The Call Of Cozumel

Cozumel means “island of the swallows” in Mayan, one of Mexico’s aboriginal languages. For tourists, it means just about anything you want your vacation to mean. This island lies only 12 miles off the mainland of the Yucatán Peninsula, on Mexico's eastern coast. With the coldest temperatures reaching the 70’s, there is no undesirable time to visit, though autumn is the rainy season. Since tourism is the main source of the island’s economy, most native employees and tour guides understand English. Still, it would be a good idea to brush up on some conversational Spanish. It will give you an advantage, especially if you engage in some friendly negotiating over souvenir prices.

If you want to see how it all started, learn about Mexican history and culture by visiting the Discover Mexico theme park and the Museum of the Island of Cozumel. The sites of San Gervasio, Castillo Real, El Cedral and El Caracol contain authentic Mayan ruins. Then visit the ecological reserve at Punta Sur to explore white sand beaches, mangroves and a vibrant ecosystem. There are docks at the bay where you can safely spot freshwater crocodiles. If you feel safer spotting from a higher distance, make the hundred-step trek to the top of the Punta Sur Lighthouse and get a both a bird’seye- view of the island and an exercise workout.

Cozumel is renowned for its water sports opportunities, and with good reason. The Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park has successfully protected most of the island’s diving sites, leaving several miles of pristine coral reefs in crystal-clear water. Expect to meet plenty of fish, dolphins, sea lions, eels, turtles and the world’s only inland coral reef formation at Chankanaab Park. Submarine and glass-bottom boat tours offer other options for underwater exploration.

Your adventure does not end when the sun goes down. For dining, there’s no better place for Mexican food than its very source. Cozumel is also the source for duty-free shops carrying jewelry, handicrafts, clothing, perfume, leather goods and a host of other items. Most stores accept payment by U.S. currency, credit cards or traveler’s checks.

 

British Airways Touches Down in St. Kitts

On Tuesday 30th March 2010, St. Kitts proudly welcomed the much anticipated second British Airways inaugural flight from the UK, complementing the current weekly Saturday service to RLB International Airport, which commenced operations just over one year ago in January 2009. BA2157 from London (Gatwick) touched down in St. Kitts at 3:35 local time, heralding in a significant era for St. Kitts & Nevis arrivals from UK and Europe.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard Skerritt who, along with other local officials welcomed the new weekly Tuesday flight, said “this flight is an important symbol of hope for our Tourism arrivals at a challenging time for Caribbean tourism and at a financially awkward time for international airlift. The British Airways decision to operate a second flight to St. Kitts from the UK not only symbolises BA’s confidence in the future of our destination, it also highlights the promising results our partnership with BA has been enjoying for the Saturday operation which, in the first year alone, brought close to 10,000 visitors to our island.”

The new mid week Tuesday flight will immediately increase capacity to St. Kitts while offering even greater flexibility and choice to the duration of visitor nights. The BA aircraft will use a similar configuration to the existing Saturday flight with a three class, 280 seat Boeing 777 aircraft holding 40 Club World seats, 24 World Traveller Plus and 216 World Traveller seats.

Rosecita Jeffers, CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, added, “In this Celebrate St. Kitts Year, the new BA flight shows the attractiveness of St. Kitts as a destination for the UK market and is therefore good news for existing and new tour operators as well as for our hoteliers. We are already seeing positive signs of a rebound in visitor arrivals and several trade and consumer initiatives currently in planning by the UK office of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority will undoubtedly ensure its continued success.”

 

Jamaica To Host The Inaugural Mojo 6 LPGA
GOLF TOURNAMENT

Jamaica and the world-class championship Cinnamon Hill Golf Course in the island’s tourist capital Montego Bay will host the inaugural Mojo 6 Raceway Golf Tournament from April 12-16, 2010, an event sanctioned by the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). Sixteen elite female golfers, including the top seven in the world battle in the Caribbean’s premiere golf destination, competing for the US$1 million purse in the first-ever raceway golf tournament format. Raceway Golf is a new, innovative golf format that combines the best elements of traditional play with one-on-one match-ups and the Mojo6 tournament will be played over two days with 16 golfers playing six-hole matches. The top eight from day one will go on to the Championship on day two, competing in a bracket single-elimination, with three match victories crowning the champion.

Suzann Pettersen, Cristie Kerr, Yani Tseng, Anna Nordqvist and Paula Creamer lead an impressive field expected to go headto- head at the prestigious Cinnamon Hill Golf Course in Montego Bay, Jamaica for this competition. Beatriz Recari, a 22 year old rookie this season, as well as 15-year-old golfing phenom Mariah Stackhouse, will also seek to battle for championship honors at The Mojo6 tournament.

“Jamaica is proud, as the top Caribbean's golfing destination, to host the world’s first raceway golf tournament,” says John Lynch, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism and Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board. “Mojo6 will afford Jamaica the opportunity to showcase its world-class golf offering, with stunning views and one-of-a-kind Jamaican hospitality to the players and viewers from around the world. This event signals Jamaica’s return to the world stage, as we get ready to host another LPGA sanctioned event - the first time in 20 years.”

Activities for the week-long event kick off on Monday, April 12 with a welcome reception. This will be followed by the Pro- Am tournament on April 13 and 14, and culminates with the Mojo6 LPGA golf tournament on Thursday, April 15 and Friday, April 16. The Mojo6 tournament will be broadcast on CBS on May 1 and 2, 2010 from 2:00-3:00 pm each day.

 

Resorts’ participation in Challenge
helps raise $1 million+

Holiday Inn Resorts Aruba & Jamaica were among the many proud sponsors of The Dempsey Challenge, a non-competitive race in which participants are challenged to cycle, run or walk to raise funds in support of The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing. The Dempsey Center provides free support, education and wellness services to cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. The event held recently in Lewiston, Maine raised more than $1 million.

The inaugural Dempsey Challenge attracted a maximum 3,500 participants from 32 states and four countries, and 600+ volunteers. Dempsey participated in the 50-mile ride alongside professional cyclists George Hincapie, David Zabriskie, Stephen Roche and Ted King, as well as members of the Holiday Inn Resorts Aruba & Jamaica cycling team. Dempsey created the event as a fundraising vehicle for the Dempsey Center and to promote physical activity as an important part of daily life.

For 2010, The Dempsey Challenge will be expanded to a two-day event. Run/walk races will cover distances of five-kilometers (3.1 miles) and 10-kilometers (6.2 miles) on Saturday, October 2. Cycling races will extend 10, 25, 50 and 100-miles on Sunday, October 3. Participant caps of 4,000 have been set for the run/walk and 3,500 for cycling. Participants are encouraged to create or join teams through the Dempsey Challenge website (http://dempseychallenge.org) to assist their fundraising efforts. Volunteer information and registration will be available through the Challenge website on March 1, 2010.

“Cancer impacts one in three Americans, so we all have a stake in this fight,” said Raul Villagran, director of sales and marketing for Holiday Inn Resorts Aruba & Jamaica.

“We’re proud to have contributed to the success of this wonderful event as part of our ongoing commitment to give back to the communities where our guests live and work, as well as those where our resorts are located.”