Travel Agent - January 7, 2008 - (Page 56)

DESTINATIONS Powell Pointe Resort at Cape Eleuthera, part of which is now open to Cape Eleuthera Resort guests AGENTADVICE “When it comes to The Bahamas, you’re really talking about families. That’s really the bulk of the clients I get going there, and The Atlantis is where they usually want to stay,” says Bob Kleppick of Global Pathfinders Travel in Spring, TX. “For me personally, I usually like to stay for about four or five nights. But for families, I’d suggest about a week to give them enough to time to explore the islands. I’d also suggest getting off the resort and into some local restaurants. Like anywhere you go in the Caribbean, it’s really important to get into the islands and see the culture.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 55 Atlantis’ Reef Addition The Reef Atlantis, a 22-story tower with homelike accommodations, including kitchens and living areas, topped off a $1 billion upgrade at Atlantis that also added The Cove accommodations, a water park and a dolphin habitat. The 497-key tower property was slated to open in December. It will offer clients amenities that include a kitchen or kitchen area with a dishwasher, a living area with sofa bed and a full stock of linens and tableware. It consists of 307 studios, 188 one-bedrooms, two penthouses and the option of creating a two-bedroom accommodation by combining a one-bedroom suite with a studio. With living space ranging from 519 square feet to 3,102 square feet, The Reef offers 24hour room service, daily maid service, wireless Internet and a variety of exclusive family-centered services and experiences. Rates range from $340 per night for a studio terrace accommodation to $1,750 for a two-bedroom Deluxe Ocean Suite. Guests of The Reef have access to the private Cascades Pool and Beach Club as well as the resort’s vast waterscape, activities and entertainment. We hear that the best room is the Deluxe Ocean Suite because it’s extra large and has a spacious patio overlooking Paradise Beach. Staying here, you are so close to the ocean that you feel like “you are floating on the ocean when you’re lounging at the patio,” a source working with the property told us. It also offers a panoramic ocean view from the bedroom. The property offers agents a 10 percent commission. Agents can call Brent Hall, national sales manager, leisure sales for The Cove Atlantis and The Reef Atlantis at 954-809-2175 or brent.hall@kerzner.com. 56 | TravelAgent January 7, 2008 Visit www.atlantis.com/blue for a special three-night package that can be booked online or by calling 800-ATLANTIS. Future Bahamas Properties Here are a few properties you will be selling to clients taking future trips to The Bahamas. One is only a couple of years away while the other development is still about 15 years from being completed. But it never hurts to get a head start. Ritz-Carlton, Rose Island, Bahamas to Debut in 2010 The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC and the Government of The Bahamas announced plans for an exclusive resort on Rose Island in The Bahamas, just four miles off Nassau and Paradise Island. Scheduled to open in 2010, The RitzCarlton Rose Island, Bahamas will be an integral part of a Ritz-Carlton-branded, private, 230-acre enclave which will eventually include, in addition to the hotel, a sheltered marina for yachts, estate homes, condominiums and townhouses. He noted guests of the hotel and homeowners would gain entry to Rose Island only by helicopter or ferry, and could be easily transported to Nassau and Paradise Island. When it is finally completed, the site is expected to provide a collection of more than 400 dwellings. The hotel site will be on the western side of the island, with a beach facing north. The guest rooms and suites will average 550 square feet and feature large balconies. Other planned amenities include a swimming pool, spa, gourmet restaurant and an intimate meeting space. I Grand Bahama Island Project The huge resort that will ultimately be Atlantis’ competition is preparing for ground breaking. A $4 billion Grand Bahama Island project that will be about three times the current size of Atlantis and have many of the same amenities, along with some additional ones, has entered its early stages. Ginn Sur Mer, the planned 2,000-acre resort community (pictured), will contain more than 4,400 condominium and hotel units. It is in the phase before ground breaking, during which land is prepared for construction. Construction is still about two years away, and while the project isn’t expected to be complete for 15 years, it will be three times Atlantis’ current size. Ginn Sur Mer will include golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, clubhouses, two large marinas, a private airport, a casino, water and swim pavilions, a beach club and a spa. Visit www.ginnresorts.com or call 321-939-4700. Ginn Resorts, developer of Ginn Sur Mer, signed a management agreement early this year that puts it in control of the resort and marina operations, sales and development of the 73-room Old Bahama Bay Resort & Yacht Harbour. The property will eventually be incorporated into Ginn Sur Mer. CONNECTING YOU Find out more about the Bahamas’ latest tourism initiative, The Blue Project, as well as more Bahamas selling points to pitch to clients at www.travelagentcentral. com/bahamas http://www.atlantis.com/blue http://www.ginnresorts.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com/bahamas http://www.travelagentcentral.com/bahamas

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - January 7, 2008

Travel Agent - January 7, 2008 Online Now Contents From the Editor From the Publisher Contributors Europe: Top Hotels in the Czech Capital, Prague Europe News & Notes Pacific/Asia: India's Tourism Boom Hawaii Spas: Send Your Spa-Loving Client to these Havens of Relaxation in the Islands Hawaii Briefs Las Vegas: Restaurants are Taking Center Stage as Vegas Becomes a Destination for Foodies California: San Diego, La Jolla and Coronado Offer a World of Options Close Together Ski/Snowboard: Mont Tremblant in Quebec, Canada New Orleans: Hotels for All Types of Travelers and Can’t-Miss Events to Consider Central & South America: Selling Santiago, Chile Caribbean & Bahamas: The Reef Atlantis, Cape Eleuthera Debut in the Bahamas in Time for the New Year Caribbean News & Notes Cruises: Onboard Enrichment Programs Grow as Cruisers Seek to Work on More than their Tans Cruise Lines Expand the Variety in their Shore Excursions with Special Activities and Adventures Cover Story: A New Era for Classic Luxury Travel Expo & Home Based Travel Agent Expo: Photos and a Recap of the Events Rail: Company Books Private Train Trips Agent Profile: Dave and Christa Krick, Advantage Cruise & Travel in Northern California Technology: XML Enhances Sabre and Amadeus Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Onsite Reports from Queen Victoria Christening and Marriott Headquarters Funjet Vacations NCL’s New Ship, Norwegian Gem The African Country of Djibouti In the Spotlight Editorial Index Classified Marketplace Advertisers Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - January 7, 2008

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