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Energy Savers:
TIPS
The President of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) Mrs. Karolin Troubetzkoy met with TOP CHEF participant Nina Compton. Mrs. Troubetzkoy brought greetings from SLHTA to Nina Compton plus enjoyed a very fine tasting menu at Scarpetta’s Miami. According to SLHTA President, “Nina is definitely my TOP CHEF“.
A native of St. Lucia and the daughter of Saint Lucia’s late Prime Minister Sir John Compton, Nina Compton has trained in French, Caribbean and Italian kitchens. She has worked under renowned Chef Daniel Boulud and now lives in Miami where she is the Chef de Cuisine for acclaimed chef Scott Conant. A self-proclaimed “gnocchi queen,” Ninaalways keeps Maldon salt, good olive oil, lemon, calabrese chilies, and either pancetta or guanciale on hand. Nina strongly believes one should enjoy the moment whenever they are cooking.
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Energy Savers:
TIPS
23°C or higher is the ideal temperature for the air conditioning. Each degree lower can add 10 per cent to the cost.
Mobile phone and other chargers, if left plugged in, use power even if they are not connected to your phone or equipment.
Switching just one old-style incandescent light globe to a CFL in a high use area in your home can shave $20 a year off your annual power bill.
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SLHTA Health Corner
Everybody wants to know how they can get a high-revving metabolism. But even before you jump on a treadmill to crush calories and deplete your visceral fat, there are simple nutrition tricks you can use to get your flab-torched fast.
Click here for 5 simple food swaps to speed up your metabolism-and the workout style you need to ignite your fuel-burning furnace.
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STOP
Watching your Employees
In most companies, managers keep a close eye on employees to prevent them from doing something wrong. But what if monitoring employees actually keeps them from doing something right?
That’s what Harvard Business School professor Ethan Bernstein found in recent research that won the 2013 Best Published Paper Award from two Academy of Management divisions and that was recently highlighted on the business school’s knowledge site. The paper, which Bernstein titled “The Transparency Paradox,” found that productivity actually increased when a group of Chinese manufacturing employees were not being closely watched by their managers… MORE
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In Other News:
Jermain Defoe Foundation
After launching the Foundation in Saint Lucia on 12th June 2013 with a reception at the Coconut Bay resort in Vieux Fort, the Jermain Defoe Foundation have been working behind the scenes.
He has been busy packing food and clothes to send for children in St Lucia and posted this on twitter click here. |
The Women Entrepreneurs Network of the Caribbean (WENC) has been awarded a grant of US$58,500 from the WEAmericas Grant Initiative, a fund administered by the US Department of State, Office of Global Women’s Issues. The Grant will assist the network in achieving its mandate of increasing the voice, visibility and viability of women-led businesses in the Caribbean through advocacy, training, networking, identifying and sharing best practices and resources to support the entrepreneurship development of its members.
According to President of WENC Agnes Francis, there are a number of challenges which confront female entrepreneurs throughout the Caribbean MORE…
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SLHTA Audits Kitchen at SALCC
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Chef Valmont Brown, Gemi St Paul & Noorani Azeez
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The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) met with Chef Valmont Brown from Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort & Spa and delegates from Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) to conduct an audit of their kitchen.
The purpose of the audit is to obtain in-depth information concerning all equipments and educational aspects needed for the kitchen. The kitchen and restaurant is located in the Hospitality Department of the College and is used as a training environment by students pursuing careers in Food & Beverage, Travel & Tourism and Hospitality.
The SLHTA is committed to supporting the college, especially the Hospitality Department in order to help mold students for emerging opportunities in the world of work. Upon completion and evaluation of the site visit, the Association will proceed with preparations for sourcing funds to commence the upgrade phase of the project.
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SLHTA Facebook Winner:
Early Christmas Smile
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| Collin Alexander wins from Diamonds International |
As part of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association’s 50th Anniversary, Diamonds International partnered with the SLHTA to host Facebook giveaways to the general public and friends of the Association.
Last week the SLHTA posted the question, “Which hotels won the following prizes at our 2012 Baron Foods/Rhythm & Spice Festival?
1. Spirit of Rhythm & Spice
2. Most Innovative Dish
3. Best Tasting Meal”
Mr. Alexander was the first to answer all three answers correctly. The SLHTA extends a heartfelt thank you to Diamonds International and also congratulates Mr. Collin Alexander. Collin received a SAFI KILIMA Necklace compliments DI St. Lucia.
 Diamonds International has much to offer as well. Those searching for the best deals on duty free fine jewelry and designer timepieces will be treated to a selection fit for royalty. Visit our Windjammer Landing and Pointe Seraphine locations in Castries on your next cruise stop and let us show you why we remain the largest duty free jeweler in the world MORE…
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SLHTA Tourism Enhancement Fund
Board of Trustees Meet
On Monday December 2nd, 2013 the first meeting of the SLHTA’s Tourism Enhancement Fund Board of Trustees was held at the SLHTA Secretariat. The meeting was called to order at 2:27 p.m. and chaired by Mr. Noorani Azeez, Executive Vice President of the SLHTA. In attendance were Mrs. Karolin Troubetzkoy President of the SLHTA, Mr. Francis Fontenelle Acting Budget Director at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr. Donovan William Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Heritage and the Creative Industries, Mr. Sanovnik Destang Board of Director representative for High-End Boutique Hotels, Luxury Villas and Villas, Mr. Carl Beviere Board of Director representative for Large Hotels and Ms. Yola St. Jour, Finance & Administration Officer/Board Secretary for the SLHTA.
Mr. Sanovnik Destang was elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Mr. Donovan Williams, Deputy Chairman. The Meeting discussed possible initiatives to be funded and sought to streamline the management of the Fund. There were a number of suggestions on actions to grow the pool of contributors as well. The Board of Trustees will meet again in January 2014 to hold further discussions on initiatives to be funded and review the operations of the TEF.
The Agenda crafted for this Meeting is as seen below:
- Welcome Remarks and Introduction – Mr. Noorani Azeez
- Appointment of Chairperson
- Update on the TEF
- Review of Participating properties and contributions
- Ideas for encouraging greater participation and awareness
- Identification of application process and instruments for funding of TEF projects
- Any Other Business
About the Tourism Enhancement Fund
Through The Tourism Enhancement Fund, we will be able to make greater contributions towards community development initiatives in rural areas and support efforts to preserve our environment and expose other stakeholders to environmentally sustainable tourism practices. There also will be strong focus on education and hands-on training initiatives for our young people to give them a better chance of finding employment in our industry MORE…
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SLHTA Events Committee Meeting
On Tuesday December 3rd, 2013 an SLHTA Events Committee Meeting was held in the Eileen Paul Board Room at the SLHTA Secretariat. In attendance were Mr. Daniel Belizaire, Chairman of the Committee and 2nd Vice President of the SLHTA, Mrs. Eileen Paul SLHTA Honorary Member and Representative at Large on the Events Committee, Ms. Cheryl Skeete Board of Director representative for Small Properties, Mr. Wendel George Project Assistant – SLHTA, Ms. Zina Haynes, Public Relations Officer – SLHTA and Ms. Yola St. Jour, Finance & Administration Officer – SLHTA.
The Meeting was called to order at 10: 25 a.m., and the Chair welcomed all present to the meeting. The AGENDA crafted for the Events Committee Meeting is as seen below:
AGENDA
- Call to Order and Welcome Remarks- Mr. Daniel Belizaire
- Apologies
- Adoption of the agenda
- Minutes of the 6th Meeting of the Events Committee of November 25th, 2013
- Errors and Omissions
- Confirmation and adoption of the minutes
- Matters Arising
- Update on the clean-up campaign
- Discussions on Rhythm and Spice.
- Budget for R & S
- Any Other Business
On Thursday December 5th, 2013 the SLHTA Events Committee met with Mr. Darnell Bobb from the Soufriere, Fond St. Jacques Constituency Council, Ms. Loukie Albert from the Soufriere Regional Development Foundation and Mr. Orlando Satchell owner of Orlando’s Restaurant in Soufriere to discuss a possible collaboration to spearhead joint efforts to materialize Phase 2 of the Clean-Up Campaign in the vicinity of Soufriere. The Ministry of Health and the Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority have both agreed to once again be a part of this initiative. This Campaign forms part of the Association’s ongoing efforts to encourage a cleaner environment for visitors and residents alike and to sensitize the general public on the importance of maintaining a “litter free” Country as there are negative implications to the Tourism Industry if this is not practiced. Phase 2 has been proposed to take place January of 2014. Members will be informed of finalized dates and pertinent information regarding Phase 2 of the Clean-Up Campaign shortly.
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LIAT wants to make Christmas journeys as smooth as possible
Regional air carrier LIAT says it is “doing everything” to make travelers’ Christmas journeys “as smooth as possible” this year.
The company is currently in the midst of a fleet modernization, with five aircraft delivered and two more scheduled for delivery in January.
“Even as we continue the transition from the Dash 8 to the ATR aircraft we are now in a better position to stabilize the schedule during the Christmas peak, traditionally one of the busiest periods for us,” Acting Chief Executive Officer Julie Reifer-Jones said in a release. “We are determined to get all of our passengers to their destinations as quickly as possible over the holiday season.” MORE…
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New fastest crossing time from
Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia
Crossing the finish line in Rodney Bay Saint Lucia this morning at 10:10:10 UTC (06:10:10 Local time) Max Klink’s Knierim 65 Caro has earned its place in the history books, smashing the ARC course record by 08 hours 07 minutes and 20 seconds.
Sailing across the Atlantic from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Rodney bay, Saint Lucia in 10 days, 21 hours, 25 minutes and 10 seconds, the eight man crew were delighted to have beaten the ARC record which previously stood at 11 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes and 30 seconds, set by Italian Maxi Capricorno in 2006.
ARC race committee and the management team of IGY Rodney Bay Marina headed out to the ARC finish line to welcome in the new arrival to Rodney Bay. As Caro powered across the finish line at 10kts, the sun was just beginning to rise over the bay making for an impressive MORE…
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Autumn Statement 2013:
Air Tax Increase Confirmed
Travellers flying from Britain will be forced to pay even more in Air Passenger Duty (APD) after the Government confirmed that the tax would rise for the sixth time in as many years.
In his Autumn Statement George Osborne, the Chancellor, ignored pleas from the travel industry to freeze or cut the tax.
The rises, effective from April 1, will increase the cost of medium- and long-haul flights (see table below). A family of four travelling in economy to Egypt, the US or Canada, for example, will be forced to pay £276 in APD, up from £268. A family of four flying to the Caribbean, Thailand or India will pay £340, up from £332. One heading farther afield, to Australia or Argentina, for example, must contribute £388, up from £376. The amount paid by a family of four visiting Europe – £52 – remains MORE…
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