Recommend February 2011 - (Page 42)

BeRmuDA scales back F ciara lavelle On this island, bigger isn’t always better. For years, the biggest names in luxury travel in Bermuda were also the biggest properties. Fairmont’s two resorts, each boasting over 400 guestrooms, have been leaders in its upscale market. But though Fairmont still accounts for much of the luxury travel to the island, smaller properties are also making their mark. With one new resort weighing in at under 100 guestrooms, and a large existing property slashing its room count, now is a great time for boutique-sized properties in Bermuda. cottage colonies Bermuda’s small resorts known as “cottage colonies” aren’t new by any means—in fact, one of the most well-known, Cambridge Beaches, is rumored to have hosted Rockefeller himself. But with one well-known large resort changing over to cottage colony status, they’re getting more attention than ever. “Basically, a cottage colony is a resort that has a selection of cottages on the property that are supported by the infrastructure of the hotel,” explains Anne Schutte, director of global operations for the Bermuda Department of Tourism. These properties offer “the benefit of thinking you’re in an intimate retreat, but you still have the restaurants and the spa,” she continues. 42 february 2011 Schutte says Bermuda is home to “three or four” such properties, including Cambridge Beaches. “It’s one of the older ones, and quite beautiful with quite a few acres of ground.” One of the biggest luxury perks of Cambridge Beaches, she explains, are its “two amazing suite cottages, which are ideal for people who want a real retreat. They have their own private pools and hot tubs, and they really are somewhere you can just whisk the world away.” Cambridge Beaches’ All Inclusive Privilege Plan package includes all meals and drinks, activities like tennis and croquet, use of its Spa Experience Suites and more. Rates start at $160 pp per day. Cambridge Beaches is the oldest cottage colony in Bermuda. Elbow Beach, which has looked out over Bermuda’s south shore for over a century, is oddly one of the newest. Though it’s operated as a large resort for years, 2010 was the first year it entered boutique resort waters. About a year ago, says Sophie Dier, director of communications, this resort in the Mandarin Oriental group underwent repositioning, transitioning from a 235-room property to a boutique-style 98-room resort. The move was partially driven by the economic downturn, she explains. “We had decided to no longer sell the rooms in the main building, because they were in need of renovation. Due to the economic climate, recommend.com http://www.recommend.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