Officials of the Saint Lucia Tourist Board and the Ministry of Tourism are describing introductory talks with US carrier American Airlines as positive and promising for the future of aviation and the wider tourism industry on the island.

A high level delegation led by Tourism Minister Lorne Theophilus, currently en route to CHTA Marketplace underway this weekend on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, held a series of talks with several industry partners in the airline and cruise industries.

At a Thursday January 19^th meeting, the team paid a courtesy call on American Airlines’ senior executives Peter Dolara and Gary Alfson.

Minister Theophilus expressed his and Saint Lucia’s gratitude for the long standing commitment and support of American Airlines at helping to shape and sustain the industry’s growth path not only in Saint Lucia but the wider region.

Flanked on one side by his Permanent Secretary Titus Preville, incoming Chairman of the Board Matthew Beaubrun and on the other by Director of Tourism Louis Lewis and Vice President of Marketing and Sales Nerdin St. Rose, Minister Theophilus noted that AA is “a valued partner.”

He added that “American Airlines has undoubtedly contributed immensely to the record levels of arrivals we have seen from key gateways out of the US. My team and I eagerly look forward to building on that collaboration in 2012 and beyond”.

Mr. Dolara welcomed the opportunity to meet and hold initial talks with not only the newly appointed Minister, but to dialogue and cement ties with other tourism decision makers, among them Matthew Beaubrun, who now serves as Chairman of the Saint Lucia Tourist Board.

Further discussions on AA’s relationship with and service to Saint Lucia are to continue over the next few weeks.

The Saint Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB) announces multiple accolades and awards received by the island and its hotel partners in 2011, many of which highlight the island’s romantic nature.  “We are very proud of the awards and accolades and do not take them for granted.  Each award and special recognition is a testament of the hard work and commitment the government and our tourism partners put into planning Saint Lucia’s marketing and creating products that offer visitors exemplary vacation experiences. We look forward to receiving more awards in 2012,” said Louis Lewis, Director of Tourism for the Saint Lucia Tourist Board.

Destination Awards:

• The 2011 Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards Gala awarded Saint Lucia the Readers Choice Award for Best Caribbean Destination.
• Saint Lucia was awarded the “Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination” at the 2011 World Travel Awards Caribbean & The America’s Ceremony in October, hosted in Jamaica.  This is Saint Lucia’s ninth win since 2002. The event, now in its 18^th year, was established for the purpose of recognizing and celebrating achievements in all areas of the world’s travel and tourism industry.
• The 15th Annual Recommend Readers’ Choice voted Saint Lucia the “Sexiest Romance/Honeymoon Destination – Caribbean” for the seventh consecutive year.
• Saint Lucia was ranked #7 in the Top Ten Islands in the Caribbean in the 2011 Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards.

Visitor Attractions & Tours Awards:

• Mamiku Gardens, a series of botanical gardens surrounding the hilltop ruins of the Micoud Estate located on the East Coast of the island, was the only Caribbean garden ranked (#4) among Headwater’s Top 10 Spring Gardens.
• Island Routes Caribbean Adventure Tours, which offers tours and excursions on Saint Lucia, was named “World’s Leading Caribbean Attraction Company” at the 2011 World Travel Awards.

Noted Property Awards:

Anse Chastanet:

• Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2011
• Condé Nast Traveler 2011 Top 25 Caribbean Resorts
• Travel + Leisure 2011 Top 500
• Ranked among one of the Top 25 Caribbean Hotels by Travel + Leisure
• Caribbean Travel & Life Readers’ Choice Awards “Resort with the Best View”
• Fodor’s forum named Anse Chastanet “One of the Best Hotels for Views”

The BodyHoliday:

• London Sunday Times – Travel Reader’s Awards, 2011: Voted one of the top three International Spa’s Worldwide
• Spa Finder – Reader’s Choice Awards, 2011: winner Favorite Spa in the Caribbean and Top 10 Best for Water Sports
• Condé Nast Traveler - Readers‘ Travel Awards, 2011: winner Best Destination Spa in the World Award
• TripAdvisor – Certificate of Excellence Award, 2011: Certificate of Excellence for consistent ‘excellent’ ratings from members of Trip Advisor
• Condé Nast Traveler – The Reader’s Spa Awards, 2011: winner Best Spa Worldwide.
• Trip Advisor – Traveler’s Choice Awards, 2011: Top 10 Relaxation/Spa Hotels in the Caribbean & Mexico

Coco Palm:

• Recognized as a 2011 Fodor’s 100 Hotels selection

Crystals:

• Award of Excellence from TripAdvisor 2011

East Winds Inn:

• Ranked #6 on TripAdvisor Top 10 All-Inclusive Hotels in the World 2011
• Virgin Holidays:  World Travel Market 2011, Virgin Holidays Gold award for Best Small Hotel in The Caribbean (second time)

Jade Mountain:

• Saint Lucia’s only AAA 5 Diamond Resort property
• Travel + Leisure 2011 Top 500
• Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2011
• Caribbean Travel & Life magazine awarded Jade Mountain “Resort with the Best View”
• Readers of Caribbean Travel & Life Magazine voted Jade Mountain as the Resort with the Best View and Jade Mountain’s sister property Anse Chastanet as the runner-up.
• Healing Lifestyles and Spa magazine named Jade Mountain as  having The Most Romantic Spa Treatments
• The Knot named Jade Mountain as “Number one in Sexiest Suites in the World”

Jalousie Plantation, Sugar Beach:

• Condé Nast Traveler, Best in the World 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards, Caribbean
• Travel + Leisure “World’s Best Awards 2011″ Featured in Caribbean’s World’s Best Debut
• Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2011 Readers’ Selection of “Best Places to Stay in the World”
• London Sunday Times Travel Magazine, World’s Best Hotels 2011

Sandals:

• The Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort & Spa was awarded Saint Lucia’s Leading Spa Resort at the World Travel Awards Caribbean & The America’s Ceremony
• Sandals Grande Saint Lucian Spa & Beach Resort was awarded Saint Lucia’s Leading Resort (second year) at the World Travel Awards Caribbean & The America’s Ceremony

Ti Kaye Village Resort:

• Expedia Insiders Select for 2011

10^th Year of Awards Honors the Most Outstanding Properties, Now Expanded to 30 Countries and 8 Regions Worldwide

One of St. Lucia’s named as best in All Inclusive in the Caribbean…

 TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRIP), the world’s largest travel site*, today announced the winners of its 2012 Travelers’ Choice^® awards. The 10^th annual awards has revealed premier properties in the U.S. and world, in addition to winners in the categories of Best Luxury and Bargain, Best for Service, B&Bs and Inns, All-Inclusive, Spa, and Trendiest. In total, 3,943 properties globally have been recognized this year with dedicated lists featured for 30 countries and eight regions worldwide. Unlike any other hotel honors, TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winners are based on millions of valuable reviews and opinions from travelers around the world.

As TripAdvisor has continued its growth globally, featuring sites in 30 countries and in 21 languages, the Travelers’ Choice Hotels awards now highlight a broader range of spectacular properties across the globe. This is TripAdvisor’s biggest awards ever, with lists covering 19 new markets and expanded categories from “Top 10” to “Top 25” winners, providing more inspiration for travelers seeking remarkable properties around the world.

The average nightly rate¹ for 2012 Travelers’ Choice Hotels award winners is $270 and 45 percent have an average nightly rate of $200 or less per night. Average nightly rate for the Best Luxury hotels is $455, Best Bargain $106, Best for Service $255, B&Bs and Inns $124, All-Inclusive $488, Spa $376, and Trendiest $253.

“TripAdvisor is incredibly proud to announce its Travelers’ Choice award-winning hotels for the tenth year,” said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. “We’re also thrilled to grow our awards with winner lists for twice as many markets globally this year, as we continue our mission to help more travelers around the world plan and have the perfect trip.”

Select 2012 Winners:

Best Hotel in the World — The Phoenix Resort — San Pedro, Belize

Best Hotel in the U.S. — Elysian Hotel Chicago — Chicago, Illinois

Best Luxury (4&5 star) Hotel in the World — Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo — Tokyo, Japan

Best Luxury (4&5 star) Hotel in the U.S. — The Grand Del Mar — San Diego, California

Best Bargain in the World — HueNino Hotel — Hue, Vietnam

Best Bargain in the U.S. — SeaCoast Inn — Hyannis, Massachusetts

Best for Service in the World — Arcadia Residence — Prague, Czech Republic

Best for Service in the U.S. — SeaCoast Inn — Hyannis, Massachusetts

Best B&B and Inn in the World — The Twenty One — Brighton, England

Best B&B and Inn in the U.S. — A.G. Thomson House: Historic Bed and Breakfast — Duluth, Minnesota

Best All-Inclusive in the World — Garonga Safari Camp — Phalaborwa, South Africa

Best All-Inclusive in the Caribbean — East Winds Inn — Gros Islet, St. Lucia

Best Relaxation and Spa in the World — BollAnt’s im Park — Bad Sobernheim, Germany

Best Relaxation and Spa in the U.S. — Bella Monte Hot Springs Resort and Spa — Desert Hot Springs, California

Trendiest Hotel in the World — Villa Zest Boutique Hotel — Cape Town, South Africa

Trendiest Hotel in the U.S. — Smyth Hotel – A Thompson Hotel — New York City, New York

The complete list of TripAdvisor’s 2012 Travelers’ Choice winners can be found at:http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice.

The annual event recognizes and pays tribute to the close cultural ties and official twinning alliance between the town of Gros Islet in Saint Lucia and Saint Luce in Martinique.

Organized by the Saint Lucia/Martinique Association and the Gros-Islet Town Council, this year’s race will take place from December 16-18. It will see 8 – 10 Gommier racing canoes participating with each canoe carrying 12-14 crew members.

Participants will leave the town of Saint Luce, Martinique on Friday December 16 and will converge on the Gros Islet waterfront at approximately 1:00 pm on Saturday December 17, where they will be greeted by government representatives, yachting and tourism officials among others.

President of the Saint Lucia/Martinique Association Evestus Augustin says a local three-member delegation will travel to Martinique to witness the start of the race and will accompany the canoes en route to Saint Lucia.

Augustin says the Gommier boat race holds tremendous cultural significance, but also presents a myriad of economic benefits. “With an average of 250 people arriving on island during the 3-day event and immersing themselves into the fabric of Gros Islet, you can easily recognize the economic spinoff effects to not only the town but to all of Saint Lucia as these visitors integrate into Saint Lucian society,” says Augustin.

Undoubtedly the oldest boating material in the Caribbean and particularly in Saint Lucia and Martinique, the Gommier, dug out from the tree which gives it its name, has a long and rich history.  The canoes were already being used by traditional Arawaks and Caribs centuries ago, when they traveled from the Amazonia plains to inhabit the Eastern Antilles, before the arrival of Christopher Columbus.

Until the 1950’s the Gommier canoes were quite evident in Martinique’s and Saint Lucia’s economic, social and cultural life. It was prevalent for fishing, transporting goods, mail and even corpses. It was while returning from fishing that crews often challenged each other, resulting in the first sailing canoe race.

St. Lucia Tourist Board  Hosts US Grand Familiarization Trip for 100 Travel Agents

Saint Lucia Tourist Board just hosted one hundred (100) travel agents and tour operators from the island’s major markets in the US.  The agents were on island as part of a ‘grand fam’ that featured two groups staying December 1-5 and December 8-12, 2011.

The objective was to give our travel partners the opportunity to experience the island first hand so that they can sell it with confidence. In most cases, it was the travel agent’s first visit to the island with several having visited in the past. These travel agents have also shown their commitment to selling the island by becoming a Preferred Agent Saint Lucia Specialist (PASS), a trade program launched to strengthen the relationship with the travel agent community.

The grand fam provided an opportunity for travel agents to; visit a cross section of properties around the island; acquaint themselves with some of the newer resorts; engage in dialogue with property owners and managers and participate in some of the attractions.

At two cocktail receptions hosted in their honor, Director of Tourism Louis Lewis welcomed the travel agents and thanked them for their unweaving dedication and support at keeping the destination top of mind.

“It is the direct results of you; our valued travel partners and your hard work in becoming certified Preferred Agents Saint Lucia Specialist (PASS) and subsequently selling Saint Lucia that has allowed us to survive these turbulent times,” noted Lewis.

The agents originated from Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, South Florida and Washington DC.

Lewis added, “our statistics have shown that there is a direct correlation between how well you, as the front line ambassadors are sufficiently knowledgeable about the destination and how that familiarity translates into increased bookings for Saint Lucia.”

The US market accounts for over 40 percent of visitor arrivals to Saint Lucia and brought in close to 90,000 visitors to the island in 2010.

Director of Tourism - Louis Lewis

The Saint Lucia Tourist Board has once again partnered with the island’s leading telecommunications provider – Digicel, the Bigger Better Network – in a move designed to secure the further enhancement of major national events for which the island has gained world recognition.

Thursday saw senior officials of the two agencies affixing their signatures to a new three (3) year contractual arrangement that fosters the growth and development of Saint Lucia Jazz; the island’s premier cultural showpiece, Carnival; the popular maritime Atlantic Rally for Cruises (ARC), along with the possibility of other new events.

Details of the sponsorship package were released to the media at a ceremony at the SLTB’s head office, where Director of Tourism Louis Lewis spoke of the contribution the iconic events have made to the fabric of Saint Lucian life.  “The name Saint Lucia has become synonymous with and now it’s almost impossible to speak of this unique island of ours without our minds and that of visitors alike, conjuring up images of Saint Lucia Jazz, Carnival, the ARC and other signature events,” commented Lewis.

He affirmed, “All of this has been possible due to the steadfast and committed dedication of principal sponsors, chief among which has been our partner for the past three years; a commitment Digicel as Platinum sponsor, is today signaling yet again, by way of sponsorship for another three years.”

The $3M sponsorship package is a dynamic blend of cash and value in-kind that will imbue renewed life into the earmarked events. Digicel’s General Manager for Saint Lucia and the OECS Geraldine Pitts says the choice to partner with the SLTB was a logical one, as it represents the continuation of previous successes.

“This unique partnership between Digicel and the Saint Lucia Tourist Board has over the years been mutually beneficial, not only to the corporate image of our two institutions but more significantly this collaboration has aided the sustainability of numerous national events, many of which have become staples on our national calendar,” noted Pitts.

Digicel, Tourist Board & CDF Signing

In addition to the cash contribution to the various events, the value in-kind includes mobile services, internet services, joint promotions regionally and the supplementing of regional advertising for events.

The first major event to benefit from the 2011-2014 Digicel sponsorship agreement package is the staging of the ARC. The island will serve as the finishing leg for the popular trans-Atlantic crossing for a record 21 times from November 20 – December 17, 2011.

The curtains have come down on the 26-city North America Travel Road Show series for 2011 with rave reviews from our travel trade partners. The Saint Lucia Tourist Board organized the annual event, which rolled into the first US city in July, picking up steam for a grand climax in Toronto, Canada in late October.

During the four month series, well over eighteen hundred travel agents profited the occasion to interact with hotel representatives and Tourist Board personnel in an attempt to increase their knowledge of the island.

“This one-on-one interaction provided through the road show series is central to building appreciation for and of Saint Lucia’s diverse product offerings. We are delighted to put on the road shows as all indications are that agents fully enjoy and appreciate them as they provide a fun-filled learning environment especially to those agents that have not had the time to visit the island.  We bring some of Saint Lucia to the agents.” noted Tourism Director Louis Lewis.

The road shows structure allows for incisive presentations by the various hotel partners, several of whom annually seize the opportunity for that unique chance to dialogue directly with travel agents. Tourist Board officials then complement the interactions with a detailed presentation on the island including the latest developments.

Saint Lucia has continued to announce major developments, from multi-million dollar hotel openings and renovations, to on-island accommodations and the introduction of new events and activities.

Notable among these are the re-opening of The BodyHoliday after a US$20-million renovation; the new Hotel Chocolat; a US$100-million enhancement and rebranding of Jalousie Plantation to the Tides Sugar Beach in 2012; two new restaurants and an upgraded spa at Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa along with the new Samsarati Spa at Smugglers Cove Resort & Spa.

Other updates as part of the themed, “The Legend Lives On,” 2011 road shows series focused on increased airlift capacity from major gateway cities in both the US and Canada, our travel agent Specialist Program (PASS), new online features that enable visitors to interact with travel agents in our PASS program as well as create their own itinerary prior to their visit, as well as the staging of new events like the upcoming Health and Wellness Retreat slated for November 17-20, 2011 in Soufriere.

SLTB officials are already at work reviewing and planning for the 2012 road shows series, which could see further exciting innovations to the format.

The 15^th Annual Dominica World Creole Music Festival officially launched July 15, 2011with a spectacular media event held at Krazy Koconuts from 6:00m pm.

Dominica Festivals Committee, the Discover Dominica Authority and headline sponsor, “Digicel unveiled the line-up for this year’s festival signaling the start of the hard work and creative effort leading up to the staging of “the three nights of pulsating rhythms”, the signature music event in Dominica’s annual events’ calendar. This year’s event beckons you to “make a memory…come dance with us” the tagline given by DFC Events Director Mrs. Natalie Clarke-Meade.

This year’s World Creole Music Festival will be held from Friday 28^th October to Sunday 30^th October 2011 at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium.  World renowned performers hailing from England, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Paris and Dominica will form part of this year’s WCMF line-up.

Invitees to the Media Launch included Government Officials, Sponsors and other key stakeholders of various public and private sector corporate entities. The Minister of Tourism, Mr. Ian Douglas; Chief Cultural officer, Mr. Raymond Lawrence; Chairman of the Dominica Festivals Committee, Mr. Colin Piper and Manager of Digicel Dominica, Mr. Richard Stanton. A special presentation of the participating artistes and groups done by Mr. ‘Wadix’ Leroy Charles also formed part of the event.

The official launch of Dominica’s 15^th annual World Creole Music Festival will herald the start of activities to celebrate 33 years of Dominica independence and nationhood with major activities planned throughout the month of October, 2011.

Line-up Includes the following;

Friday 28 – 8:30pm to 4am

Kolo Barst

Harmonik

Ali Campbell –the legendary voice of UB40

Jeff Joseph –Grammacks New Generation

WCK

Saturday 29 – 8:30pm to 4am

Dobet Gnahoré

Jean-Philippe Marthély & Jocelyne Béroard

THIRD WORLD

CARIMI

Midnight Groovers

Sunday Night 30 – 4:30pm to 1am

Swingin’ Starz

Gyptian

Zouk Allstar Band… Fanny… Jocelyne Labylle…   Alex Catrin

Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann

TRIPLE Kay

It is projected that the 15^th Annual World Creole Music will be launched at key destinations in the upcoming weeks and information can be found on www.wcmfdominica.com and www.discoverdominica.com

Saint Lucia Tourist Board Prepares for Caribbean Week in New York Highlighting Hotel

Developments, New Attractions and Increased Visitor Convenience

Saint Lucia (June 10, 2011) – With 2011arrivals for April showing a 12.4% increase over April 2010, the Saint Lucia Tourist Board announces major on-island developments including multimillion dollar hotel openings and renovations, new visitor attractions, and increased airlift from American Eagle, providing added accessibility for a number of markets serviced by American Airlines. In addition, the Saint Lucia Tourist Board has further eased visitor convenience by adding a “build-your-own” itinerary feature on its website as well as a “Live Chat” feature.

Senator Allen Chastanet, Saint Lucia’s Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, and the Saint Lucia Tourist Board’s Director of Tourism, Louis Lewis, will be in attendance for Caribbean Week in New York in early June. “We are thrilled to share our islands impressive new developments with the Caribbean Week audience,” said Louis Lewis. “We are looking forward to showcasing our continued commitment to further enhance the destination by providing straightforward trip planning tools, increased airlift accessibility, as well as highlighting the destination’s unique new opportunities from visiting a chocolate factory to night snorkeling under the Pitons.”

“Both the public and private sector on Saint Lucia are dedicated to improving the island’s tourism infrastructure to support growing arrivals, as every Saint Lucian shares an appreciation for the power of tourism as a key economic driver for our economy,” continued Senator Chastanet.

HOTEL PROJECTS:

Among the key hotel developments on-island is the opening of the new Hotel Chocolat in early 2011. This boutique hotel is set in The Rabot Estate, a working cocoa estate. The property features 14 luxury Cocoa Cottages, a Pool Clubhouse, Massage Pavilion and beach access among other amenities. The British-owned operator plans to break ground on a new Chocolate Factory to be located next door to Hotel Chocolat. By growing its own cocoa, Hotel Chocolat will be considered one of the world’s few origin chocolatiers. Currently with its Engaged Ethics Cocoa Programme, Hotel Chocolat is revitalizing the cocoa industry on Saint Lucia by offering high quality seedlings, technical assistance, advice and purchasing crops from local farmers.

The BodyHoliday will be closing from July through September 2011 for a US$20 million renovation. The renovation will encompass the total refit of public areas including Cariblue Restaurant, Piano Bar, the wellness center treatment rooms, TAO restaurant, new beach-front deck, new Clubhouse Pool, aerobics, scuba training and volleyball and more. The Standard Garden View rooms are being renovated while the Grand Luxury Ocean Front room and Junior Suites will receive enhancements. Additionally The BodyHoliday will be opening “The Penthouse of LeSPORT,” a room that will encompass its own Hammans Spa.

The Jalousie Plantation is undergoing a US$100 million enhancement and will be re-branded and re-launched as The Tides, Sugar Beach in 2012. So far, the physical transformation includes the construction of new luxury villas and a brand-new destination-spa, and the gut renovation of its Luxury Sugar Mill Rooms.

The Jalousie Plantation is the only resort on the island to offer the incredible experience of night snorkeling with an up close and personal look at all of the nocturnal underwater wonders of Anse des Pitons and Jalousie Plantation’s National Marine Reserve.

On April 1, 2011, Smugglers Cove Resort & Spa opened a new Samsarati Spa, named after the Sanskrit word meaning “flow of energy.” World renowned O Spa London runs the spa, which has been designed to provide a journey of rejuvenation and relaxation, using ingredients sourced from organic, sustainably harvested crops.

Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa recently added two new restaurants and upgraded its spa. Calabash is the resort’s new Caribbean specialty restaurant and Capri offers an array of Italian and seafood menu items. The newly renovated waterfront Kai Mer Spa has been refurbished with three new beachfront spa cabanas and a relaxation patio.

VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:

Saint Lucia’s newest zip line experience Soufriere Hotwire Rides is located at the Morne Coubaril Estate and combines the adrenaline rush of zipping under the sheer Petit Piton, with elevated views of the historic town of Soufriere and the Caribbean Sea.

A new state-of-the-art visitor attraction at La Place Carenage in the Castries harbor, Our Planet Centre, will tap into visitors’ environmental conservation interest in a fun, educational and interactive way. Opened June 2011, the multi-million dollar Our Planet Centre exhibits on-island conservation programs. Utilizing cutting edge technology, Our Planet features the largest mirror sphere in the world, producing a giant kaleidoscopic display for video screening; a hologram recorded specifically for Saint Lucia by Prince Charles; multiple touch screen displays; a simulation hurricane room; as well as a “NASA Room” designed specifically by the NASA team to stream weather information. It’s the first center of its kind in the Caribbean and all proceeds from Our Planet will go to local environmental projects on island.

The new 30,000 square foot Treasure Bay Casino opened in December at the new Bay Walk Mall in Rodney Bay Village in Gros Islet, approximately 10 miles north of Castries, Saint Lucia’s capital. The casino, the first on the island, features 250 slot machines and 22 game tables.

ISLAND DEVELOPMENTS:

On April 4, 2011, American Eagle commenced a second daily service between San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) and Saint Lucia’s George F.L. Charles Airport (SLU) further enhancing Saint Lucia’s convenience for travelers flying from the US on American Airlines.

The Saint Lucia Tourist Board recently launched a new feature to its website

(www.saintlucianow.com) whereby visitors to the site can create their own itinerary and print it out in preparation for their trip to the island. The Tourist Board also opened its first call center to enhance communication with the traveling public as well as a new “Live Chat” feature on saintlucianow.com.

In response to market demand for vacation experiences that promote healthy lifestyles, the town of Soufriere will launch a health and wellness retreat this fall. Eden of the Caribbean will take place November 17-20, 2011 and will feature wellness workshops by world experts in yoga, feng shui, art and cuisine.

Saint Lucia continues to enjoy the most awards as the World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination. Voted by travel professionals worldwide, the World Travel Awards has presented Saint Lucia with the “World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination” award eight times since 2002.

SOUFRIERE, Saint Lucia (May 31, 2011) – In response to market demand for vacation experiences which promote healthy lifestyles, the town of Soufrière in Saint Lucia will welcome a brand new health and wellness retreat in the Fall.

Senator Allen Chastanet, Saint Lucia’s Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, announced plans for the first health and wellness retreat in the charming former French capital of Soufrière from November 17 to 20, 2011.

The retreat will feature workshops and wellness experiences, featuring some of the world’s foremost experts in yoga, feng shui, art and cuisine in a community which Senator Chastanet describes as “The Eden of the Caribbean.”

The retreat is being launched alongside preparations to build a landmark destination spa at Soufrière’s drive-in volcano  which offers visitors therapeutic mineral baths. “Soufrière was chosen in part because of the number of world class spas in the town, and we are pleased that our hotels and resorts are on board for the retreat,” reported Senator Chastanet.

The health and wellness retreat will promote a wide variety of approaches to enhance healthy minds and healthy bodies through nature trail hikes, bicycle rides and other specially-designed experiences.

“Soufrière is natural, authentic and exotic and we could not think of a better destination within Saint Lucia to produce this retreat,” posited Senator Chastanet.

The health and wellness retreat is being produced by the Soufrière Foundation in partnership with Soufrière’s resort community and in concert with the Saint Lucia Tourist Board.