Although still under
construction, the Pelican Marina Residences has already
caught the attention of Interval International, which
presented it with its prestigious Five Star Award Rating.
The award was established in 1982 by the global vacation
exchange company in 1992 to recognize resorts which
provide excellent vacation experiences.
Interval International Vice President of Resort Sales
and Services David Callaghan made the presentation to
the Board of Directors of Pelican. He said Pelican Marina
Residences is a new project “uniquely positioned
to meet the needs of discerning consumers who are seeking
luxury vacation residences in St. Maarten.”
In receiving the award, Chief Operating Officer of Royal
Resorts, Richards Corso said, “We are thrilled
to receive this coveted recognition in acknowledgment
of our efforts to offer owners and guests memorable
vacations.”
The good news continued last year for Pelican Resort
Club which received another plaque from Interval International
in honor of the resort’s 25th anniversary. The
resort, one of the largest vacation ownership properties
in the Caribbean region, consists of 342 suites.
The new Marina Residences project features 83 two-bedroom
fractional or monthly ownership units with ocean view.
Pelican’s sales team also received the Chairman’s
Club Award in recognition of the team’s high production
in sales.
St. Maarten Bucks to promote US
passport
With effect from January 23, 2007, US air travelers
to and from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean will for
the first time need a passport to cross the US border.
Starting in the Spring, all US citizens applying for
a passport will get an electronic version that’s
embedded with a “smart” chip designed to
thwart forgery.
In view of these new regulations, the St. Maarten Tourist
Bureau, Economic Recovery Fund (ERF) Committee and St.
Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) have
joined forces to develop and implement a promotion—the
“St. Maarten Bucks” program—that would
encourage US travelers to obtain a passport.
US visitors to St. Maarten who show a new or renewed
passport issued after December 15, 2006, will receive
US$100 in St. Maarten Bucks when they register at participating
hotels for a five-night stay. St. Maarten Bucks can
be used at participating restaurants, hotels, car rental
agencies and retailers in St. Maarten from December
15, 2006 until December 31, 2007.
The US State Department issued 16 million passports
in 2006, compared to 12 million in 2005, with the increase
attributed largely to the new rule. More info at .
The
Spa at Maho, high tech &ancient traditions
The hustle and bustle of modern life
requires that we treat our body, mind and soul to a
revitalizing and regenerating experience that is the
essence of beauty and healthy living.
That is precisely what The Spa at Maho sets out to do,
marrying the efficiency of high tech with the purity
of age-old traditions.
The hustle and bustle of modern life requires that we
treat our body, mind and soul to a revitalizing, and
regenerating experience that is the essence of beauty
and healthy living.
That is precisely what The Spa at Maho sets out to do,
marrying the efficiency of high tech with the purity
of age-old traditions. The Spa offers saunas, hammams,
ice baths, a fantastic pool of volcanic rock, as well
as various alternatives for massage at waterfalls, water
jets, and air jets.
Choose from various packages or simply settle for a
“dual massage” at the Yin Yang room, specially
designed for couples. Whatever your desire may be, The
Spa assures you a mesmerizing experience, a rejuvenating
and unforgettable journey into self-discovery.
A different
kind of Carnival in 2007
The
dates will be slightly different this year, so will
the venue be. Preparations are now in high gear to make
Carnival 2007 a different kind of event. Scheduled to
start officially on April 21, one day after the Island
Council elections, the “Fête of all fêtes”
will also be hosted in a new structure called the Festival
Village, on the grounds of the old Carnival Village,
where most of the activities are traditionally held.
Color, pageantry, pulsating music and an atmosphere
of uninhibited fun and camaraderie, characterize St.
Maarten carnival. The three-week festivities will conclude
on May 5.
CALENDER
2007
January 1
New Year’s Day (Holiday – Stores Closed) 15
CLF’s 20th anniversary MLK, Jr. Lecture 18-21
St. Maarten-St. Martin Classic Yacht Regatt
February
2-3
ECO Fest 9-21 Mardi
Gras/Carnival (Marigot) 9
Annual Bob Marley Celebration, Emilio Wilson Park 14
Valentine’s Day 21 Ash
Wednesdaye
March 1-4
St. Maarten Heineken Regatta 17
St. Patrick’s Day 23
Treaty of Concordia 23-30 Winternachten
Int’l. Literary Festival*
*(St. Maarten, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao)
The
dates will be slightly different this year, so will
the venue be. Preparations are now in high gear to make
Carnival 2007 a different kind of event. Scheduled to
start officially on April 21, one day after the Island
Council elections, the “Fête of all fêtes”
will also be hosted in a new structure called the Festival
Village, on the grounds of the old Carnival Village,
where most of the activities are traditionally held.
