Dubbed Successful
SLHTA Clean Up Campaign – Phase 1
The Saint Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association held its second cleanup campaign on Saturday 12th October 2013.
According to the Chairman of the Events Advisory Committee Mr. Daniel Belizaire,”the cleanup campaign was a major success in ensuring that the areas that were tackled on that day were litter free. Hundreds of bags of garbage were removed on that day and paving the way for the Ministry of Health and the Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management to now move onto the educational aspect of drawing to the attention of the Saint Lucian population the importance of a cleaner environment.“
It was first anticipated that 150 persons would have taken part in this exercise, but to the amazement of the committee members a total of 230 people actually signed up, again emphasizing the enthusiasm of all of the volunteers that woke up out of their warm beds that morning and was ready to go by the 6am start time. From the feedback received, everyone not only worked hard ensuring that every bit of litter along the designated routes were collected, but also had fun doing so. This appears to be the most gratifying part of the whole exercise and has given the committee further impetus to further continue with the program.
At a postmortem meeting which was held on Wednesday 16th October, it was felt by all committee members that the 2nd phase of the cleanup campaign should proceed with earnest, and has earmarked Saturday 23rd November as the next cleanup date in the Town of Soufriere.
The Committee would like to especially thank all those that came out and took part in this worthwhile venture and wish their continue support in the future. Special thanks must also go to the numerous companies and partners that so graciously gave in various ways;
- Sandals Grande St Lucian Spa & Beach Resort
- Baywalk Shopping Center
- Blue Waters
- Ministry of Health
- Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority
- WUT – School of Business
- Diamonds International
- Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort
- Coco Resorts
- Gros Islet Town Council
- The Visitor Channel
- The International School
- Advance Building Maintenance Services
- Saint Lucia Tourist Board
- Ministry of Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries
- Bay Gardens Resorts
The final phases of this year’s campaign will be held in the villages of Anse La Raye and Dennery at a date to be announced, and it is hoped that we can complete phases three and four of this exercise by February 2014.
It is also hoped that next year with the collaboration of the Ministry of Health, Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management and the many members of the SLHTA, we can spearhead a national cleanup campaign around the entire island.
Keeping Saint Lucia “simply beautiful”
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Saint Lucia UK Tourist Board Is Recognized As Best In Class
A strong year for Saint Lucia Tourist Board which has seen the introduction of the Saint Lucia Showcase for Agents, 13 fam trips planned, a rise in revenue from the UK visitors, and a strong September 2013, has been topped off with an award. One of only three awards to destinations worldwide, Saint Lucia Tourist Board was presented with “Travel Bulletin Star Tourist Office for Online training, Roadshows and Workshops 2013”.
The tourist board beat stiff competition from other finalists which included Canada, Morocco, Oman, Texas, Thailand and California. Saint Lucia was the only finalist for this category from the Caribbean, where travel agents in the UK vote for which destination they think has done the most effective job.
The Saint Lucia Tourist Board was also a finalist in the category for Star Tourist Office (Overall) along with Canada, Barbados, Dubai, Morocco and South Africa with Spain selected as the victor.
Responding to news of the award win Jean-Marc Flambert, Director of Marketing UK and Europe say:”The award recognises the innovation and hard work that the Saint Lucia Tourist Board team has applied to be recognised despite our relatively small budgets”
Louis Lewis, Director of Tourism says: “These efforts will translate into better recognition, and ultimately increased arrivals for the island in 2014. We will have 13 direct flights arriving into Saint Lucia from the UK and the Tourist Board is very focused on delivering results which are measured by increased arrivals and revenue to the island”
Travel Bulletin is one of the main trade publications in the UK and UK travel agents and tour operator reservation staff vote to choose the winners.
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This is it Saint Lucia!!!
We’re at it Again
St Lucia, and the Management and Staff of Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet Has another reason to boast to the world as a result the latest announcement by the 2013 Conde Nast Traveler Reader Awards.
These awards reflect the combined opinions of 46,476 Conde Nast Traveler readers rating the cities, islands, and hotels they visited in the past year, and the airlines and cruise ships they traveled with.
According to Mrs. Karolin Troubetzkoy “Having been overjoyed in August this year when Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet were voted the Number 1 and 2 Top Caribbean Resorts by readers of Travel and Leisure magazine, imagine our delight this morning to find that Jade Mountain is the Number 1 Caribbean Resort in the just published 2013 Conde Nast Traveler Reader Awards, with Anse Chastanet on a proud Number 5 Position, in the category Top 25 Resorts in the Caribbean”.
- 1. JADE MOUNTAIN ST. LUCIA 95.7
- 2. ROSALIE BAY RESORT, DOMINICA 95.1
- 3. NISBET PLANTATION BEACH CLUB, NEVIS 94.9
- 4. PALM ISLAND RESORT 94.6
- 5. ANSE CHASTANET, ST. LUCIA 93.2
- 6. CURTAIN BLUFF, ANTIGUA 92.4
- 7. FOUR SEASONS RESORT, NEVIS 92.1
- 8. VICEROY ANGUILLA 91.5
- 9. CANEEL BAY, ST. JOHN 91.2
- 10. ST. REGIS BAHIA BEACH RESORT, RÍO GRANDE 90.9
- 11. PETIT ST. VINCENT RESORT 90.8
- 12. RITZ-CARLTON, GRAND CAYMAN 90.2
- 13. SCRUB ISLAND RESORT, SPA & MARINA 89.1
- 14. PETER ISLAND RESORT & SPA, B.V.I. 89.0
- 15. CAP JULUCA, ANGUILLA 88.9
- 16. GALLEY BAY RESORT & SPA, ANTIGUA 88.8
- 17. BUCUTI & TARA BEACH RESORTS, ARUBA 88.0
- 17. BIRAS CREEK RESORT, VIRGIN GORDA 88.0
- 19. HALF MOON, ROSE HALL, MONTEGO BAY 86.8
- 20. TORTUGA BAY HOTEL AT PUNTACANA RESORT & CLUB 86.2
- 20. SANDALS WHITEHOUSE EUROPEAN VILLAGE & SPA, JAMAICA 86.2
- 22. CUISINART RESORT & SPA, ANGUILLA 86.1
- 23. LA SAMANNA, ST. MARTIN 85.7
- 24. CASA DE CAMPO, LA ROMANA 85.5
- 25. RITZ-CARLTON, ST. THOMAS 84.8
Top 15 Hotels in the Caribbean
- PENINSULA HOUSE, SAMANÁ, D.R. 97.8
- JUMBY BAY (ROSEWOOD), ANTIGUA 97.3
- JAMAICA INN, OCHO RIOS 94.0
- EDEN ROCK-ST. BARTHS 92.8
- THE CAVES, NEGRIL 92.6
- HÔTEL SAINT-BARTH ISLE DE FRANCE, ST. BARTS 92.4
- HÔTEL LE TOINY, ST. BARTS 91.7
- LADERA, ST. LUCIA 91.0
- ROSEWOOD LITTLE DIX BAY, VIRGIN GORDA 90.9
- SUGAR BEACH, ST. LUCIA 90.3
- CAP MAISON, ST. LUCIA 88.6
- HÔTEL CARL GUSTAF, ST. BARTS 86.6
- HOTEL EL CONVENTO, SAN JUAN 84.6
- HÔTEL GUANAHANI & SPA, ST. BARTS 83.5
- W VIEQUES 83.1
#5 ST. LUCIA Readers’ Choice Rating: 83.4
Scenery: 91.1
Friendliness: 85
Atmosphere: 84.2
Restaurants: 73.4
Lodging: 85.4
Activities: 80.3
Beaches: 81.2
St. Lucia truly is “a beautiful island with diverse scenery, from rainforests to beaches,” as one reader observes. Whether it’s the “black-sand beaches,” the “gorgeous tropical flowers,” or even the sweet “smell of mangoes” in the air that gets you, St. Lucia will soon have a “fond place” in your “heart.” Remember to visit the Pitons, twin volcanic peaks rising out of the ocean, which our readers found “magical at sunset.”
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Meet Paulyn Eugene
Excellence in the Making
Paulyn Eugene, born on January 26th 1992 is the youngest of her parents’ three children. Her father Clifford Eugene is a self employed joiner and her mother a teacher at the Corinth Secondary School.
At a tender age Paulyn attended the Odsan Combined School where she wrote common entrance examination and passed for the Entrepot Secondary School. Unlike any others within her age range, Paulyn knew what she wanted to be from the beginning; where her first option was a chef. Through various activities she began shaping her life through cooking and participating in all culinary competitions she could have gotten into.
One of Paulyn’s first regional competitions was the Coconut Grower’s Food and Nutrition Competition in both practical and theory where she placed both 1st and 3rd respectively.
After graduating from Entrepot Secondary School with eight CXC passes, she was not keen on attending Sir Arthur Lewis Community College so decided to go job hunting at the age of sixteen for her real passion in the kitchen. Her passion was then solidified when her first touch into the working world was made true when she was offered training at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa for a period of one month. After her short exciting experience Paulyn then volunteered at the Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort. She started as a trainee working in all areas from breakfast to dinner and from pastry to pantry. From there she got a love for the pastry. Being so enthusiastic and determined at such a tender age she proved herself in the kitchen over a period of one year and was offered a job as an assistant pastry chef. With this attitude and drive, failure and giving up was not an option. This gave her the cut above the rest, where she was recognized for her hard work at the resort. Apart from being a pastry chef, Paulyn worked as a villa chef being guest personal chefs. With such talent she was named employee of the month for October 2010.
Continuing to participate in a number of culinary completions, she was strong enough to make it into a battle for a spot on St Lucia National Culinary Team in 2011. She was also the youngest in the competition she blew the judges taste buds being successful among twelve participants. Her consistency and drive gained her the junior Chef position and ended up competing as a pastry chef since the team was in need of one. The St. Lucia Culinary Team then travelled to Taste of the Caribbean completion held in Miami, where she receives a bronze medal for Pastry Chef and silver for team competition. A year later, she continued her winning strict. Her incredible showcase has her as a vital part of team St Lucia have experience and working both on the pastry and hot line. Paulyn entered Miami with a bang hoping to capture the gold but settled for silver and bronze in the junior chef and team competition. She have also done the cake decorating and food and beverage supervision at NRDF, and Chef Administrative course with Monroe college with the St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association.
Now furthering her studies, Paulyn is enrolled at Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute studying Culinary Management. She has already impacted the school with her talent and granted a place on the Trinidad Culinary Team together with a part time job at the HYATT.
“She is aspiring to be the Caribbean celebrity chef to recreate local cuisine with a modern twist on the national food stations.”
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SLHTA
Addressing Beach Security
Bob Hathaway as Chairman of the Visitor Safety & Security Committee attended a meeting on Tuesday 8th October called by the Permanent Secretaries in the Ministries of Social Transformation and Tourism.
Attendees included representatives from both Ministries, Saint Lucia Air & Sea Ports Authority, National Conservation Authority, Saint Lucia Lifeguards Association, Solid Waste Management, SLHTA and the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force. The meeting focused on a number of key issues relating to improving Beach Security, in particular:
- The need to clarify policy conflicts relating to Beaches, definitions of a “Beach” and inter-departmental co-operation.
- The urgent implementation of the Rodney Bay Demarcation Proposals starting with a full stakeholder meeting on Tuesday 15th October and the preparation of MOU’s with participating beachfront hotels relating to maintenance responsibilities.
- Community sensitization to beach access, safety & security issues based on a series of Town Hall meetings with a panel of key stakeholders from the public & private sectors.
- Permanent Secretary level discussions with the Ministry of Finance involving key private sector stakeholders on appropriate means of financing resources to enable improvements in beach policing.
- Short term policing measures to address sales of drugs and harassment on beaches and adjacent waters.
- SLHTA to review guest advice on harassment & the purchase of illegal drugs.
- NCA to accelerate the Vendor Licensing program in order to isolate illegal / unlicensed vendors and empower licensed vendor groups in the protection of their business interests.
- A particular focus on bays within the SMMA to ensure enforcement of vending legislation and licensing of small commercial craft.
- SLASPA to review Jet Ski license requirements to include requirements for first aid training and for rescue boats.
- A proposal to be put to the Tourism Enhancement Fund Trustees on improved beach signage.
- A review to be undertaken of un-enacted legislation relating to beach usage, including horse riding.
- The Lifeguard Association to bring forward a costed proposal for Lifeguard training for both volunteer lifeguards and Hotel Watersports associates.
The urgent elements of these actions were timelined for completion before the start of the cruise season in late October
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