Date:    July 28, 2008

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SANDALS MONTEGO BAY

1.         Management Changes:

                        Appointed:       Michael James                          Hotel Manager

                    

 SANDALS ROYAL CARIBBEAN RESORT & PRIVATE ISLAND

1.         Management Changes:

                        Appointed:       Rick Burrowes                           Hotel Manager

            

                        Departed:         Clive Edwards                            Hotel Manager

 2.         To help our guests combat the heat, we have put in place a re-hydration system where cups of lemon/orange flavoured water is brought to all guests in our public areas on a daily basis.

 

 

SANDALS NEGRIL BEACH RESORT & SPA

1.         The Sandals Lifestyle Amenity service is currently being offered at our resort.  Basically it is an in-room gift shop with three sets of items, offering guests the convenience of not having to walk to the gift shop.

 The items which are for sale are divided into three groups:

•  
  • Fun – which includes a waterproof camera and a tote bag
  • Red Lane – which includes sun block, lotion, bath salts, etc.
  • Snacks – which include nuts, trail mix, etc.

  SANDALS GRANDE OCHO RIOS BEACH AND VILLA RESORT

1.         Management Changes:

                        Appointed:       Sheldon James                          Director of Guest Services

       2.         To help our guests combat the heat, we started our guest re-hydration process in June.  Our Managers walk the property daily and assist the guests with getting water.

  SANDALS DUNN’S RIVER VILLAGGIO GOLF RESORT & SPA

1.         Management Changes:

                        Appointed:       Alain Rojas                                Director of Guest Services

                                

                        Departed:         Walter Davis                              Director of Guest Services

SANDALS WHITEHOUSE EUROPEAN VILLAGE & SPA

1. Management Changes:

                        Appointed:       Heather Boothe                          Director of Guest Services

                   

                        Departed:         David Smith                               Director of Guest Services

 SANDALS GRANDE ANTIGUA RESORT & SPA

1.         The resort now boasts a Logo Shop dedicated to selling everything with the Sandals logo.

 2.         The Caribbean Grove now has newly refurbished walkways.                       

 SANDALS REGENCY LA TOC GOLF RESORT AND SPA in St. Lucia

1.         The exterior of Armando’s Restaurant was repainted in a coffee/brown colour.  Also, the restaurant now serves fresh pasta for lunch.

 2.         The resort recently introduced a Pirates Dinner which is held on Thursdays on the beach.  Bread, salad and desserts are placed on the tables for guests to help themselves.  Guests are given one fork, one knife, one coffee cup and a water glass for their wine – the only table setting they receive for the entire meal!  The dinner is very interactive with the serving staff passing around meats, chicken, etc. on skewers from which the guests are served.  There is also a live steel band and a photographer to capture the event.

 3.         The resort now boasts three cabanas by the Piton Restaurant, directly facing the beach.

 SANDALS HALCYON BEACH, ST. LUCIA

1.         The resort now boasts five cabanas on the lawns for rental.

 SANDALS GRANDE ST. LUCIAN SPA & BEACH RESORT

1.         We now have a total of five Cabanas for rental.

 2.         The three wedding gazebos are now looking spectacular with the recent addition of new bamboo furniture.

 3.         Josephine’s Creperie has been repainted in a more subdued earth cream color

SANDALS ROYAL BAHAMIAN SPA RESORT & OFFSHORE ISLAND

1.         Afternoon Tea has been discontinued for summer.

 2.         Sandals Cay will now be open Sundays to Thursdays from 11 am to 9:30pm, Fridays from 11 am to 4pm, to be followed by the Goombay Festival from 7-11pm and on Saturdays from 11 am to 4 pm.

 Boat trips are hourly between 10 am and 8pm and then every 10 minutes before the hour; the last boat trip is at 10pm.  The island will feature an all day menu with some dinner items being available after 5pm each day and the bar is open until 9:30 pm

 3.         Please note the following restaurant opening times:

·         Gordon’s on the Pier is open Mondays to Saturdays from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm;

complimentary to butler guests and US$140 per couple for other guests.

·         Royal Café is no longer open for dinner but will offer lunch from 11 am to 5 pm,
            7 days per week.

·         Kimonos is now open from Sundays to Fridays for dinner; closed on Saturdays.

·         Baccarat is open 7 nights per week (6pm to 10pm) for dinner.

·         The Cricketers Pub is open 7 days a week, 24 hours per day.  From 7:30 am to 3 pm guests
            can get their coffee and pastries and from 3pm-5pm, beverages only.  From 5 pm to 2
            am the regular menu is available and a limited menu from 2 am to 7:30 am

·         Cassanova is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 6:30 pm to 10pm

·         Spices is closed for dinner except on Saturdays when the International Buffet is offered from
            6:30 to 9:30 pm.  Breakfast and lunch buffets will continue to be offered daily except on
            Sundays when breakfast will be from 7:30 am to 11 am to be followed by Brunch from
            11 am to 3 pm.

·         Crystal Restaurant is open from 6pm to 10 pm every night and reservations are no longer
            required.

 

4.         DVDs are now available for rent from the Manor and Windsor Concierge desks.  When rented, the charge is posted to the guest’s folio and remains there until the DVD is returned.  DVDs not returned will be billed to the guest who rented them.

 

5.         Free internet service (with Ethernet cable link) is now available in all guest rooms; to connect, guests must have laptop with cable cord.  Wireless service is also offered in the Manor Lobby and Cricketers’ Pub but the guests must have his/her own laptop.

 

            There are also internet kiosks located in the Beach Bar for those guests who do not have laptops.  Payment is either via credit card or an internet card which can be purchased from the Front Desk.

 

6.         All butler suites on the fifth floor of the Windsor Block have been refurbished – new carpeting, plumbing, lighting fixtures and tiles.

 

7.         A Diamonds International store is now open at the resort; opening hours are 8am to 10pm daily.

 

8.         Effective June 22, Jazz is now offered on the Cay on Sundays.

 

BEACHES NEGRIL RESORT & SPA

1.         The Trench Town Teen Centre is now open.  With a jazzy mix of graffiti depicting the zinc fencing and corner spaces of Trench Town, this is a very hip teen hangout spot complete with foosball and basketball machines.

 

 

BEACHES SANDY BAY

1.         All restaurants now open for dinner at 6pm

 

2.         New ceiling fans have been installed in the Fitness Centre creating a more hospitable atmosphere for exercising.

 

 

BEACHES BOSCOBEL RESORT & GOLF CLUB

1.         The Lanai Block and the Chela Bay pool deck now boast new lounge chairs.

 

2.         A new tent has been erected at the BBQ Park to provide more shade from the hot summer sun for our guests.

 

3.         The ArizonaRestaurant (TexMex) has new lunch and dinner menus; see attached.

 

 

BEACHES TURKS & CAICOS RESORT & SPA

1.         Blocks Six and Seven on the French Village now have trundle beds in the rooms.

 

2.         Swinging hammocks have been placed outside the Presidential Villas providing more relaxation avenues for our guests.

 

3.         The decks by both Schooners and Arizona have been extended to provide more lounging.

 

4.         The resort now offers a Kitty Katt Sesame Street^® Breakfast Cruise, as an excursion, for a charge.

 

5.         The Reflections Restaurant received an upgrade with new furniture for the inside and the patio.

 

6.         Private Lessons by Red Lane^® Fitness is now available at the resort.

 

GRAND PINEAPPLE BEACH NEGRIL

1.         The front exterior of the resort has received a facelift courtesy of a new paint job.  The resort now boasts

colors such as Herb Garden, Vellum, Buena Vista Gold and Buckingham Garden which enhances the resort and presents a welcoming atmosphere to our guests.

 

 

MORE AIRLINE NEWS:

It is a call that millions of passengers received as airlines canceled nearly 65,000 flights so far this year. That is almost as many as all of 2007, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and travelers should be ready to be even more flexible as airlines carve chunks out of their schedules later this year.

UAL Corp.’s United Airlines said it will cut as many as 14% of available seats on domestic flights by the end of the year. American Airlines of Fort Worth, will slash as much as 12% after the peak summer travel season, and Houston-based Continental Airlines Inc. will reduce about 11% in seating capacity starting in September.

Delta Air Lines Inc., Northwest Airlines Corp. and US Airways Group Inc. said they are planning similar cuts of 13%, 9.5% and 8%, respectively, by the end of the year.

Airlines hope that by offering fewer travel options they can boost fares and better deal with soaring fuel costs that have overwhelmed the industry. But airline observers say many passengers who bought their tickets months in advance are now going to have to scramble to fit new flights into their plans.

United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski said her airline has a network of spare planes that it can mobilize if maintenance or other problems ground flights. It also staffs a “day of departure” desk that responds to unexpected changes in the schedule.

“We’ll know a few hours, or even a day, if a storm is coming,” Urbanski said. “They’ll stop selling tickets on the flights to keep some seats open in case they need to reschedule.”

In general, airlines try to accommodate bumped passengers with compatible schedules and will offer refunds if necessary.

“That’s what happens in theory,” Trippler said. “When something happens, a computer automatically reroutes the people.” The airline says, “Take it or leave it, and that’s it, or we’ll give you your money back,” he said.

“That doesn’t work very well when you bought a ticket for $298 and now the reroute doesn’t work for you at all, and now it’s going to cost you $598 to buy a ticket through another airline because you’re now that much closer to departure time,” he said.

Despite the number of cancellations, consumer advocates say most travelers still don’t realize their flight might not be waiting for them at the airport. With the summer travel season underway, people should keep a number of things in mind, they said.

_ Be prepared to get bumped. Come to the airport early, bring your printed itinerary with you and keep your cellphone charged.

_ Know your rights. Read the airline’s “Contract of Carriage” policy. Copies are usually available online or at the carrier’s ticket counter.

_ Make sure you have an assigned seat. “If you don’t have an assigned seat, you are the most likely candidate for not getting on the flight,” Hanni said.

_ Know alternate routes to your destination. “If your flight’s canceled, it’s a lot easier if you can walk up to the agent and say ‘What about American through Dallas’ or ‘How about Continental through Houston’ or whatever,”

Be aware of the fact that getting obnoxious and angry is not going to make it any better ~ give them the opportunity to serve you.