The Week at the SLHTA, February, 15th, 2013

 

Friday, February 15, 2013
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In This Edition
Viking’s Green Gold Cafe
Romance Highlight
WTM – Latin Market
CTO partners with Monroe College
Allen Resumes Helm of Coco Palm
Outstanding Staff Profile
Bay Gardens Acknowledges Excellence
Orlando’s is #1
L’Express Des Isles Independence Promotion
Treasure Bay Casino Free Lessons
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Green Gold Café St Lucie
At Viking Traders we understand that quality goes a long way; so far that can be remembered and can provoke anybody to just go back and ask for more. This is what you experience when you taste our Green Gold Coffee: exquisite and gentle (mild) Saint Lucian blend.
We are so proud of our heritage that we make sure people know that our roots are St Lucian. We have portrayed this unique coffee in a package that represents our unique ‘Helen of the West Indies’. Our years of experience bring to life this almost indigenous coffee through our special roasting process, with our café St Lucie. Available in 1oz, 3oz, 9oz packages as well in our gift package, jute bags makes this coffee your perfect present and a really good reason to always remember our simply beautiful island!
With hundreds of delighted customers, we could be providing the highest quality and the best product.
“My wife and I have enjoyed your coffee on our visits to St Lucia” (Mitch, USA)
“We will be traveling to St. Lucia for our honeymoon and I wanted to give my fiancé a “taste” of what she should be looking forward to: Green Gold coffee”(Daniel, USA)
“I was in St Lucia a few years ago and still remember the wonderful coffee! Where can I order it?”  (Gregg, Canada)

Romance Highlight
Cape Moule-à-Chique Lighthouse 
Arguably the most beautiful view in the South of St. Lucia, the northern sight from beside this lighthouse in Vieux Fort offers a picture of the entire width of the island- on a clear day you can see all the way to the Piton! When looking south from this location, you’ll get a gorgeous view of St. Vincent, our neighboring island.

 

World Travel Market – Latin America
Dear Travel Partner,
As per discussions last year with regards to exploring Brazil as an emerging market, the Saint Lucia Tourist Board will be exhibiting at the World Travel Market Latin America in Sao Paulo Brazil from April 23- 25th   2013. This is a three day inaugural event for Leisure, MICE, Luxury and Business Travel, where the Latin American Travel Industry will negotiate and conclude its deals to become one of the most important regions in the global travel and tourism industry.

 

WTM Latin America will be targeting 1,000 exhibiting companies and more than 7,000 visitors for the inaugural event. In addition they will run a targeted international Hosted Buyer Programme and operate a pre-scheduled appointment system.

 

For further information, please contact Ms. Zina Zita Haynes atzina.haynes@slhta.orgor 452-5978/ 453-1811.

Port Castries Welcomed Over 100,000 Cruise Passengers – for January 2013

Port Castries welcomed over 101,000 cruise passengers and 60 cruise ships for the month of January, 2013.   The Port, which has garnered international acclaim by being awarded the 2012 Porthole Editor-In-Chief Award for “Best Caribbean Port” from Porthole Cruise Magazine and most recently being ranked number 25 in the world, in the Autumn 2012 Cruise Insight The Global Cruise Market Magazine’s “World’s Top 50 Cruise Ports of Call” for 2011, offers cruisers a wonderful first welcome to the island.

Port Castries, which is managed and operated by the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA),  welcomes over 300 cruise ships and handles approximately 600,000 cruise passengers per year. For the 2012/2013 cruise season which began in October 2012, Port Castries has welcomed over 375,000 passengers and 168 cruise liners to date. Port Castries is the dedicated cruise terminal in Saint Lucia and is home to two Duty-Free Shopping Malls.

“The official end of the 2012/2013 cruise season is March 2013, however, Carnival Valor and Jewel of the Seas will be making year round calls which is a 50% increase from last year, so we will continue to see these liners in our port, even after the season has slowed down. On certain days we have had four cruise ships in Port and one tendering either just outside the harbour or in Rodney Bay, Soufriere and even Marigot Bay. Of course those tendering at the aforementioned are smaller vessels with an average capacity of 250 passengers. We are elated that Saint Lucia as a port of call and by extension Port Castries is still ranked high amongst cruisers and cruise lines and we continue to see this with the return of vessels and repeat cruisers” said Ms. Dona Regis, Director of Marketing & Product Development.

CTO offers Scholarships to attend Monroe College

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) – the international agency leading sustainable tourism in the region – is presenting Caribbean nationals with additional opportunities to pursue higher education in tourism and hospitality management. The CTO, through its scholarship programme, the CTO Foundation, is offering a number of scholarships to students from member countries to advance their education by pursuing a bachelor’s degree programme in Hospitality/ Tourism Management. The scholarships are for full-time study at Monroe College in New York (www.Monroecollege.edu), at its campus in Saint Lucia, or for the college’s online course, and are for first time students.

This offer comes as a result of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Monroe College and the CTO in 2011. The MOU established a three year agreement for scholarships and study grants to support students from the Caribbean to advance their tourism/hospitality education at Monroe College. Scholarship awards will range from US$4,500.00 to US$18,660.00 annually. The deadline for receipt of applications is 15 April, 2013.

Founded in 1933, Monroe College is recognized as a leading provider of focused, career-oriented, quality education which integrates classroom learning with real-world experience. The College, is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Associations of Colleges and Schools in the United States.  It was founded with a single goal: To educate men and women for a successful future in the world.

Established in 1997, the CTO Foundation is registered in New York State as a Not-for-Profit Corporation, formed exclusively for charitable and educational purposes.  Its main aim is to provide scholarships and study grants to students and industry personnel who are Caribbean nationals, from CTO-member countries, who wish to pursue studies in the areas of tourism/hospitality and language training.

Allen Resumes Helm of Coco Palm

Coco Palm, Saint Lucia’s award winning boutique hotel welcomes back Allen Chastanet as Managing Director following his service to the Government.  Resuming his role as Managing Director which he handed over to his sister, Feolla, in December 2007, Allen will once again be directing the 100 room Rodney Bay Village property. “My focus is on the operational aspect and overseeing our capital projects as our General Manger, Jean St. Rose, handles the everyday running of the hotel while Feolla will focus on the Public Relations, Sales & Marketing” noted Chastanet.

Chastanet, who is the developer and founder of Coco Resorts, has spent the last nine months on the Food & Beverage Department with the rebranding of the restaurant as KoKo Cabana and launching an All-Inclusive plan which has made a marked difference to guest satisfaction.  Allen noted “we listen to our guests and tweak our product to meet their expectations. We have some great plans for 2013 and improving all the time.”

Outstanding Staff Profile –
Craig Ghirawoo

Craig Ghirawoo joined the Cap Maison team on March 26th 2012. The very same year within which he joined the Cap Maison family he became the two time winner of the “Employee of the Month” for the months of July and December. Craig has been mentioned numerous times in the guest comment cards for his hospitable service, friendly demeanor and warm smile.

Craig goes beyond the call of duty to satisfy any guest at Cap Maison, making them feel welcome and safe within their environs. He has shown commitment, dedication, respect for his supervisors and workmates alike, and eagerness to add warmth to one’s presence at Cap Maison. Craig Ghirawoo is the epitome of a true St. Lucian hospitality ambassador.

Bay Gardens Hotel and Inn
Awards Ceremony

Guests, Management and Directors of Bay Gardens Resorts gathered at the Bay Gardens Inn to celebrate and reward the efforts of Outstanding Team Members on February 7th, 2013.

The gala evening saw employees of both the Bay Gardens Inn and Bay Gardens Hotel receiving awards in a number of categories ranging from ‘Best Smile’ to ‘Most nominated/guests’ choice’. On hand to celebrate with team members and present some awards were Minister for Tourism, Heritage and the Creative industries Hon. Lorne Theophilus and Minister for Commerce, Business Development, Investment and Consumer Affairs, Hon. Emma Hippolyte. Also presenting awards was former Administrative Manager of the St. Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association, Mrs. Eileen Paul.

General Manager of the Bay Gardens Hotel and Inn, Waltrude Patrick, commended her team members for an exceptional job in 2012 – a year in which both properties received international Certificates of Excellence from the travel authority, Trip Advisor. Patrick maintained that the primary reason for the success of Bay Gardens Resorts is the invaluable contribution from its team members and encouraged them to continue striving for excellence in the future.

Orlando’s Hits #1 on Trip Adviser

Orlando’s Restaurant in Soufriere has hit Number 1 on TripAdviser’s List of Excellent Restaurants in Saint Lucia. This award comes after 2 months to the day of opening on 12th December 2012.

After 13 years as an Executive Chef at Ladera Resort, Orlando felt that it was time to follow his long standing dream and own his restaurant. That’s when Orlando’s in Soufriere was created. Orlando made certain that his menus reflected healthy choices with the use of fresh meat, colorful vegetables, rich spices and all local ingredients. His delicious creations are accompanied with his lifelong vision to bring international recognition to Caribbean cuisine.

His guests are delighted to be able to eat his unique style of cuisine in the intimate courtyard garden setting in Soufriere. His hard working and courteous staff all hail from the neighboring community, and as a team, they display Soufriere’s hospitality in the best possible light.