Vacation Bailout also includes a fifth night free.

The Vacation Bailout must be booked by Dec. 31, 2008, and is valid for travel now through April 16, 2009. Nightly rates start at $269 per room, now through December. Rates for 2009 are available upon request. Travelers can use the “bailout” credit on amenities and activities throughout the resort, including a range of food and beverage options, totaling eight. When booking, be sure to ask for rate code BAILOUT.

 For more information, call 877-822-2222 or visit www.westin.com/aruba

Certified Vacations Group entered into a partnership with CaribbeanWeddings.com, the largest site on the web dedicated to destination weddings in the Caribbean, to launch a new CaribbeanWeddings.com brand offering complete travel and destination wedding planning and booking services to the Caribbean.

The partnership provides CaribbeanWeddings.com professional travel industry expertise to back up its web marketing prowess. Roberta Backus Turner, chairwoman and founder of CaribbeanWeddings.com, said, “We worked with our visitors this way for many years, but our call volume and email requests became so enormous that we needed to find an experienced travel partner. Certified’s 28-year track record of excellence in developing packaged leisure travel, combined with our wedding expertise makes a perfect marriage. We interviewed some excellent firms and found the right relationship with Certified Vacations.”

CaribbeanWeddings.com, with more than 1.3 million page views a year, claims to be the leading Internet site dedicated exclusively to the Caribbean wedding and honeymoon market. The Internet company is ranked number one in over 5,000 first page rankings on the major search engines and continues to establish itself as a major Internet player in the Caribbean. Destination weddings are not only popular but they continue to increase each year according to most industry research, and wedding, honeymoon and romance packages sales remain solid year-round, despite a down economy.

According to the most recent “American Wedding Study” conducted by Condé Nast Bridal Media, an estimated 2.3 million Americans got married in 2006, with approximately 16 percent of couples enjoying a destination wedding. This represents an increase of 400 percent since 1996. Destination weddings and honeymoons generate an estimated $5.4 billion in annual revenue for the Caribbean.

To better serve brides and grooms-to-be, Certified Vacations has established a dedicated Caribbean Weddings call center staffed with destination wedding reservations specialists.

CaribbeanWeddings.com was launched in 1999 and is the largest site on the web dedicated exclusively to providing information about destination weddings in the Caribbean.

Before entering into its arrangement with Certified, CaribbeanWeddings.com provided information about weddings and honeymoons in the Caribbean to its visitors and sent leads from those visitors to participating hotels. Now, its visitors will be able to contact Certified directly to handle all or any part of their travel, wedding and honeymoon needs. For reservations on CaribbeanWeddings.com, call 877-312-LOVE (5683).

For more information on Certified Vacations, visit www.certifiedvacations.com

3rd edition Faraway Shores winter 2008, 2009 – winter 2009, 2010

Thomson has launched its new year-round 3rd edition Faraway Shores brochure for Jan/09 – Apr/10, available in store and on-line. Highlights include daily flights to Cancun, a new range of twin centres as well as a host of new properties in Aruba and Barbados.

NEW: DAILY FLIGHTS TO CANCUN
For winter 2009/10 the newly branded airline will be flying as Thomson Airways and due to popular demand, Thomson will be offering daily flights from a range of UK airports to the popular Mexican resort of Cancun a destination which is ideal for a winter break offering beach focused holidays, a tropical climate plenty of water sports and some of some of Thomson’s finest accommodation options.

NEW: CUBA YEAR ROUND PROGRAMME: 2 NEW RESORTS, VARADERO AND HOLGUIN
Cuba is now available to book for summer 2009 and will continue for inclusion into a year round programme for Thomson which features a range of all inclusive hotels from 3T – 5T. Highlights include the new all-inclusive 3T+ Blau Costa Verde Hotel in Guardalavaca which is located on the beachfront. It’s exclusive to adult’s whist boasting a range of facilities including 5 restaurants.

NEW: THOMSON LAUNCHES FOUR NEW FARAWAY PROPERTIES

The 4T Bucuti Beach Resort sits right on the edge of Eagle Beach in Aruba and comes with the accolade of being voted 10th best in the world for romance by Trip Advisor, making it particularly suitable for adults.

Barbados hosts 3 new properties for inclusion in the Faraway Shores brochure. The 5T The Crane hotel is set on the cliffs overlooking a beach that has been voted ‘one of the ten best beaches in the world’. In addition, the hotel features a range of dining options coupled with luxury facilities. The 4T Almond Casuarina is a newly refurbished all-inclusive property set within close proximity to St Lawrence gap and well suited for families, offering a Kids Club and a host of activities and entertainments. The 3T Silver Sands resort offers board basis’s from self-catering to all-inclusive and stands within close proximity to all the main resorts.

NEW: THOMSON TWIN CENTRES AND TOURS

In both Sri Lanka and the Maldives, there are a variety of new twin centre offerings which boast new superior room upgrades. The upgrades are available at the Water Villa in the Maldives and as part of the Discover Sri Lanka tour.

The Jammin in Jamaica Tour is new to the Faraway Shores brochure and offers a great way to explore the island with visits to Bob Marley’s home, climbs up Dunn’s River Falls and rafting along the Rio Grande.

NEW: THOMSON WORLDWIDE

Thomson is featuring 3 destinations for inclusion in the new Faraway Shores brochure. Thailand, Dubai and Mauritius make their debuts in the brochure and with daily departures, there’s complete flexibility on when you can travel.

SRI LANKA: THOMSON’S LATEST DESTINATION, FEATURING A RANGE OF HOTELS FROM BAMBURI TO BERUWELA

If you’re looking for outstanding scenery, unsurpassed exotic culture, Sri Lanka is flanked by outstanding beaches on all parts of the island. Thomson will be providing captivating holiday experiences to this Indian Ocean country for Winter 2009/10.

THOMSON’S KEY ARUBA PROPERTIES

For winter 2008/2009 Thomson will be showcasing the 5T Riu Palace Aruba on Palm Beach and the 4T Divi Aruba on Eagle Beach, two all-inclusive properties, well placed to enjoy the benefits of great beaches. Inside there’s a variety of restaurants, from seafood and Japanese to Brazilian.

The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) has unveiled its new website, which is which is designed to streamline pertinent information to the organization’s hotel and affiliate members, while allowing for new capabilities such as an online membership directory, access to CHTA publications, and the ability to register online for conferences and events.

Through the website, members can access their profile in the CHTA membership directory at any time to update company profiles and records as well as employee contact information. The site also features CHTA manuals, publications, committee minutes and presentations.

The new website will provide information on conferences and events, as well as the ability to register online. Registrations processed online will receive immediate confirmation.

A new feature CHTA expects to have in place shortly is the ability for members to renew their membership dues online. Online purchases such as membership dues and conference registration will require credit card payment through PayPal, a secured credit card transaction company.

For more information, email marketing@caribbeanhotelandtourism.com  or visit www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com