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The Mass Migration of the Super-Rich and others to the Turks & Caicos and… http://www.sovereignman.com/expat/cnbc-gets-it-wrong-again/
Written by FreePress staff
Thursday, 08 March 2012 15:29
Thrill seekers visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands now have one wild ride in store for them.
Caicos Tours, operators of the Undersea Explorer Semi-sub, this week launched their latest water adventure tour appropriately named the Wild One.
The aluminum, relatively flat bottom boat is something the two proprietors, Betty Maclaine and Alastair Dods, were familiar with from their native New Zealand.
“We saw a hole in the market for adventure seekers on the water, and we thought this was the right fit,” they told the fp at the inaugural launch March 3.
The boat, which will take off from the Turtle Cove Marina, can get up to 50 mph, and due to its incredible maneuverability can take those on board for a truly wild ride. “It is like a roller coaster on the water,” explained Alastair, who will captain the boat.
Nick Williams, the boat’s builder from North Carolina, was also on hand to witness the exciting first ride. He said due to the boat’s light weight — only 8,000 pounds — the boat is efficient, and combined with its shallow draft, it is the ideal boat for the local waters.
The Wild One will be available for 1-1.5 hour tours on afternoons, taking up to 24 people for one exciting ride.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Beaches-cDestinations-g1
Written by FreePress staff
Skycruise Airways has gotten one step closer to providing local and international flights in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Air Transport Licensing Authority has granted the airline a provisional license, but Skycruise can’t begin service until it meets all regulatory requirements and gets an Air Operators Certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority.
Skycruise wants to provide daily interisland service to Grand Turk, Providenciales, North Caicos and South Caicos, and service three times a week to Salt Cay. International service would be to Ft. Lauderdale, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Bahamas and Antigua.
Both local airlines — Air Turks and Caicos and Caicos Express Airways — objected to Skycruise’s proposal, saying the country is too small for a third local carrier.
by Turks and Caicos Sun
Director of Tourism Ralph Higgs and Stacy Cox The Turks and Caicos Islands is barreling towards its on millionth visitor, who is expected to arrive between December 26 and 31, this according to Acting Director of Tourism Ralph Higgs, who was addressing a news conference on Thursday (December 15), at the Tourist Board Office in Providenciales.
The milestone visitor could arrive either by airplane or cruise ship at the Grand Turk Cruise Centre.
According to Higgs, this milestone – the first in the history of the Turks and Caicos Islands tourism demonstrate the country’s appeal to the international travelling public. Leading up to the event, Higgs said a series of activities will be held.
“This milestone proves that the Turks and Caicos Islands continue to be a preferred destination for many travelers. The week of activities will give us the opportunity to celebrate this special occasion with our 1,000,000th and 1,000,001thvisitors, arriving on Grand Turk and Providenciales respectively,” he said.
According to Higgs, collaborative promotional and marketing campaigns by the Tourist Board, the Turks and Caicos Hotel & Tourism Association, TCI Airports Authority and Grand Turk Cruise Centre, have contributed to the spike in visitor arrivals.
According to him, the destination has seen a 17 percent jump in cruise and land based arrivals for the third quarter of 2011, when compared with the same period for 2010. He said third quarter arrivals totaled 204,084, with 78,711 land based arrivals and 125,373 cruise arrivals; in 2010, the destination welcomed 174,302 visitors.
In the meantime Stacy Cox from of the Windsong Resort and executive member of the Turks and Caicos Islands Hotel and Tourism Association said the week of activities will commence on December 26, with second annual staging of crowd-pulling cultural event – Maskanoo.
“We are encouraging everyone attending Maskanoo to visit the Tourist Board’s booth to learn more about the ‘millionth visitor and counting.” celebrations. TCHTA would like to thank our hotel members who will be providing visitors with rum and fruit punch when they arrive at the Providenciales International Airport on December 27 until December 30. We would like to also thank Bambarra for providing rum cakes on these days as well, “Cox said.
On December 31, the country’s capital will be the first to celebrate as representatives from the Grand Turk Cruise Centre welcome the 1,000,000th visitor. John Young of the Grand Turk Cruise Centre who said 2011 has been a very active year for the Grand Turk Cruise Centre.
“There have been some remarkable developments as it relates to cruise tourism in TCI, including the recently passed legislation which allows same day marriages for cruise ship passengers. We all hope that this new initiative will see us continue the growth and see more cruise passengers returning to enjoy the islands for longer stays,” Young said.
by Turks & Caicos Sun
Monday, Nov 28, 2011
Grace Bay Realty recently joined Luxury Portfolio International™, the fastest growing luxury property network, with more than 200 affiliate companies around the world and more listings over $1 million than any other luxury real estate organization.
“Luxury Portfolio is delighted to have Grace Bay Realty as part of our distinguished Broker Collection. The company has an impeccable reputation for marketing the Turks & Caicos Islands globally having historically spent more internationally and we are committed to helping them achieve even greater success,” said Paul Boomsma, president of Luxury Portfolio. “Luxury Portfolio boasts the most comprehensive marketing program in the industry, encompassing advertising in high net-worth publications, an award-winning website and premium marketing materials. The scope of the program benefits Grace Bay Realty and all of our agents, as well as the luxury clientele they serve.”
“Grace Bay Realty is excited about partnering with the Luxury Portfolio organization. Over the years, we have prided ourselves on providing our clients with the most effective and credible affiliations in the industry. Our decision to take this next, and best, step forward should come as little surprise” said Lyle Schmidek Managing Director of Grace Bay Realty, “it is simply the right thing to do. One doesn’t pass on an invitation such as this. Real estate is ever changing and many branded global firms are striving to keep pace. Luxury Portfolio is setting that pace”. We are adding Luxury Portfolio to one of our oldest and more successful affiliates, LuxuryRealEstate.com who is the number one luxury real estate network in the world for their global reach of over 85 countries.
Luxury Portfolio International™ markets over 25,000 of the world’s most remarkable properties annually totally $300 billion in sales on its award-winning website, www.LuxuryPortfolio.com. The site attracts over 1.2 million high-net-worth visitors a year and features a total inventory of available properties in excess of $40 billion. Luxury Portfolio is unmatched in the global arena, with members in 30 countries, site translation in nine languages and multiple currencies and visitors from 200 countries/territories visit the site every month.
by the Turks and Caicos Hotel & Tourism Association
Top things to do in November…
1) 1st Annual Caribbean Food and Wine Festival
The first-ever Caribbean Food & Wine Festival will take place on November 4 – 5, 2011 in Providenciales. The weekend of activities will also include the 5th annual Gourmet Safari which will take place on Saturday, November 5 from 5pm.
Activities include:
Friday, November 4 – A book signing event featuring Divya Gugnani and cocktails from the esteemed Infiniti Bar at Grace Bay Club. Following the reception, guests will enjoy a 5-course meal complete with wine pairings at the resort,prepared by Guest Chef Beau MacMillan . A cigar and rum tasting will follow for those who wish to opt for a nightcap and late night dancing.
Saturday, November 5 – Guests are invited to attend a Tasting Seminar from 11am to 3pm at The Veranda Resort and Residences. The tasting event will feature a selection of the participating islands’ best chocolates, cheeses, seafood and meats accompanied by fine wines in 45-minute sessions.
The 5th Annual Gourmet Safari will take place on Saturday, November 5 from 5pm to 12am. The evening will commence with welcome drinks hosted by Krave at The Estate at Grace Bay Club. Guests will then proceed to enjoy appetizers at Coyaba restaurant created by Chefs Paul Newman and Martin Davies. Guests will then head over to the Seven restaurant at Seven Stars.
Diners will then be escorted to Parallel 23 at The Regent Palms for a tropically-inspired meat course. The Gourmet Safari will close with dessert and cigars at The Gansevoort’s Bagatelle restaurant: island sophistication at its best!
Visit www.tcigourmetsafari.com for more information and to reserve your spot.
2) PCH’s Music Extravaganza- Taking you back!
Join PCH for the annual Provo Children’s Home & Sandals Foundation fund raising event that features wonderful food, beverages, a great location and fantastic entertainment on Saturday, 5th November at 7pm at Beaches’ Treasure Island.
This year we are spanning the decades from the 1950′s up to the 1990′s, so come along and get in the mood by dressing up as Elvis, one of the Beatles, Madonna, Michael Jackson or your personal favourite.
All proceeds will go to the Provo Children’s Home.
Tickets on sale now at Finishing Touch (Grace Bay Court), Yoshi’s Sushi (Salt Mills), Adventurescape (Caribbean Place), Top of the Cove Deli (across from Suzi Turn) and the Ed Gartland Youth Center downtown).
Email: or call: Candie – 649 332-1609, Angela – 649 231-0670 or Tracey – 649 244-2694
3) TCSPCA Beach Barbeque
The Turks and Caicos Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals presents a Beachfront Barbeque and Bonfire at Bay Bistro on Thursday, November 10, 2011!
Make it a family night and come enjoy great company, great food and lots of fun for all. Tickets are $40 per person and the event starts at 7pm.
Tickets are on sale at the TCSPCA offices. Contact 649 941-8846 for more information.
4) “Middle Caicos Exposed” Exhibit
Plan a day trip to the beautiful island of Middle Caicos and experience the “Middle Caicos Exposed” exhibit of stunning black & white photographs capturing the lifestyle and dignity of the island. Unique pieces of Siri White’s art will be on display at the Conch Bar Community Centre for a four day show starting November 16.
You wouldn’t want to miss it, so contact the concierge department at your hotel for travel arrangements to Middle Caicos!
5) 8th Annual Turks and Caicos Conch Festival
“Conch-etition” is heating up! Enjoy another year of local celebrations at the 8th Annual Turks and Caicos Conch Festival on Saturday, November 26, 2011 on the beach in Blue Hills, Providenciales.
This one-of-a-kind beach side festival is for tourists and locals alike to celebrate the islands’ most famous delicacy, historical icon, and number one export. Great food, live music, games and contests for all ages and you get a chance to pick the best conch dish in all of the islands.
For more information visit www.conchfestival.com.
In the first half of 2011, an influx of U.S. tourists caused arrivals at Providenciales International Airport (PLS) to increase by 23% compared to the same time period in 2010. New Continental flights from New Jersey and new JetBlue flights from New York and Boston accounted for two-thirds of those visits, and a new weekly service from Halifax, Nova Scotia (YHZ) will give more Canadian tourists the opportunity to fly directly to Providenciales.
Outbound Air Canada flights will depart from Halifax, NS on Thursdays at 1:45pm and will arrive into Providenciales at 5:30pm. The new extended runway at Provo International Airrport will welcome many larger, long-haul flights from Canada and Europe.
The inaugural Air Canada flight from Halifax to Providenciales is scheduled to depart on February 16, 2012.
Canadian visitors accounted for twelve percent of all arrivals in the first six months of 2011, and now that people living in Nova Scotia have direct access to the soft, white beaches of Grace Bay, those numbers are bound to go up.
by MyTurksandCaicos.com
Recently Turks and Caicos was named number two on journalist Andrea Ege’s Top Ten Celebrity Honeymoon Destinations. It’s no surprise why. Here are the top 5 reasons why the beautiful Turks and Caicos islands are a perfect choice for a honeymoon or any romantic vacation.
1. Easy to Get To
The planning has taken months if not years. The weeks before the big event were busier than ever before. The ceremony was beautiful, and the party was epic. But now you are tired. I mean really tired. The last thing you need is a crazy journey to get you to your resting place. Direct flights a quick and readily available from various locations including Miami, New York, Boston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.
2. Extravagant, Exclusive, Elegant
With many top resorts to choose from here are a few to consider: Aman resorts are world renown for their uber chic designs, peaceful quarters and luxurious amenities which you will find at Amanyara located at the private tip of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Regent Palms offers a classic and elegant character which trickles down to their staff who are known for their impeccable service. Not quite a 5 star personality, then bask on the roof top terrace at 4.5 star Windsong Resort and enjoy the 360 degree view of one of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean.
3. Affordable Options, too!
Still craving some luxury but with a smaller pocket, try The Sands at Grace Bay where their famous beachfront restaurant awaits you and your partner! Northwest Point Resort will be your stop for a quiet and private stay in the most affordable beachfront suite in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
4. Intimate Surroundings
All but 2 resorts are built under 5 stories tall, so the landscape keeps with an intimate island feel. Many of the resorts also house less than 70 rooms and suites combined which can’t be said for most Caribbean Islands.
5. There’s lots to do….Or nothing at all
Scrumptious dining options are featured throughout the island from high end gourmet meals to cheap and cheerful local dishes. Sports are abundant in the ways of snorkeling, world class scuba diving, horseback riding and boating, but all kept away from the quiet sands of Grace Bay Beach where you can walk for miles on the softest sands. Or relax poolside and get ready to be waited on hand and foot! Infinity pools are plenty and complimentary services can include frozen fruit or sorbet, misters, lounge pods, aromatherapy cooling towels, and more than you can imagine. Just imagine being here!
It’s no wonder Turks and Caicos resorts make the list of top Celebrity Honeymoon Destinations. Book your trip today!
by Gemma Handy, TCI Weekly News
North Caicos’ stunning Greenwich Beach could soon be home to a luxury complex Islands set for economic comeback with four resort developments on the table:- A TWO BILLION dollar luxury development – featuring two hotels, 35 villas and plush condos – is heading for North Caicos.
The Greenwich Beach Resort & Spa is the latest in a string of forthcoming projects recently announced, sparking hopes that TCI is on the cusp of a financial comeback.
Proposals for a European style-resort in Grace Bay, a new hotel in Grand Turk, and the revival of the long shelved West Caicos project are also causing a stir.
And they’re all hot on the heels of a healthy surge in tourist numbers.
From home theatres to wine cellars, interior water features to a full service spa, Greenwich Beach bosses hope to attract an abundance of well-heeled clientele to North Caicos.
The scheme will be spread out over 50 gated acres on the north coast of the isle, accessible only by golf cart.
Developers plan to maintain the ‘garden island’s’ pristine beauty with a host of eco-friendly initiatives including limiting boats into the lighted lagoon to electric-powered vessels only.
Up to 35 custom estate homes, all with either beach or lagoon frontage, will be created along with high-end condos, two five-star hotels, three restaurants and a marina.
With Provo’s new longer runway now complete, paving the way for direct transatlantic flights, plans for a 250-300 room European-style hotel in Providenciales are also on the table.
Complete with conference facilities, it is destined for a spot near the Seven Stars resort in Grace Bay and has already attracted backing from advisory council members.
A government spokesman said: “It would mark a diversification of the tourist sector from a condominium based model and into another distinct area that could attract a new market.”
TCInvest is to lead negotiations with the developers, in consultation with the Governor’s office.
Earlier this month, Grand Turk pastor Chad Archbold briefed the consultative forum about a blueprint for a large hotel under discussion for the capital island.
Meanwhile, plans to restart work on West Caicos are gathering momentum. Governor Ric Todd was due to present a consultation document with details of the scheme to the advisory council this week. It will then be released to the public for further input.
The Molasses Reef project has been on ice since September 2008 following the collapse of Lehman Brothers.
The luxury 125-room hotel and 30 condominiums were 75 per cent complete with most of the condos already sold, when the US investment bank filed for bankruptcy listing debts of $613bn, the biggest in American history.
Work on the exclusive Ritz Carlton-branded scheme, one the largest projects the TCI has ever seen, had been underway for two years.
The previously uninhabited 11-square mile island features some of the region’s finest beaches while the surrounding reef is said to be the final resting place of Columbus’ Pinta.
It is hoped the scheme’s resurgence, along with the other developments in the pipeline, will kickstart TCI’s listless construction industry and spawn a plethora of new jobs.
This month Tourist Board figures revealed TCI had seen an 18 per cent rise in visitor numbers for the first half of the year, compared to the same period last year.
Between January and June, the country welcomed in 222,596 visitors. A campaign to lure more visitors to the sister islands too is now underway via eye-catching billboards and media advertisements.
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