SCARBOROUGH, Tobago – February 7, 2013– Pristine beaches, magical sunsets and world-class music come together for a winning combination and an ideal Caribbean getaway during the fifth annual Tobago Jazz Experience. Featuring performances by India.Arie, Melanie Fiona, Lianne La Havas and the legendary Dionne Warwick and hosted by the Tobago House of Assembly Division of Tourism and Transportation, this musical and cultural event includes an eclectic mix of local, regional and international performances at various venues throughout the Caribbean island and expects to keep visitors singing and dancing from April 20 to April 28, 2013.

The nine-day event will include concerts in Speyside, Signal Hill, Scarborough, Castara and the world-renowned Pigeon Point Heritage Park. Other events in this year’s Tobago Jazz Experience line up include: Edu-Jazz workshops on April 22 and 23, an education component of the festival that gives budding musicians the opportunity to interact with seasoned performers; and Pan Trinbago’s Pazzazz on April 27.

Two-time Grammy winner Melanie Fiona headlines World Music Night on April 26, where she will sing chart-toppers such as last year’s “Wrong Side of a Love Song” and “This Time.” Also performing during World Music Night is Lianne La Havas, the London-based songstress whose album Is Your Love Big Enough was named iTunes’ 2012 U.K. Album of the Year.

Headlining at the Beach Jazz Fiesta, held on April 28, are four-time Grammy Award winner India.Arie and five-time Grammy Award winner Dionne Warwick. Warwick’s appearance will be a part of her anniversary tour as she celebrates 50 years in the music industry since her break-out hit “Don’t Make Me Over;” while India.Arie will be supporting her recent track “6th Avenue” as well as singing classics such as “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “The Truth.”

As the island prepares to shake, rattle and roll the night away, many hotels are offering promotions throughout the festival and beyond, giving travelers even more reasons to add the Tobago Jazz Festival to their calendars.

At both Bacolet Beach Club and Half Moon Blue, guests staying a minimum of six nights receive a complimentary Daihatsu or Suzuki jeep for a day to be able to drive to a concert venue or explore the island. Bacolet Beach Club room rates start at $240 per night, based on double occupancy, and include a full American breakfast. Half Moon Blue room rates start at $140 per night, based on double occupancy, and include breakfast. For more information, please visit www.bacoletbeachclub.com or www.halfmoonblue.com.

Plantation Beach Villas, located next to Mt. Irvine Beach and just 15 minutes from the concert venue in Pigeon Point and Scarborough, is offering guests a 20 percent discount throughout the month of April so that visitors can extend their trips beyond the Jazz Festival and experience Tobago’s many sites. For more information, please visit www.plantationbeachvillas.com.

Footprints Eco Resort & Spa is offering a special from April 19 to April 30, 2013. Guests who book a minimum of two nights receive special rates such as the Garden Studio for $220 per night or the Oceanfront Suite for $240, based on double occupancy. Room rates include three meals per day and one complimentary round-trip transfer per person, per day to Jazz Festival sites. For more information, please visit www.footprints-resort.com

Magdalena Grand Beach Resort is offering a “GRAND” sale with 30 percent off resort rates. Reservations must be made by April 30, 2013, for travel through December 18, 2013. In addition, Magdalena Grand will offer “Jazzy Sundays,” a weekly Jazz entertainment event in its Tavaco Piano Lounge on Sunday evenings between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. For more information, please visit www.magdalenagrand.com.

Along with beautiful beaches and breathtaking sunsets throughout the island, the Tobago Jazz Experience offers visitors a dynamic mix of musical acts as well as a wide variety of mouthwatering cuisine and cultural activities that, together, make this festival one of the premier international events on the island. For more information on ticket sales and event details, visit www.visittobago.gov.tt.

About Tobago

Tobago, sister island to Trinidad, is the quintessential Caribbean island with secluded beaches, quaint villages, private villas and award-winning eco-attractions that include the Main Ridge Rainforest, the oldest protected reserve in the western hemisphere and the six-time award winner for World’s Leading Ecotourism Destination by the World Travel Awards from 2003 to 2007 and 2009. For more information on Tobago, visit www.visittobago.gov.tt

The offer applies to travel from now through April 30, 2013.

Port of Spain, Trinidad – January 17, 2013. Scenic, cultural and always ready for reason to celebrate, Trinidad and Tobago is the “must-visit” destination for savvy travelers in 2013.

Welcoming guests from around the globe, the dual-island nation has something for every taste, style and mood. From festivals to food, heritage to hiking – these are the 13 best reasons to visit Trinidad and Tobago in 2013:

1. It’s the Caribbean’s biggest party and, in Trinidad and Tobago, everyone is invited. Visitors can play mas like a local while taking in the heart-pounding rhythms and jaw-dropping costumes on the streets of Port of Spain during Carnival, official February 11-12, 2013, but come early that party has already stared.

2. Each year from March to September, as many as 12,000 nesting leatherback sea turtles come to the beaches of Trinidad, having traveled thousands of miles to lay eggs on the beaches where they were born. Not only will visitors have the opportunity to see these gentle marine giants in action but they can assist the researchers and, later in the season, help the baby hatchlings make the perilous journey out to sea.

3. There is almost nothing better than relaxing on the beach while on vacation and, in Trinidad and Tobago, there is definitely an abundance of places to choose from. With both islands surrounded by gorgeous beaches, such as Maracas Bay and Las Cuevas in Trinidad and Pigeon Point and Englishman’s Bay Beach in Tobago, visitors can find many tempting spots to frolic in sparkling cool waters or soak up some sun.

4. Offering spear fishing, big-game tournaments, deep-sea charters and so much more, the waters in and around Trinidad and Tobago are ready for fishermen of all skill levels to land the catch of a lifetime. During the Tobago Game Fishing Tournament, March 13-17, 2013, the best-of-the-best come together to compete and see who has the skills to snag the biggest fish.

5. Ready. Set. GOAT! A unique, unusual and, to some, seriously competitive sport, goat racing is all the rage April 1-2, 2013 on the island of Tobago. Every year, the village of Buccoo prepares for the exciting sporting event held at the Buccoo Integrated Facility as hundreds come to watch the races. Those who would like to show their competitive spirit can cheer on their goat and jockey of choice or participate in the crab races that take place at the same time.

6. Music lovers can get ready to sing and dance the night away during Tobago’s fifth annual Jazz Experience, April 20-28, 2013. With performances by India.Arie, Melanie Fiona, Lianne La Havas and the legendary Dionne Warwick, this year’s event will be sure to impress music fans from around the world.

7. Putting Trinidad and Tobago on the “foodie” map is the shark and bake: a “must-eat” while visiting the dual-island nation. Warm, handmade rolls and fresh catch have customers lining up at Maracas Bay Beach and what really hooks them in is the mix-and-match offer of more than 10 mouthwatering local condiments found at Richard’s.

8. World-class dive sites await underwater lovers in Tobago where divers can experience Caribbean Sea conditions off one coast and Atlantic diving off the other as well as a visit to view the world’s largest brain coral. Visitors can also take part in the Tobago Underwater Carnival, July 22-29, 2013, for a chance to see all the treasures hiding beneath the surface in the waters that surround Tobago.

9. Colorful costumes, cultural festivities and culinary sensations are just the beginning of what travelers can expect at the Tobago Heritage Festival, July 12- August 1, 2013. Visitors will have a chance to experience all the local dishes while celebrating the island’s heritage during the Ole-Time Wedding, where participants dress in costumes with top hats, white gloves and the ladies carry parasols to remember a simpler time.

10. For nature lovers looking to discover the destination’s wildlife, hiking through the UNESCO certified Main Ridge Forest Reserve, the oldest protected reserve in the Western Hemisphere, in Tobago gives visitors an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the local flora and fauna. Home to an estimated 16 species of mammals, 24 non-poisonous snakes, 16 lizards and 210 species of birds, visitors should keep an eye out for the white-tailed sabrewing hummingbird, a rare species that is endemic to Tobago.

11. The birthplace of the steel pan drum, Trinidad and Tobago is the place to visit and learn how to play the instrument that is synonymous with the sounds of the Caribbean. In the streets of Port of Spain and throughout the islands, the melodic sounds can be heard by locals and visitors alike as the gentle notes of the drum float through the island air.

12. Trinidad is aglow during the yearly celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, taking place on November 3, 2013. With more than 40 percent of Trinidad & Tobago’s population listed as being of Indian and East Asian descent, it’s one of the more important holidays on the island and visitors will be in awe of the beauty and traditions of the celebrations.

13. Home to some of the best cacao – and cocoa – in the world, visitors can take tours of the local plantations and learn how the bitter seed pods are roasted and made into delicious, mouthwatering chocolate. While at the plantations, visitors can ask how to do the Dance of the Cacao.

With so much to see and do in and around the destination, travelers can get a head start and begin planning an action-packed getaway to Trinidad and Tobago. It is no wonder that 2013 is being considered the year to go and experience the twin-islands known as the true Caribbean.

About Trinidad & Tobago

Trinidad & Tobago is located in the southeastern region of the Caribbean. With its careful approach to tourism, the dual-island nation offers a distinct blend of culture, eclectic cuisine and an assortment of eco-adventure activities. Trinidad, the ‘cultural capital of the Caribbean,’ is home to the world famous Carnival and the birthplace of the steel pan drum, the only new acoustic instrument to be invented in the 20th century. Tobago, sister island to Trinidad, is the quintessential Caribbean island with secluded beaches, quaint villages, private villas and award-winning eco-attractions that include the Main Ridge Rainforest, the oldest protected reserve in the western hemisphere and the six-time award winner for World’s Leading Ecotourism Destination by the World Travel Awards.

For more information on Trinidad & Tobago visit www.goTrinidadandTobago.com  or www.visittobago.gov.tt

With Carnival-specific treatments, Spa Esencia is the perfect place to rev up or wind down from the island’s most festive celebration of the year.

Inspired by the colorful dual-island nation of Trinidad & Tobago, Spa Esencia offers a range of pre- and post-Carnival treatments such as the Warm Spice Body Wrap, combining a blend of vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg along with a massage to restore the body’s natural energy needed for a week of Carnival fetes, and the Mineral Mud Mas Body Wrap, which is inspired by Mud Mas, the traditional Carnival masquerade where revelers cover themselves in mud and dance in the streets until dawn.

When the fun is done, guests can get some much needed rest and relaxation with the spa’s Signature Dimanche Gras Massage, combining aromatherapy, warm stone, Swedish and deep tissue massage, and the Golden Coconut Body Scrub, an organic treatment that uses roasted coconut and coconut oil to stimulate metabolism and restore the body’s natural glow.

“We know that Carnival-goers want the full island experience when visiting Trinidad and that begins and ends at Spa Esencia,” says Spa Director Zahra Duncombe.

“Using local ingredients, our customized wraps, massages and scrubs will have guests looking and feeling their best before and after the most anticipated event of the year.”

Visitors interested in taking the Carnival experience to the next level can look and feel the part by booking a Carnival inspired manicure, pedicure or professional make up application at Spa Esencia.

With top of the line Jane Iredale Mineral Make Up loaded with UVA and UVB protection, Carnival-goers can embrace a full day of Carnival activities without worrying about make up and with perfect nails. Guests are encouraged to book the Festive Carnival make up application package as early as possible to ensure availability during the busy festival season.

Guests can book the Hyatt Spa Package at Hyatt Regency Trinidad to take full advantage of the spa with a $100 relaxation credit, full breakfast buffet for two and late checkout at 2 p.m.

Room rates start at $289 per night, not including taxes.
For more information on the spa and to book treatments in advance, visit www.spaesencia.com.

When booking a spa treatment, guests and non-hotel guests will receive access to the 24-hour StayFit gym and infinity rooftop pool overlooking the Gulf of Paria.

For additional information regarding Hyatt Regency Trinidad, visit trinidad.hyatt.com  or call 1-800-233-1234.

CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa in Anguilla unveiled more than $15 million in renovations and refurbishments this fall, including new soft goods and luxury amenities in the property’s 93 guest rooms and suites, a redesign of the grand entrance, and new furniture, carpeting, and aesthetic touches in the lobby.

Three of the resort’s five restaurants received new menus. Earlier this year, two new restaurants — Tokyo Bay (the island’s first and only Japanese restaurant) and Italia — celebrated grand openings.

Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa debuted its last facelift of the year this October with the completion of renovations to its award-winning restaurant, Sinclairs Ocean Grill and Sinclairs Lounge. Sinclairs Ocean Grill has transformed its dining experience by adding a bar and expanded seating area that can accommodate up to 100 people.

These renovations come on the heels of a $750,000 makeover to the hotel’s exterior, pool, event space and poolside restaurant, The Sandbar.

In September, Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., celebrated the completion of a $1.2 million renovation to its oceanfront, modern American dining venue, Riva.

The renovation, which began in early June, included the addition of two private dining rooms with meeting capabilities and a fresh nautical-themed look and feel.

The Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort’s presidential suite recently underwent an $800,000 makeover.

The new additions to the 1,800-square-foot suite include renovations of the terrace, which now features unobstructed views of the gulf, in addition to room decor and furnishing updates.

The suite features a classic wraparound balcony but the renovations removed the wall and replaced it with a glass.

The new balcony is also adorned with its own private spa Jacuzzi, wet bar and fire pit.

Earlier in 2012, St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino completed a $3 million renovation that included updated suites, a sleek refurbished lobby and an expansive new Bohemia Beach Bar.

With views of the Atlantic Ocean, the sprawling new 3,024-square-foot Bohemia Beach Bar offers a full selection of premium rums and liquors and Caribbean-inspired light bites and signature cocktails.

In addition to the new beach bar, St. Kitts Marriott has unveiled a complete soft-goods renovation of its 75 suites and the lobby also received a facelift.

The Angler’s Boutique Resort’s signature restaurant, 660 At the Angler’s, has reinvented itself with a new executive chef at the helm and an entirely new menu. Located at 660 Washington Ave. in the heart of South Beach, the restaurant features Executive Chef Carlos Torres serving up an innovative menu with his own signature Colombian flair. The new menu features signature dishes including Chef Carlos’ twist on the classic ropa vieja and his personal specialty, the scallop tiradito.

Port of Spain, Trinidad – While the weather outside may be frightful this winter, Trinidad and Tobago is still delightful and welcoming travelers who are looking to enjoy new holiday customs and treats. In a country where the climate hardly dips below 70°F, this is the perfect time for travelers to escape ol’ man winter and venture off the beaten path to discover the true Caribbean.

More than a white sand Christmas, Trinidad and Tobago’s holiday celebrations are rooted in a combination of influences from all over the world. British, Spanish and African traditions have blended with Caribbean customs to create a unique atmosphere that is authentically Trini.

In Trinidad, one of the holiday practices left on the island by the Spanish is the door-to-door caroling known as parang.

To this day, the carolers, known locally as paranderos, sing spirited Spanish tunes at festivals throughout the fall and winter seasons as well as outside homes on Christmas Day.

A new generation of parang, known as soca parang, has recently emerged combining the carols with Trinidad’s native soca music, giving the music a contemporary twist.

While exploring Trinidad, travelers will have the chance to sample dishes and treats that are traditionally served during the festive season.

Fruitcake and sorrel, a drink made of the hibiscus flower, are yuletide favorites on both islands and throughout the Caribbean, while the destination’s holiday food also includes pastelles (steamed cornmeal pie filled meat), garlic pork, pigeon peas and baked ham as well as ginger beer and ponche crema, an egg and cream-based drink similar to eggnog.

Meanwhile, on the sister island of Tobago, starting the week before Christmas, groups of musicians walk from house to house playing the bottle and spoon, cuatro and guitar while singing classic calypso carols in the streets and often collecting money for churches or charities.

Tobago also has its own culinary staples for the Christmas season that visitors should sample.

Paime, similar to pastelles, is a cornmeal pie, but instead of meat, paimes are filled with raisins and pumpkin. Another local Tobagoan Christmas staple is ‘heavy bread,’ which is a lightly kneaded dough made with coconut milk and traditionally baked in a dirt oven.

With authentic local charm and warm Caribbean friendliness, Trinidad and Tobago offers visitors budget-friendly options that include picturesque guest houses and stylish boutique hotels that cater to guests and offer a glimpse of the local holiday culture and cheer.

This jubilant atmosphere with tasty treats, music in the air and warm sunshine gives visitors yet another reason to visit the dual-island nation and experience how Christmas is celebrated Trini-style.

About Trinidad & Tobago

Trinidad & Tobago is located in the southeastern region of the Caribbean. With its careful approach to tourism, the dual-island nation offers a distinct blend of culture, eclectic cuisine and an assortment of eco-adventure activities. Trinidad, the ‘cultural capital of the Caribbean,’ is home to the world famous Carnival and the birthplace of the steel pan drum. Tobago, sister island to Trinidad, is the quintessential Caribbean island with secluded beaches, quaint villages, private villas and award-winning eco-attractions that include the Main Ridge Rainforest, the oldest protected reserve in the western hemisphere and the six-time award winner for World’s Leading Ecotourism Destination by the World Travel Awards.

For more information on Trinidad & Tobago visit www.goTrinidadandTobago.com  or www.visittobago.gov.tt  or call 800-816-7541.

This fall and winter, visitors to the twin-island nation will have more chances to experience the True Caribbean with the help of these new developments:

Hotel Openings:

Amanecer: A Retreat & Spa, Lopinot, Trinidad
Opening in early 2013, Amanecer: A Retreat & Spa is nestled in the lush Lopinot Valley in the Northern Range of Trinidad and provides a perfect setting for those who want to escape

In Trinidad and Tobago there are only two seasons: Carnival. And getting ready for Carnival. Now is the time for visitors to get ready for their upcoming trip for Carnival 2013.

The Carnival season officially begins on December 26 and festivities will culminate with heart-pounding rhythms and jaw-dropping costumes on the streets of Port of Spain, February 11 and 12, 2013.

Carnival is a time when people let loose to do what they love – dancing, dressing up in amazing costumes and playing music – everyone comes together in the celebration of life.

Hotels have announced special Carnival rates and are steadily reaching capacity, but there are still rooms available for travelers who act now to finalize their travel plans. All rates are shown in U.S. dollars.

Coblentz Inn Boutique Hotel

Located in the epicenter of the Carnival festivities, each room at the Coblentz Inn Boutique Hotel opens a window onto the landscape of the islands’ diverse heritage.

With rates starting at $1,875 plus tax, for five nights based on double occupancy between February 6 -13, 2013, Coblentz Inn offers 17 chic rooms, each featuring a private kitchenette and individual style – so no two rooms are alike.

For more information, visit http://www.coblentzinn.com  or call 868.621.0541.

Courtyard by Marriott

The Courtyard by Marriott features 119 stylish guest rooms and is located within walking distance to most Carnival event venues as well as to shopping and restaurants.

On minimum stays of five nights from February 8 – 12, 2013, the hotel is offering nightly Carnival rates starting at $309 plus tax, based on double occupancy.

For more information, visit www.courtyardportofspain.com  or call 868.627.5555.

Crowne Plaza

Conveniently located near Queen’s Park Savannah, The Crowne Plaza Trinidad features 243 sophisticated rooms along with two restaurants, including the Caribbean’s only revolving restaurant. Between February 8 – 13, 2013 and with a minimum stay of three nights, the hotel is offering nightly Carnival rates of $314 plus tax, based on double occupancy.

For more information please visit www.cplazatrinidad.com  or call 868.625.3366.

Monique’s Guesthouse

Established by Monica and Michael Charbonnè in 1975, Monique’s is a family-owned and operated hotel that offers guests spacious accommodations and warm Caribbean hospitality in a relaxed atmosphere.

On minimum bookings of five-nights between February 8 – 12, 2013, visitors can take advantage of the hotel’s Carnival special that includes daily breakfast.

Monique’s Carnival rates start at $1,200 plus tax for five nights, based on double occupancy.

For more information, visit www.moniquestrinidad.com or call 868.628.3334.

The Chancellor Hotel and Conference Center
Located within a comfortable walking distance of Queen’s Park Savannah and the heart of the Carnival celebrations,

The Chancellor Hotel and Conference Center offers guests stylishly contemporary rooms with warm local accents. Guests who book a minimum of five nights from February 6 – 13, 2013 receive complimentary breakfast at a nightly rate of $250 inclusive of tax, based on double occupancy. For more information, visit www.thechancellorhotel.com or call 868.263.0883.

About Trinidad & Tobago

Trinidad & Tobago is located in the southeastern region of the Caribbean. With its careful approach to tourism, the dual-island nation offers a distinct blend of culture, eclectic cuisine and an assortment of eco-adventure activities. Trinidad, the ‘cultural capital of the Caribbean,’ is home to the world famous Carnival, the birthplace of the steel pan drum and was the host destination for the 2009 Fifth Summit of the Americas and the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Tobago, sister island to Trinidad, is the quintessential Caribbean island with secluded beaches, quaint villages, private villas and award-winning eco-attractions that include the Main Ridge Rainforest, the oldest protected reserve in the western hemisphere and the six-time award winner for World’s Leading Ecotourism Destination by the World Travel Awards.

For more information on Trinidad & Tobago visit www.goTrinidadandTobago.com  or www.visittobago.gov.tt  or call 800-816-7541.

The resort’s “Fall into Paradise” promotion offers rates starting at $187 per night, single or double occupancy, for deluxe oceanfront rooms including breakfast.

Reservations must be made by Dec. 15, 2012, for travel through Dec. 18, 2012.

The resort’s “Early Booking Bonus” offers a nightly rate of $229.50, single or double occupancy, for a deluxe oceanfront room including breakfast.

The rate reflects a 15 percent savings off published rates and is available on bookings made by Nov. 30, 2012, for travel from Jan. 5 to April 30, 2013. Black-out dates apply from March 20 to April 10, 2013.

Tobago’s Magdalena Grand Beach Resort is offering up to 20 percent off published rates for nine- and 18-hole play for guests who purchase golf packages at the Tobago Plantations golf course, located adjacent to the resort. Rates range from $42 (for nine holes) and $80 (18 holes) for guests who book one night, to $240 (nine holes) and $378 (18 holes) for guests who book a seven-night package.

Tobago’s Magdalena Grand Beach Resort opened in June on the former site of the Tobago Hilton. The result of a partnership between the property’s operator, efm Hospitality, and the Trinidad and Tobago government, Magdalena Grand Beach Resort is Tobago’s first major beachfront property in 12 years.