A bevy of St. Lucian beauties (clearly not prepared for winter)
Judy Duncan providing an update on The BodyHoliday's good news
Wendy Cole, happy to share the charms of Smugglers Cove
What agent doesn't want to learn what's new at Sandals?
It’s well known that St. Lucia is a great destination for the smoochiest of clients, so the recent “The Legend Lives On” seminars held by the tourist board and hotel partners were a great chance for travel agents in a whopping 26 cities to learn more.
Toronto was the last in the North America-wide tour, and the 11 hoteliers who convened at Toronto’s Delta Chelsea Inn to inform (and dine with) the dozens of agents were enthused and obviously proud of their product.
Hoteliers included the biggies such as Sandals and Almond along with some of the island’s charming smaller properties.
Among the updates:
The first casino in Saint Lucia has opened its doors, with 22 tables and 250 slot machines. Ka-ching! And did you know that The BodyHoliday has just spent $20 million on a refurbishment? And that, according to Judy Duncan, it now boasts 450 tons of new white sand beach? Sandals Grande is debuting over-the-water suites in 2012, according to Robert Smith. And – who thought of this genius idea? – Coconut Bay offers a wedding site inspection fee from $125 per person for three nights, which is credited towards the cost of the wedding?
And it seems there’s quite a love affair happening between St. Lucia and Canada, Nerdin St. Rose of the St. Lucia Tourist Board told me. “Sales from Canada are up 4 per cent year over year, and we hope that will increase with added lift including Transat’s new summer service.”
So why does St. Lucia win so many romance and honeymoon awards? (The island is so romantic, it has won the Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination at the World Travel Awards nine times.) Not just the scenery, the beaches, the food, or the people. “It’s simple,” says St. Rose. “We are romantic by nature!”
