Air Jamaica has increased the number of seats available on its routes between John F Kennedy International Airport and both Barbados and Grenada.

The New York-Barbados route will continue with daily nonstop flights on the larger A-321 aircraft, providing an additional 38 seats.

Air Jamaica’s spokesperson said "Barbados will continue to have the most convenient schedule to the island from the northeast United States - we'll be first on the beach and last off the beach. These changes are in keeping with our mandate for a leaner, viable airline. We are excited about bringing more seats into both Barbados and Grenada.”

Air Jamaica’s Grenada service will see four weekly nonstop A-320 flights from New York on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and return flights to New York on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. All except one of the flights continue from Grenada to Kingston.

Although Air Jamaica is undergoing some changes and restructuring, the airline remains committed to serving the Eastern Caribbean. Air Jamaica places high value on its Caribbean passengers who use the airline within the region.

The newest ship in the Celebrity fleet, the 117 000-ton, 2850-passenger Celebrity Equinox, will be launched in 2009. The ship is scheduled to visit St Kitts in midsummer 2009 and during the first quarter of 2010.

November 5, 2009, will see the Celebrity Equinox sailing across the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she will begin a series of 11- and 10-night “Ultimate Caribbean” cruises.

The 10-night cruises, scheduled for December 4 and December 14, 2009, and January 15, February 5, February 26, March 19 and April 9, 2010, will include calls on Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas; Basseterre, St Kitts; Bridgetown, Barbados; Roseau, Dominica and Philipsburg, St Maarten.

Celebrity Equinox will offer all of the signature services for which Celebrity Cruises is known, as well as new features unique to the Solstice class of ships. These new features will include The Lawn Club which is a half-acre on the top deck of real grass for guests to play croquet and bocce, practice golf putting and enjoy wine and cheese picnics. Celebrity Equinox will also feature a “Hot Glass Show”, which is a dedicated glassblowing studio where The Corning Museum of Glass will present glassblowing demonstrations.

Later this year, the Celebrity fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice, then in 2009 the Celebrity Equinox, and in 2010 the Celebrity Eclipse. A fourth Solstice-class ship will join the fleet in 2011.

Manniram Prashad, Minister of Tourism, Industry & Commerce, has announced that three major airlines will be offering services to and from Guyana later this year. Delta Airlines will be introducing flights from the United States, Zoom Airlines will be introducing flights from the United Kingdom and Skyservice Airlines will be introducing flights from Canada.

Delta Airlines will start service on June 1, 2008, with a Boeing 757 aircraft accommodating 183 passengers. Initially, there will be three scheduled flights per week, and this number will be increased if the need arises.

Minister Prashad said “We are happy that Delta has confirmed that they are starting on June 1. They originally had a date set for May, however, but they have confirmed that they will definitely start June 1.”

Zoom Airlines is preparing to operate a charter service out of London starting in November 2008.

Minister Prashad said “Zoom Airlines is a reputable company, it is the first time in Guyana that you will have a direct flight from Gatwick, London, to Cheddi Jagan International Airport.”

Zoom Airlines already operates services between JFK International and Fort Lauderdale in the US and Guyana, and between Toronto, Canada, and Guyana through Constellation Tours in Trinidad.

Skyservice Airlines anticipates flights between Toronto and Georgetown from July 1 to September 2, 2008. Skyservices will operate one flight per week on a Boeing 757 aircraft.

The well established and well respected Cobblers Cove on Barbados, has introduced a new Health and Relaxation Center on the premises with two spa treatment rooms. The new spa compliments the resort’s existing Relais & Chateaux restaurant, completing the elegant atmosphere and decor of the resort.

The new spa is located in a coral stone courtyard with lush garden views. The spa treatment rooms are charmingly situated in a Bajan chattel house with an indoor fountain adding to the peaceful ambiance generated by the decor of the spa.

A calming off-white palette blends beautifully with the natural wooden floors, and tones perfectly with the coral stone walls for which the resort is well known. The treatment rooms include Sereneya massage couches made of teak wood with hydraulic mats and soft down cushioning to ensure maximum comfort.

Treatments available at the new spa include facials utilizing various top quality products, aromatherapy and Swedish massage. Some treatments are available in guest suites for added privacy.

Cobblers Cove is located on the idyllic west coat of Barbados, just to the south of the historic Speightstown. The resort is home to 40 luxury suites overlooking a lovely white sand beach. The architecture has combined the charm and elegance of an English country house with the tropical flavour and character of Barbados.

Cobblers Cove offers guests luxury all the way and hosts many repeat guests. The restaurant at Cobblers Cove offers award-winning cuisine from a menu that blends international and Caribbean flavors, accompanied by an extensive wine list. And all of this luxury and serenity would not be complete without the appropriate discrete service for which the resort is famous.

For more information about Cobblers Cove, please visit their website, www.cobblerscove.com.

Low cost carrier Spirit Airlines, based in Fort Lauderdale, has introduced three weekly nonstop flights to Panama City, Panama. This will become a daily service from May 1, 2008.

With the introduction of this new nonstop service comes the added benefit of access to Spirit’s domestic network in the United States. The new route will be operated by Spirit’s fleet of Airbus aircraft.

Panama City is just one of many new routes included in Spirit’s expansion plans for 2008. Spirit is already the largest carrier at Fort Lauderdale, and plans are afoot to increase its South Florida services by 40 percent this year alone.

In addition to Panama City, Spirit will begin new and/or expanded services to Aguadilla in Puerto Rico, and San Antonio and Boston in the US, and other destinations will be announced in the near future.

Barry Biffle, Spirit’s Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer expressed the following sentiments:

“Our passengers have spoken and we’re giving them what they want – more ultra low fares to even more destinations throughout the US, Latin America and Caribbean.”

The new Starwood property in The Bahamas, the Sheraton Cable Beach Resort in Nassau, has officially opened. The Resort is owned by Baha Mar Resorts Ltd, and managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

The resort features, amongst other things, more than 25 000 square feet of meeting and conference facilities, 15 restaurants and lounges, tennis courts, the 35 000 square foot Crystal Palace Casino, and numerous water sports, including snorkeling, kayaking and sailing.

President of Baha Mar Resorts Ltd, Don Robinson, said "We look forward to welcoming guests to the all-new Sheraton Cable Beach Resort. The resort naturally exudes a warm, Bahamian atmosphere. And with its expansive set of activities and amenities, together with Starwood's signature service standards, guests will be delighted by a truly tropical island paradise vacation."

The Sheraton Cable Beach Resort is located on a 1000-foot expanse of spectacular white sand beach on seven acres of exquisitely landscaped grounds, which include three freshwater pools with flowing waterfalls, a swim-up bar and oversized Jacuzzis set amidst lush tropical vegetation.

Hoyt Harper, Senior Vice President, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, says "The Sheraton Cable Beach Resort is a beautiful resort and a perfect fit for everyone from leisure guests to groups seeking a superior island retreat. We are pleased to bring the Sheraton experience to this amazing destination, and look forward to providing our guests with a sense of belonging and relaxation from the moment they arrive to our hotel."

The 694 rooms and suites are decorated in soothing colours, and each has a large private balcony or patio with splendid view. Room amenities include high-speed internet access, LCD flatscreen TV and the signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper(TM) Bed.

The on site restaurants serve a variety of cuisine, including Italian, international and local food, plus there is a cafe for quick snacks. The bars and lounges are ideally suited for relaxing and catching up with old friends or making new ones.

Luxury resort chain, The Rock Resorts, has opened a new and very upscale luxury resort and marina on St Lucia, The Landings.

In December 2007, the first 62 efficiency guest suites were opened, complete with a full service spa, salon, fitness center, swimming pool, watersports center, private yacht harbor, and a restaurant.

It is envisaged that by 2010, The Landings will have 231 suites, all with sea/lagoon views, comprised 1, 2 and 3-bedroom units. The Landings will also have tennis courts, a full service marina, and a private jetty with an elegant bar and lounge at the end, perfect for sunset cocktails.

The property includes a five storey entrance pavilion with a dramatic three storey waterfall, 231 suites with Colonial-style furnishings, Italian tiles, Tuscan-styled kitchens, a 7000 square foot full service spa offering more than 40 treatments, and an 80-berth marina with restaurant serving Caribbean and Mediterranean cuisine.

For more information about The Landings in St Lucia, please visit their website, www.thelandingsstlucia.com.

A new official website has been launched for Tourism Corporation Bonaire, www.tourismbonaire.com. The site provides visitors with information on the island following Bonaire’s new branding guidelines.

Visitors to the new-look website are welcomed with “Kon ta Bai?” which is “how are you?” in the native language, Papiamentu. The local theme is maintained throughout the site, and includes profiles of locals who have been instrumental in the island’s development.

The new site contains more information about Bonaire than ever before, and includes pages on the hotels, restaurants, car rentals and activities available on the island. Visitors will be asked to provide a user name and password to access these areas.

The website is well maintained and constantly updated, ensuring that visitors have access to the latest information. At present, all content on the website is available in English, Dutch and Spanish, and it will soon be available in Portuguese also.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has announced plans for a 400-room Wyndham St Croix Golf Resort & Casino to be located on the south shore of St Croix. This US$250 million complex will be located on a 294-acre beachfront property scheduled to be opened in 2010.

Amenities at the resort will include a new 43 000 square foot conference centre, a 25 000 square foot casino, an 18-hole golf course, a 17 000 square foot spa and fitness centre, four restaurants, lounges, retail stores and a kids’ club.

Peter Strebel, president of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, has stated that this new Wyndham resort in St Croix will be in addition to the 24 resorts already in existence in the Caribbean and Mexico.

Strebel said "This world-class resort will enhance the Wyndham brand's strong position in the Caribbean, promote tourism and introduce thousands of travelers to this wonderful island, with its rich culture, friendly people, pristine beaches and exciting recreational activities."

Paul Golden, CEO of Golden Resorts, joint developers of the hotel with Jericho All-Weather Opportunity Fund of Boca Raton, Florida, expressed his pleasure in being involved in a project that would be creating more than 1000 jobs in the construction phase, and 1200 permanent positions.

Scott Svirsky, managing partner of Jericho, said "We are extremely pleased to be working with Golden Resorts, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and the US Virgin Islands government to bring this resort to St Croix."

The twin island nation of Antigua & Barbuda is set to host its inaugural Romantic Rhythms Music Festival from 12th to 15th June 2008.

Two of the concerts scheduled will be held at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, and one will take place at the scenic Fort James.

The Festival will host an impressive lineup of artists from the Caribbean, South America and further afield. These artists will be announced at a later date.

Various events and packages will be launched to coincide with the Romantic Rhythms Music Festival.

Watch this space for future updates about the Festival.