December 22, 2009. (St. George’s, Grenada, WI)—The following are the most recent updates on Grenada’s tourism product.
MOUNT CINNAMON
There is the 21-room fully furnished and tastefully equipped Mount Cinnamon Resort where one, two and three bedroom suites and villas, provide scenic panoramic beach views and offer a beachside cabana club with water sports, tennis, spa treatments, swimming pool and gymnasium.
FOUR SEASONS RESORT & PRIVATE RESIDENCES, GRENADA
The Grenada Four Seasons Hotel and Residences project is being developed on 420 acres of land on the south east coast of Grenada. This includes the 81-acre Hog Island that has been joined to the mainland by a bridge.
The entire project comprises an 18-hole Championship Golf Course, a 130-Key Four Seasons Resort Hotel (including 2 Presidential Suites and 1 Royal Suite) with full supporting facilities having rooms of a single-story, low-density nature. It includes a marina with a sailing school and terrestrial research centre, yacht slips, tennis courts, clubhouses, several restaurants, bars, and 175 private residences and villas spread over the entire acreage. At present the developers are trying to phase the project so that elements that appear easier to implement can be focused on when the project resumes during the first quarter of 2010.
PRICKLY BAY WATERSIDE
Prickly Bay Waterside is one of Grenada’s high-end luxury tourism developments that opened in February 2009. The first phase comprises one, two, and three bedroom apartments, and duplexes. These apartments all have large balconies overlooking beautiful Prickly Bay, and many have their own plunge pools.
LE PHARE BLEU MARINA & RESORT
Le Phare Bleu Marina & Resort is beachfront resort comprising thirteen (13) units, designed with a blend of modern and traditional styles.
Service facilities are available to the yachting community on site, and the water sports facilities include sailing, snorkeling and wake boarding.
The resort is best suited for those independent travelers with a sense of adventure, who enjoy an active holiday experience, but do not want to miss out on high levels of comfort and service.
PORT LOUIS MARINA & CREOLE VILLAGE
Phase six of the flagship project is now in progress. It will have facilities and amenities that are designed to reflect local heritage while providing the best in international style and luxury. Upon completion the new marina will offer almost 400 berths for craft from 10m to 90m including 73 super yacht berths (25m+ in length).
BACOLET BAY RESORT AND SPA
Bacolet Bay Resort and Spa is spread over 41 acres of tropical gardens and comprises of a mix of apartments, villas and hotel cottages offering state-of-the-art facilities including spa and fitness center, tennis courts, beachfront bars and restaurants.
This 5-star luxury project was launched in February 2007 and construction of 133 units is rescheduled for completion at the end of 2010.
LEVERA RESORT DEVELOPMENT
This project is structured to create a world-class luxury eco-resort that meets industry best practices. It will be of low-density in synergy with its ecological goal to preserve the esthetics of the Levera National Park, Levera Beach and the protection of the turtle-breeding habitat.
The first phase of the project focuses on the hotel core itself. Construction of 55 freestanding suites and villas will start during the first quarter of 2010. These would be completed at the end of 2011 with a soft opening. Thereafter, up until 2013, an additional 150 villas will be built and sold during the later phases of the project.
THE POINT
Located on the south coast of Grenada, this 15-room resort property has two unspoilt white sand beaches offering protected swimming and snorkeling.
Upon competition it will offer, a high level of finish and modern architectural designs utilizing the best of the Caribbean, Mexican and regional design influences.
The Point is offering a unique investment opportunity to a select few. They anticipate completion by November 2010.
SALLY PORT ENTRANCE
Cruise ship visitors to Grenada for the 2009/2010-winter season will have easier access to the Inner Court Yard or Citadel of Fort George in St. George’s. This is due to the creation of a new experience where the Sally Port Entrance has been introduced to enhance the opportunity for visitors to relax and savour the beauty of the historic town.
St. George’s is often referenced as a ‘city on the hill’ where a colourful history was molded as the island changed hands among European powers. The new access allows for a better appreciation of Grenada’s rich and turbulent history spanning from the period of the indigenous inhabitants through to the colonial, post colonial and modern eras.
New Hiking Trail Opens in Morne Longue
Apart from the well known traditional hikes to Grand Etang, Seven Sisters Waterfall, Mt. Qua Qua and Concord Waterfall, visitors to Grenada will soon have an additional choice when it comes to the selection of trails to hike upon. The Morne Longue Fedon Camp Eco-Tourism attraction, which is being funded by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security is structured and conceptualized to restore livelihoods in a post Hurricane Ivan and Emily context.
The new trail makes it possible for visitors to experience a range of birds and monkeys in their natural habitat, as well as picturesque views of the Eastern seascape, and the ruins of Fedon Camp.
Other Product Update Briefs
The Annandale Waterfalls attraction is being upgraded to reflect a higher level of organized participation by members of the community. This is intent on lessening congestion among vendors and other service providers. A concept paper developed in that regard speaks of tailored tours, improved restrooms, the clearing and compacting of a parking area, and a community-based management structure.
Plans indicate that by the end of 2009, the St. George’s Tri-Centennial Park should be completed. This project involves the landscaping of the hillside over looking the Sendall Tunnel, the construction of a walkway, and the creation of an amphitheatre.
The Grand Anse Beach is slated for further enhancement by way of the construction of additional changing rooms, lockers, and shower booths. The provision of more thatched umbrellas for added shade for visitors is also part of this plan.
In terms of Fort Matthew, work is in progress regarding illumination plans, the introduction of a water supply, clearing of tunnels, and the establishment of rails and other safety measures.
In Carriacou, plans include the restoration of the Beausejour Windmill in a manner that will include gift shops, toilet facilities, and interpretation plaques. The Belair Park will have the installation of a wooden theatre with improvements to the staging component and the construction of tombs and headstones.
The Maroon & Regional String Band Music Festival is being planned for April 2010. Its primary objective is to preserve the island’s culture by having it showcased at a professional level. An experienced consultant has been sourced to help in the planning and implementation of the festival.
Interpretive Billboards have been designed, produced, and erected in Belair, Windward and Petite Martinique.
About Grenada Board of Tourism: The Grenada Board of Tourism was formed in 1991 to market and promote Grenada as a preferred Caribbean tourist destination, while also providing technical and managerial support to industry partners. For more information on Grenada contact the Grenada Board of Tourism office in Toronto at 416-595-1339 416-595-1339 , e-mail at tourism@grenadaconsulate.com or visit www.grenadagrenadines.com
How to Get to Grenada: Grenada can be reached via Air Canada Vacations that operates a direct flight from Toronto to Grenada (11 resorts, Sunday departure with easy connections from major Canadian gateways, and bookings for the 2009/10 season available at www.aircanadavacations.com ) from December 20, 2009 to April 2010. AC operates daily flights from Toronto to Barbados (Saturday & Sunday departure from Montreal) with connections on LIAT to Grenada and Caribbean Airlines operate regularly scheduled flights from Toronto to Barbados and Trinidad with connections on LIAT to Grenada. GG Tours and Titan Tours operate seasonal charter services (www.ggtours.ca and www.titantours.com ). West Jet operates a flight from Toronto to Barbados with connections on LIAT to Grenada from November onwards. American Airlines operates a non-stop flight three times per week from Miami to Grenada from November onwards.