Recommend February 2011 - (Page 43)

Opposite page: Poolside at Tucker’s Point Hotel & Spa. we decided it made more sense to focus on the other 98 guestrooms,” accommodations spread outside of the main building in cottage style. And those rooms received a major upgrade, bringing them to the cutting edge of luxury. “All 98 are refurbished with Mandarin Oriental bedding, state-of-the-art espresso machines, iPod docking stations, and all new lamps, fixtures, bathrooms, down to the artwork.” And the investment into the property didn’t stop there. “Many other aspects of the resort were enhanced. We repaved our roads, added new signage. There’s a recreation lounge in the lobby for guests that serves as a relaxation area with complimentary Internet access, flat-screen TVs and an antique pool table. We have a new business center. And we added new courtesy rooms by the pool for guests who are late to check-in or check-out. It’s somewhere nice to stay with all the facilities: full bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, Internet stations.” By cutting guestrooms instead of services and amenities, Dier says, Elbow Beach preserved its luxury status—and may even have enhanced it. “What’s wonderful is that now that we have 98 rooms, we obviously have a lot less people. So guests have more privacy and more attentive service, but still all the amazing amenities.” Those amenities include “a total gem” of a spa, Dier continues. “It’s totally unique on the island, because there are no communal or shared areas. Guests check-in at the welcome desk then they’re escorted to their own private spa suite. It basically contains everything for the service: a personal changing area with their own locker, a shower, toilet and everything, and connected to it is the treatment room.” Each of the six suites—four singles and two doubles—also have a large marble tub and a balcony with a day bed. “So when you come to our spa, you have that suite for your time with us. It’s completely private.” Pair those amenities with a pink sand scrub, one of the spa’s specialties, and you have an experience like no place else in the world, Dier says. “We take pink sand from our beach and purify it, then combine it with oils and use it for the scrub. It’s incredible, and a very unique experience.” Through the end of March, clients can have that experience for less. The Compliments of Bermuda package offers every third night free, with rates starting at $216 per night. small is chic Tucker’s Point Hotel & Spa, according to director of sales and marketing, Wendy Zapach, is the first all-new resort in Bermuda in nearly four decades. “Everything about the resort is new,” she describes. “It’s a tour de force in terms of architecture and building design. The building has Bermudian touches everywhere, from the thatched roofs to light colored hues.” It’s also a boutique-sized resort, with just 88 guestrooms—but what Tucker’s Point lacks in room numbers, it more than makes up for in room quality. “The distinguishing characteristic of the rooms is that all 88 of the guestrooms have wide open water views,” Zapach says. “When you build from the ground up, you have the advantage of knowing what people want. Many of the older resorts in Bermuda don’t have that luxury.” The rooms are also especially spacious, she notes, with the smallest measuring over 500 sq. ft. “They’re great for couples to share, with enough space for guests if they’re coming for a longer trip.” Clearly, Zapach says, the high-end experience doesn’t correlate to a high room count. “The good thing about 88 guestrooms is that…guests really get the private club experience. The amenities of our private club are theirs, and they’re treated as exclusive members.” That club combines golf facilities that include an 18-hole, par 70 golf course designed by Roger Rulewich and a 10,000-sq.-ft. practice putting green and short game area; a tennis center with four clay courts and instruction by pros; and a beach club with two freshwater pools set on Bermuda’s largest private beach. And that’s just the beginning of the ultra-high-end experience clients can expect here. Take Tucker’s Point’s spa, for example. “Within our spa, we have a Tag shower,” Zapach explains. “It has over 1,000 jets, and there are only 10 of them in the world.” Part of that, she continues, is its price tag: $1 million. “And this is the only one at a hotel,” she continues. “It is unreal…. As far as spa treatments go, I mean, forget about a Vichy shower. This makes a Vichy shower look like a drip.” The several rooms in the spa connect to the shower, and treatments are available that combine its services with hydrotherapy baths and standard massage. Foodies can also indulge in unique, upscale experiences at Tucker’s Point, Zapach says. “There’s a chef’s table in our kitchen, which is a butcher block table that is literally inside of the kitchen,” she says. Seating between five to 10 people, the table can be a dining experience that’s both exciting and educational. “You’re in the action as the cooks are preparing the dishes, and you’re there with our executive chef. He goes through the different dishes and makes things in front of you,” Zapach describes. The experiences at Tucker’s Point sound unmissable for any luxury client. But the resort also has plenty to offer to the travel agent community. When you become a fan of the resort on Facebook, you’ll have access to a $150 travel agent rate per night. “Agents can stay as long as they like, and there are no blackout dates — it’s just subject to availability,” Zapach says. Plus, once you’re connected to the property online, you’ll get all the latest news about what’s happening at the property, including discounts, specials and packages. Agents must become a fan before March 31 to reap the rewards. Make sure to note that you are a travel professional when you become a fan. Rates at Tucker’s Point start at $495. n Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): Bermuda—Golf With a Side of Luxury (May 2010) contact information Cambridge Beaches: (800) 468-7300; cambridgebeaches.com Elbow Beach: (800) 223-7434; mandarinoriental.com/bermuda Tucker’s Point Hotel & Spa: (866) 604-3764; tuckerspoint.com february 2011 43 http://www.recommend.com http://www.cambridgebeaches.com http://www.mandarinoriental.com/bermuda http://www.tuckerspoint.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend February 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Crystal Cruises' Serenity
Flights of Fancy With One&Only Cape Town
South African Airways
South Africa Set to Score Big in 2011
Fantastical Fiji
Luxury Lands in Puerto Rico
Grenada
Barbados: High-End, Low-Key
Bermuda Scales Back
Peru is Gaga Over Luxury
Starry Arizona
Acqualina Resort & Spa, Florida
Baden-Baden, Germany
New Choices in Luxury Tweak Mexico's Landscape
Invigorating Girl Escapes

Recommend February 2011