Travel Agent - January 7, 2008 - (Page 58)

DESTINATIONS CARIBBEAN NEWS & NOTES BY JOE PIKE Imagine Weddings & Events Unveils Hyatt Regency Aruba’s “Ultimate Experience” Package Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort’s “Ultimate Experience” involves a private catamaran dinner cruise that upscale clients may wish to book for a very special romantic evening (marriage proposal, perhaps?). Priced at $1,600 per couple, it includes a five-course gourmet dinner, prepared to guests’ specifications by an onboard chef; two bottles of Dom Perignon; and an open bar. Limousine transfer to the pier is also included, as are an onboard butler and a photographer. Flowers and musician serenade can be added for an extra charge. The 12-acre Hyatt Regency Aruba, situated along Palm Beach, just wrapped up a $20 million makeover. Agents should contact Marcia Jones Vrolijk, room service manager, at 011-297-586-1234, ext. 54 or mjonesv@hyatt.com. Visit www.hyatt.com. Villa St. Thomas Imagine Weddings & Events has unveiled the newly renovated Villa St. Thomas, available for destination weddings and overnight stays. The property, which is owned by Miami-based Imagine, includes gardens and outdoor entertaining areas. The 6,500-square-foot villa has 24-foot vaulted ceilings and panoramic windows with views over the city of Charlotte Amalie and the Caribbean Sea. Its five bedrooms contain queen-size beds with luxury linens, cable TV with DVD players and large bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs. Imagine is paying 15 percent commission to agents who book through its web site, www.imagineviprentals. com, slated to go live this month. Until the site is functional, bookings can be made with Elena Lynch, Villa St. Thomas supervisor (866-223-9673, 305-421-1042, elynch@imaginevip.com). TAMARIJN ARUBA’S 2008 Family Specials Pitch Tamarijn Aruba to clients planning a vacation with children, and they can take advantage of an all-inclusive family package with no charge for accommodations or meals for up to two kids sharing a room with two paying adults. Tamarijn Aruba also offers a “Mega Family Room” option—clients can add a second room for a maximum of four children at a discounted rate. The family plans are available yearround and apply to children up to age 18. Located 10 minutes from the airport and five minutes from Aruba’s capital city, Oranjestad, the beachfront, lowrise Tamarijn resort is near a shopping arcade and the Alhambra Casino. Agents should call Jennifer Young, reservations manager, at 207-594-7888 or 800-5542008 or visit www.tamarijnaruba.com. New BlueBay Hotels Opens Puerto Plata Property BlueBay Hotels & Resorts, a new collection of four- and five-star all-inclusive resorts promising “affordable luxury,” has launched with the BlueBay Villas Doradas in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. The adults-only resort, next to the 18-hole Robert Trent Jones-designed Playa Dorada Golf Course, features 245 guest rooms, three swimming pools, three tennis courts, a gym and a spa. BlueBay—which will have hotels in the Caribbean and Mexico—also opened its flagship property, the five-star BlueBay Grand Esmeralda on Mexico’s Mayan Riviera. For more information, call 888-342-9555 or visit www.bluebayresorts.com. Interested? Request #012. 58 | TravelAgent January 7, 2008 http://www.imagineviprentals.com http://www.imagineviprentals.com http://www.hyatt.com http://www.tamarijnaruba.com http://www.pinkbeach.com http://www.pinkbeach.com http://www.bluebayresorts.com

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

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.