Early indicators are showing strong tourism growth for Saint Lucia in 2012 with a 20% increase in stay over arrivals in the first quarter of this year.  Poised for strong growth in 2012, The Saint Lucia Tourist Board announces increased airlift from the Northeast, multi-million dollar hotel openings and renovations and new visitor attractions and tours. In light of such, we shall be doing an Island-Wide Hotel Develop Update, each week.

This week, we are showcasing, The legendary St. Lucia hotelLadera Resort, that is a fixture on top hotel and awards list, celebrates its 20th anniversary year with the unveiling of five additional connecting luxury one-bedroom Hilltop Dream suites on Paradise Ridge in October. Each new Hilltop Dream Suite will feature the famously breathtaking vistas from the open living rooms and will include private infinity pools. Other noteworthy developments include a new fitness room, outfitted with state-of-the-art workout equipment. The Ti Kai Posé Spa, which now incorporates natural, organic treatments, will offer new outdoor Couples Massages on Paradise Ridge, a completely private retreat area of the resort which overlooks the Caribbean Sea and Pitons. Dasheene, Ladera’s award winning restaurant, will be taken to even higher culinary acclaim with celebrated guest chefs from the Caribbean, the United States, and Europe featured at the restaurant.

The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) and the Saint Lucia Culinary Team (SLUCT) has are both delighted and appreciative to partner with Whiskey in the Jar, for one of many road show events titled“Pan and Grill at Whiskey in the Jar” at Rodney Bay on Jazz Saturday 12^th May 2012 from 1-4 p.m.

SLUCT has planned a series of road shows that would allow the team to receive critical feedback and inputs from patrons, while progressively honing their competitive skills.  The purpose of these organized road shows is to also display the exquisite culinary skills of our eight young chefs and bartender, and to showcase their unique, individual talents to the general public so that recognition is gained for their participation in the culinary competition.

Pan and Grill at Whiskey in the Jar shall host an eclectic selection of local dishes, a fully stocked bar and an afternoon of melodious jazz steel-pan music by a Steel-Pan Band; with a surprise appearance, by a performing Jazz artiste themselves.

So come out to assist and boost the confidence of your Saint Lucia Culinary Team, as we strive for the goal. We would also be very grateful if your Media Representatives could please come out to enjoy the festivities and also broadcast the proceedings.

With the official opening last Monday evening with a massive concert featuring Busy Signal, Bunji Garlin and his wife Faye Anne Lyons and local talent Teddyson John, the 2012 edition of Saint Lucia Jazz is launched and is ready to soar! Twenty-one years after the annual event was introduced as a means of getting more visitors to the island during a traditional trough in the tourism sector, the jazz festival is nothing but a success story today.

Since 1991 when the festival first began, communities and local artistes have profited the opportunity to develop their art form, attract attention to their areas and generally add to the island’s tourism product. Fringe activities have been born and flourished, with their perfect combo of picturesque and/or rustic settings, a smattering of local culture and the sweetest music from around Saint Lucia and a little beyond.

When Jazz rolls around every year, the island literally comes alive with music as islanders present: Jazz on the Grill, Jazz in the South, Jazz on the Green, on the Beach, and newly Jazz on the Bay. There is also Jazz at the mall and in the middle of an otherwise quiet neighbourhood, for the last three years, residents have put on Carellie Jazz.

St. Lucia Jazz goes into full gear from this weekend entailing two jam packed days of music, food, drinks, arts and craft and friends at the Pigeon Island National Landmark and officially closes on Sunday, May 13^th; Mother’s Day.

The local music community comprising school based music students, together with amateur and semi-professional musicians are again in line to benefit from a series of celebrity master classes and music workshops. The training, which allows budding artistes to hone their skills, is seldom discernible as a significant spinoff benefit of Saint Lucia Jazz.

This year, a fresh batch of enthusiastic students keenly anticipates the student’s workshop scheduled for Friday May 11th, 2012 and will be facilitated by Andy Narell, renowned pannist. Narrel, who last year facilitated workshops under the South Jazz initiative – the Laborie Steel Pan Project, will visit secondary schools and host workshops with the steel band orchestras of at least four schools.

In 2012, to meaningfully commemorate its 21st year, Saint Lucia Jazz is refocusing on this small but critical customer, by bringing back the master class with Joshua Redman who will host a Saxophone master class at the Cultural Centre on May 10th, 2012. Generally regarded as “one of the most acclaimed and charismatic jazz artists to have emerged in the decade of the 1990s”, Redman will draw Sax professionals like moths to the flame. His early influences, as the apostles of their day (John Coltrane, Coleman, Adderley and Redman’s own father Dewey Redman) are legends whose work have inspired many present-day saxophonists.

Director Lewis expressed gratification at the returned focus on this aspect of the festival, which has the potential to translate into long-term value for local musicians. He proposes that the effects of these opportunities will likely be evident in Saint Lucia’s music industry trends in the long term – especially on the export side.

Jade Mountain in St Lucia has announced its 5th Annual Mango Festival, June 15-18, hosted by James Beard, award winning chef Allen Susser and team.

Susser is the author of The Great Mango Book and the definitive authority on this remarkable fruit. During the Mango Madness Festival, Chef Allen will explore the versatile and delicious local fruits and ingredients being grown right from the resort’s backyard. ”On Saint Lucia, each mango offers a different flavor, texture and color. Each dictates its own culinary destination,” comments Susser.

Drenched in exotic beauty and erupting with flavor Jade Mountain nourishes both the body and soul. It’s “Jade Cuisine” created by Chef Allen Susser is a brave new world of tropical flavors. His cuisine is exotic and delicious, with a history of fusion in its fabric.

The SLHTA formally invites its esteemed members to the President’s Ball “A Fund Raiser and Celebration of Industry Excellence”, which is now slated for Friday, May 18, 2012 at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa and Beach Resort at 7pm.   Tickets are on sale for $250.00 per person.

The event which commences at 7:00 p.m. serves as an opportunity for networking among business owners and policy development professionals in the Tourism industry and funds generated at the function go toward scholarships for children of employees in the industry.   Recommencing this year, the Association will also be using this opportunity to present our most prestigious award, the SLHTA’s Crystal Award to an hotelier and allied member, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award for service to the industry.

The 48^th Annual General Meeting of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) has been deferred, due to the commencement of a new session of Parliament and the presentation of the Budget for the 2012/2013 financial year, which coincides with the AGM’s previous date. The Annual General Meeting is now hereby convened for Friday, May 18th, 2012 at the Royal by Rex Resorts at 8:00 am. Under the theme “Tourism: A Hand In Hand Partnership – Now More Than Ever, We Need Each Other”.

The 48^th SLHTA Annual General Meeting is of great consequence and will be highlighted by a keynote address from President Mrs. Karolin Troubetzkoy. We urge all members to make a concerted effort to attend

Members are reminded that: “Copies of all Resolutions that members intend to propose must be sent to the Association no less than seven (7) business days before the date of the meeting at which the same are to be proposed and considered.”

The SLHTA Secretariat apologizes for any inconveniences caused.

The Saint Lucia Culinary Team will be present in large showing at this weekend’s NCF Telethon being held at theGaiety on Rodney Bay, on Sunday April 29, 2012 at 12pm.

The team will be showcasing unique culinary delights to raise funds to support the work of the NCF.   The NCF is seeking to raise funds to meet a target of $200,000.00 which will be used to assist individuals with various medical, social and education challenges. The SLUCT is more than elated to assist in the selling of a hot local lunch and culinary treats to over 1,000 Saint Lucian patrons, celebrities and specially invited dignitaries.

The SLHTA and SLUCT encourage sponsors and fellow employees to come out to support the NCF at this event. It will be a fun family day, with indoor entertainment, outdoor culinary tastings and all for a worthy cause. Gates open at 1:30pm, admission $10.00, children under 12 enter free.

The Cliff at Cap restaurant is once again hosting its 2^nd Annual “Savour The Taste” event with three renowned local chefs and incorporating the “Awaken Dreams” theme through the Junior Iron Chef-style competition. This year they have invited three young Saint Lucians, two of which are the representing junior chefs from Saint Lucia Culinary Team to participate under the mentorship of one of their guest chefs on Saturday, April 28, 2012.

A one night only experience with three of St Lucia’s leading chefs, through the theme of Collaboration, Community and Celebration, is choreographed to inspire the young chef’s to be creative and passionate about their starting career. The junior chefs for the night are; Mikva Theophilus – St. Joseph Convent – Junior Chef Winner 2012; Paulyn Eugene from Windjammer Landing and Emmerly Gerald from the Landings – the Saint Lucia Culinary Team, competing in this year’s Taste of the Caribbean Competition.

The chefs will present for you a “degustation” menu served“Tapas Fusion” style with each chef creating a dish for appetizer, main course and dessert. Entertainment for the evening will be “Floric” Zak & Crysta. Price $195EC – three course menu with paired wines. Reservations from 6:30pm onwards.

Ladera Resort, the legendary St. Lucia hotel celebrating its 20th anniversary, is pleased to welcome Chef Bryn Williams of the acclaimed Odette’s Restaurant in London as guest chef at the celebrated Dasheene restaurant. Chef Williams will create a new menu by sourcing local products and create a four-course tasting menu that will be served nightly in Dasheene from April 30 to May 3, 2012.

“We are delighted to welcome Chef Bryn Williams to Ladera as part of our 20th Anniversary celebrations,” says Olivier Bottois, Ladera’s Vice President of Marketing & Operations. “He’s a chef of great accomplishment who will bring his classical French-training, creativity, and culinary flair to everything he prepares at Dasheene.”

When he takes up temporary residence at Ladera, Chef Williams will spend several days at the markets and the fish piers with Dasheene’s Chef de Cuisine, Nigel Mitchel, exploring the bounty of locally sourced produce and seafood that St. Lucia is famed for. Chef Williams will then create a new menu for guests of Dasheene that will be on offer from April 30 to May 3, 2012. Some of the dishes that Chef William’s designs are likely to become mainstays of Dasheene’s menu.

Labowi Promotions is happy to announce that the concert of Friday 4 May will now be a free show at the Independence Square in Vieux Fort town, beginning at 7:00pm. This event will feature three top-class acts, including Mushy Widmaier from Haiti and Sisterhood from Saint Lucia.

Until 2006, the Vieux Fort Square was a major venue of Jazz in the South. “This is the legacy of Jazz in the South”, says Len Leonce of Labowi Promotions, “there was a time when Jazz in the South moved from community to community, and we are happy to return to this formula, because we know that it is good for the host communities”.

Bill Ingler, General Manager of Coconut Bay, where that Friday evening show was to be held originally, embraced the idea of the move wholeheartedly. “Coconut Bay is a responsible corporate citizen, we are in Vieux Fort and we have many links with the Vieux Fort community. Bringing this Friday night concert to the Vieux Fort Square is a good move, while we look forward to welcoming all Jazz patrons on the hotel grounds for the grand finale of Jazz in the South on Sunday 6 May”.

The President’s Ball is an Annual Gala Fundraising Event of the SLHTA where various member owners and top level management come together to network and socialize in a cocktail and black-tie dinner setting.  This year we have associated our theme “Black-Tie Jazz” with one of the most popular events on our national calendar, Saint Lucia Jazz.

As indicated the event is being hosted as an avenue to raise funds towards our scholarship programme.  All proceeds from this President’s Ball shall be used primarily to provide bursaries and activities geared towards strengthening the competences of young deserving students of industry workers.

Different activities for the night include hosting a “Celebration of Industry Excellence Award” to honour “The Most Outstanding Staff” at hospitality establishments. Ideally these individuals epitomize the establishment’s standards and are a rising stars above the rest and an Auctioning off prestigious and memorable prizes. The experience will be heightened by the melodious sounds from Aimran Simmons and Deland St. Jules.

Let this auspicious night be one to remember, come dine with our President, Industry Experts, Board Members and Secretariat of the SLHTA. To reserve your table of ten or individual tickets, contact us at the SLHTA office at 452-5978/ 453-1811 or zina.haynes@slhta.org.

The 48^th Annual General Meeting of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) is hereby convened for Friday, April 27, 2012 at the Royal by Rex Resorts at 8:00 am. Under the theme “Tourism: A Hand In Hand Partnership – Now More Than Ever, We Need Each Other”.

The 48^th SLHTA Annual General Meeting is of great consequence and will be highlighted by a keynote address from President Mrs. Karolin Troubetzkoy. We urge all members to make a concerted effort to attend.

Members are reminded that:“Copies of all Resolutions that members intend to propose must be sent to the Association no less than seven (7) business days before the date of the meeting at which the same are to be proposed and considered.”

Further, the SLHTA formally invites its esteemed members and their employees to the  Annual President’s Gala Ball “A Fund Raiser and Celebration of Industry Excellence”, slated for Friday, April 27, 2012 at the Sandals Grande, St. Lucian Spa and Beach Resort at 7pm, tickets $250.00.

The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) and the Saint Lucia Culinary Team (SLUCT) will host its first ever Roadshow “Taste of Saint Lucia” on Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 6am at the Mega J Parking Lot.

The purpose of these organized Roadshows is to display the exquisite culinary skills of our eight young chefs and bartender of the “Saint Lucia Culinary Team” and to showcase their unique, individual talents to the general public so that recognition is gained for their participation at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s Taste of the Caribbean Culinary Competition. Another objective is to sensitize Saint Lucians on the Team’s National contribution to Community and Human Resource Development.

This Roadshow is in collaboration with the National Community Foundation (NCF) Fun Run Walk – Kouwi Sent Lisi. The Team will be selling a hot plated Creole breakfast to over 500 Saint Lucian participants after the completion of the walk.

The SLHTA encourages members and fellow employees to come out to support the NCF and the SLUCT at this event. There will be free health testing booths for Eye Vision, Blood Sugar, HIV, Cholesterol and Body Mass Index; hot Creole breakfast; healthy snacks and wonderful giveaway to participants. Registration fees are $15.00 adults and $10 children under 10 yrs and takes place tomorrow Saturday, April 14, 2012 at Super J in Gablewoods Mall, Sunny Acres and at the Blue Coral Mall, Downtown Castries Saturday from 10am.

Friday, April 13, 2012, Ms. Zina Zita Haynes Public Relations Officer of The Saint Lucia Hotel and tourism Association (SLHTA), Mr. Nicodemus Joseph from the Saint Lucia Culinary Team (SLUCT) and Ms. Juliana Alfred from the National Community Foundation, made an appearance at Radio Caribbean International to discuss the upcoming NCF Fun Run Walk – Kouwi Sent Lisi, schedule for Sunday, April 15, 2012. Starting point will be at the Mega J Parking Lot at 6 am.

In a friendly conversation with Murline, we informed listeners of the purpose and role of NCF in assisting individuals with various medical, social and education challenges. We also explained the purpose of the SLUCT and as well as other upcoming activities. The SLUCT is please to support the NCF by providing breakfast for sale to all the participants of the walk and donating part proceeds to the NCF.

The SLHTA encourages members and fellow employees to come out to support the NCF and the SLUCT at this event. There will be free health testing booths for Eye Vision, Blood Sugar, HIV, Cholesterol and Body Mass Index; hot Creole breakfast; healthy snacks and wonderful giveaway to participants. Registration fees are $15.00 adults and $10 children under 10 yrs and takes place tomorrow Saturday, April 14, 2012 at Super J in Gablewoods Mall, Sunny Acres and at the Blue Coral Mall, Downtown Castries Saturday from 10am.

Eight talented Saint Lucian chefs, have been identified to represent Saint Lucia at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Taste of the Caribbean, culinary competition, to be held in Miami, June 20-24^th. The sole purpose of this gala event is to raise funds for the team’s travel to Miami and also strengthen their ability to compete in the event.

Feedback from our first dinner held at, the Landings – A Rock Resort and Saturday, 17, 2012, was outstanding and supportive. Although the team still has a tedious task ahead in order of becoming the gold champions, they are committed to succeeding and determined to improve.

Tickets are available for EC $125 per person. Dinner will comprise of a three course menu and will be served with 4 specialty cocktail drinks and wine. Availability is limited to fifty (50) persons only. For reservations please contact Ms. Zina Zita Haynes at; 452-5978/ 453-1811 orzina.haynes@slhta.org.

Focus, Awareness on Careers Empowerment and Success, is the meaning of FACES. The Faces Saint Lucia of Tourism, brain-child of the Visitor Channel, met on Friday, March 16, 2012 to crown a new deserving Saint Lucian Tourist Ambassador at its fourth annual award ceremony. Twelve participants were short listed and over 37,000 votes were cast. The largest number seen thus far, this emphasizes the importance of this award.

Friday saw the culmination of the 2011 FACES of Tourism Awards at the La Place Carenage Duty Free Shopping Center. A short and sweet ceremony highlight challenges faced and highlights of success, as well a speech from the sponsors SLHTA and SLTB. All nominees were handed certificates, but the biggest winner of the night, with 51% of votes and the bragging rights of being called “The FACE of Saint Lucia Tourism” went to Chef Patricia Pascal of the Landings Resort.

On behalf of the Visitor Channel, the SLHTA would like to thank, Bay Gardens Beach Resort, Windjammer Landing, Royal by Rex Resort and Coconut Bay, for providing prizes and stays for the winners.

We at the SLHTA congratulate Visitor Channel for spearheading this initiative and support them for many years to come.

It is with a great pleasure that the World Travel Awards, announce the nominees of the 19th World Travel Awards, voted by travel agents worldwide. Saint Lucia has been included in four “Caribbean Leading” categories as stated below and local resort properties have been included in nine other “Caribbean Leading” categories.

We need to start voting for the destination and encouraging others to vote as well so we can win in all categories. Let’s VOTE! Saint Lucia Recognition Depends On It!! To VOTE, click on the category below orhttp://www.worldtravelawards.com/voteand for a complete list of all Caribbean Nominees, visithttp://www.worldtravelawards.com/nominees2012-6.

• Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination
• Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination
• Caribbean’s Leading Destination
• Caribbean’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination

• Caribbean’s Leading Boutique Resort – Ladera
• Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Resort – Jade Mountain, Anse Chastanet, Sandals Grande St. Lucia Spa and Beach resort
• Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand – Sandals Resorts International
• Caribbean’s Leading Luxary Villa – Cap Maison
• Caribbean’s Leading New Hotel – hotel Chocolat
• Caribbean’s Leading Resort – Cotton Bay Villa
• Caribbean’s Leading Spa Resort – The BodyHoliday at LeSport
• Caribbean’s Leading Suites – Beachfront Rondoval Suites at Sandals Grande St. Lucia Spa and Beach Resort, Millionaire Suits at Sandals La Toc St. Lucia Golf and Spa Resort
• Caribbean’s Leading Villa Resort – Cotton Bay Village

Vote, because “We Live the Legend”

For the average person, the name Haiti conjures scenes of poverty, civil unrest, voodoo and in more recent times, devastation caused by the catastrophic earthquake of January 12, 2010. But the followers of history recognise and appreciate Haiti as the Caribbean’s earliest Mecca of Art in all its diverse forms of expression.  From applied arts to performance, from the literary arts to the visual, from decorative to applied arts, Haiti’s inimical brand has been wrought in a crucible of resistance, by a people fierce in their defence of their freedom from political exploitation and economic domination. Thus, where the Haitian landscape may show up the fault lines of its economic and environmental vulnerability, its creative environment pulsates with artistic expression as its lifeblood, brilliantly defiant against the militating forces that have conspired against its sustained ascendance to the glory it deserves.

Enter the WESPE POU AYITI PROJECT, underpinned by an appreciation of the contribution of Haiti to Caribbean Art, and by the firm belief that music is a more powerful and unifying force than any politically derived effort. Performing mainstage on Sunday May 13^th, WESPE POU AYITI will be a compelling reminder to the visiting world, that through tangible forms of solidarity, the first black independent republic of the new world can steadily regain its footing and rise to its former glory.

WESPE POU AYITI PROJECT has its origins in a Bluemango and Labowi Promotions Haiti Solidarity Forum held in May 2010, five months after the earth opened in and around Port Au Prince, swallowing the life and the livelihoods of the hundreds of thousands living and working there. Scheduled within the Jazz week , the forum  targeted resident and visiting artists and international press, to maintain focus on the continuing plight of their Haitian counterparts following the cataclysmic impact of what most Haitians today simply refer to as L’événement” or “the  event”. With the support of agencies like Alliance Francaise, St. Lucia School of Music, Cultural Development Foundation (CDF), Saint Lucia Folk Research Centre and ScotiaBank, the forum met its objective which was to situate the Haitian crisis at the forefront of the continuing narrative of Saint Lucia Jazz.

Saint Lucia Tourist Board welcomes the opportunity to give a platform to the Haiti agenda, moreso for the significance it adds to the attainment of the Festival’s 21 year milestone. Tourism Director Louis Lewis describes this as characterising the less obvious but poignantly significant returns of Saint Lucia Jazz. The director gave high praise to Labowi Promotions and Bluemango as committed, pioneering Festival partners, who contribute extensively to the Saint Lucia Jazz experience and to its differentiated brand.

The Saint Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB) has launched Saint Lucia Agent Months (SLAM) to bring travel agents to Saint Lucia from June through October. Designed for travel agents to experience the destination first hand, the promotion includes booking incentives, special rates on accommodations and 50% off airfares on American Airlines. The goal is for agents to experience the island’s diverse tours including land and sea attractions, enjoy Creole cuisine, and partake in local activities and conduct site inspections of Saint Lucia’s hotels and resorts

“We continue to offer programs such as SLAM to strengthen the Tourist Board’s commitment to our valued travel agent partners as we work together to increase arrivals to the island,” says Nerdin St. Rose , Vice President Marketing & Sales for the Saint Lucia Tourist Board. “It is important the agents experience the island first hand and we look forward to welcoming them with our warm hospitality.”

Participating SLAM hotels include Bay Gardens Beach Resort, Calabash Cove Resort & Spa, Coconut Bay Resort and Spa, Coco Palm, Discovery at Marigot Bay Hotel, Fond Doux Holiday Plantation, Habitat Terrace, Harmony Suites, Morgan Bay Resort, Royal by Rex Resorts, St. Lucian by Rex Resorts, Smugglers Cove Resort & Spa, Stonefield Estate Villa Resort & Spa, Windjammer Landing and Villa Beach Resort.

Excerpt from: SLTB PR

UK born, Annaliese Dayes has strong ties to Saint Lucia. She is Daughter to Ms. Roslyn Gurly, and niece to Mr. Rudy Gurly, a Saint Lucian author and former Cable & Wireless General Manager.  Her father,  Mr. Ron Dayes from Jamaica, resided in Saint Lucia during Annaliese childhood. Annaliese thanks her Caribbean descendants for her jovial and feisty attitude, and states, “you are going to remember me, whether you like me or not, that’s just me, memorable”

Annaliese is now a Contestant on America’s Next Top Model (ANTM) Cycle 18 featuring the “British Invasion” – finalist contestants from Britain’s 2009 franchise of the ANTM Brand. Making it through the past 2 rounds, Annaliese is eleven girls away from taking the coveted title.

ANTM has become the number one ranking show for fashionista’s all over the world. The first cycle of the show premiered in May 2003 and has grown through the years, broadcasting in 25 countries, with 10 of them producing similar national shows. The ever evolving show has showcased many challenges and featured many models through the years, discarding the socio-cultural perception that all models must be size 0 and 6 feet tall. This has been evident by the presence of Plus Size and Petite participants, allowing young women of all ethnic backgrounds and body shapes to achieve their dream.

While ANTM has been criticized by various associations and magazines, Ms. Tyra Banks, the Executive Producer and host says, “We understand the influence ‘Top Model’ has on a generation of young people, and we want to make sure we get the right message to our audience.”

On March 2^nd 2012 a Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) Board of Directors Meeting was convened in the Eileen Paul Board Room at the SLHTA Secretariat. The meeting was called to order at 10:13 a.m. and the following Directors were present:

• Mrs. Karolin Troubetzkoy – President
• Mr. Noorani Azeez – Executive Vice President
• Mr. Ross Stevenson – 1^st Vice President
• Mr. Daniel Belizaire – 2^nd Vice President
• Mr. Sanovnik Destang – representative for Large Hotels
• Mr. Bobo Bergstrom – representative for Independent Restaurants and Food & Beverage Distributors
• Mr. Roger Joseph – representative for Utility Companies, Statutory Corporations & otherwiseunrepresented Service Providers
• Ms. Erwin Louisy – representative for Airlines, Travel Consultants, Destination Management Companies and Tour Operators
• Mrs. Agnes Francis - representative at large for Banks, Professionals, Educational/Training Institutions & other Allied Members
• Mr. Louis Lewis – Director of Tourism
• Ms. Cheryl Skeete – representative for Small Properties
• Ms. Yola St. Jour – Finance and Administration Officer/Board Secretary.

The following Directors were absent with excuse:

• Mr. Nicholas Pinnock – representative for High-End Boutique Hotels and Luxury Villas
• Mr. Andrew Simon – representative for Ground Transportation & Cruise Sub-sectors
• Mr. Bob Hathaway – representative for the Yachting and Maritime subsector

The Agenda charted for this Board of Directors meeting is as seen below:

1. Call to Order and Welcome Remarks – President
2. Minutes of Previous Meeting
3. Matters Arising from Minutes
4. Accounts Update:  Presentation by Auditor – Richard Surage – PKF
5. Presentation of Sector Performance Review 2011 – Louis Lewis – SLTB
6. Progress Report on SLHTA’s Booking Engine
7. Annual General Meeting and President’s Ball
8. Calendar of Events Update
9. Membership Matters

Saint Lucia has been nominated to qualify as a finalist in About.com’s Romantic Readers’ Choice Awards 2012 for Most Romantic Caribbean Island.   The voting period began February 22 and extends until March 21, 2012. One vote a day per email or login is permitted.

Winners will be announced on Honey/Romantic Travel from About.com on March 30. There is no prize for winning, except for a graphic WINNER badge that can be displayed proudly and the recognition of being chosen as the very BEST by About.com readers.

It’s to our benefit as Saint Lucians to promote these awards to as large a field as possible in order to give the country the greatest chance to become the 2012 winner.  So far Antigua is well ahead so please go on and vote and have your friends and families vote as well, post on your Website, Facebook pages, Twitter, Blog, and help spread the word;

http://honeymoons.about.com/od/romantic-readers-choice-awards/l/bl-carib-romantic.htm

Though Kellie Pickler’s first album paints her a “Small Town Girl,” she may very well be an island girl at heart. The country star talked with Fox411 and dished out her romantic anniversary getaway of Saint Lucia. The three-time CMT Music Award winning singer is married to songwriter Kyle Jacobs and recently celebrated their one-year anniversary in our lovely Caribbean island of St. Lucia.

Pickler who stayed at Ladera’s quintessential resort, with its unique three-wall concept and an open portal overlooking the tropical terrain which it is nestled in, simply could not stop commenting on the beauty of the resort and the island. She describes herself and her husband as adventurous persons, who took full advantage and experienced zip-lining, Gros Piton climbing, and deep sea-fishing, although she only caught a sunburn, but Pickler was truly euphoric to have experienced such activities and recommended them as her top three activities for everyone to indulge in.

Pickler commented on her interaction with our islanders and said “Everyone greets you with a smile. It’s so wild to be somewhere so beautiful and you know the people there aren’t caught up in the hustle and bustle and all the stuff in the world that’s crazy and not important… Just good people all around.” Pickler, who embraced the Saint Lucian culture and friendliness, ended her interview by saying, “I mean, I feel like I brought so much of St. Lucia home with me. And, I love it, I can’t wait to go back.

Excerpt from: Fox News

On Thursday, March 1, 2012, the Saint Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB) hosted a major News Conference that featured the Minister for Tourism, Heritage and the Creative Industry Hon. Lorne Theophilus, Saint Lucia Tourist Board Chairman Matthew Beaubrun and Tourism Director Louis Lewis. The open microphone concept used for the conference, allowed media representatives freely to question the above officials on key issues within Saint Lucia Tourism Industry.

Overall, tourism arrivals saw a marginal declined of 0.4% in 2011 over 2010, which was a record year for the industry. However, tourism officials here say they are tenaciously pursuing incentives to increase visitor and stay-over arrivals to the island, including a streamlining of the Jazz Festival, increasing the volume of airline flights and exploring emerging markets to increase arrivals by 5% this year.

Mr. Matthew Beaubrun, indicated that the Board would be researching on new emerging tourism markets, such as Russia and Brazil, and would also place more emphasis on the Canadian, French and German markets. Special attention would also be paid to yachting and all other tourism sectors. As confirmed by Hon. Lorne Theophilus, efforts to boost passenger airlift into Saint Lucia will continue as a number of initiatives to obtain frequent flights into the country have been negotiated and confirmed.

The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) on Monday, February 26, 2012, held a meeting with representatives of the Dennery Mabouya Valley Development Foundation (DMVDF), to discuss opportunities for collaboration between the two entities.

Both organizations committed to working together to raise the profile of the many sites and attractions under the purview of the DMVDF.  Last Friday the Foundation hosted the participants in tree planting exercise and treated them to a memorable experience of folk music, snake dancing, fire eating and a delicious local lunch.

The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) has proposed a number of sporting competitions on its calendar of activities for this year. The SLHTA’s Health and Wellness Committee met yesterday to discuss a number of activities to raise awareness of healthy lifestyles and promote greater networking among members of the SLHTA.

The committee currently comprises the following persons Christopher Clark (Sandals La Toc), Terrol Compton (Sandals Grande), Richard Stephane (Bay Gardens Beach Resort), Constantine Gabriel and Bartholomew Thomas (Windjammer), Thomar Francis, Wendel George and Noorani Azeez (SLHTA).

The committee met yesterday 1^st March, 2012 and is expected to be Chaired in the future Mr. Thomar Francis.

On February 29^th and March 1^st 2012 Ms. Yola St. Jour Finance & Administration Officer of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA), attended a 2 day workshop hosted by the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS) on Conducting Effective Meetings and Achieving Consensus.  There were over 50 participants from different Ministries, Public and Private Sectors as well as members of the SLBS Technical Committee.

The Facilitator for the Work Shop was Dr. Graham Holloway from the International Organization for Standardization who has vast experience in chairing and leading meetings and groups.  The workshop which was held at the Coco Palm Conference room was indeed informative and interactive.  Dr. Holloway focused on areas such as importance of preparation before meetings, Agenda writing, good practices in meetings, behavior in groups, functions of the chairperson and how to get speedy consensus and commitment.

The two day Work Shop was definitely productive as all participants received certificates of participation on the second day. All who were present left the Work Shop being with a more knowledgeable and comfortable outlook when it comes to Chairing and Leading a Meeting.

The International American University College of Medicine (IAUCOM), Saint Lucia and Walden University, USA have entered into a partnership to provide medical students with an opportunity to acquire dual degrees. According to the agreement, the medical students will now be able to enroll for MBA in Healthcare Management, Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) or Master of Public Health (MPH) alongside their regular MD program.

“This is such a good opportunity for the students to enhance their skill and be competitive while they apply for US residency match programs.  With the provision to acquire additional management degrees, the students will now be able to truly have an edge over their peers”, said Mr. Manmadhan Nair, President of IAUCOM. “We hope that the students take full advantage of this tie up between the universities”, he added.