Harlequin Hotels & Resorts’ St. Lucia Property on Course to Open April 1

Harlequin Hotels & Resorts has announced that the company’s new hotel in St Lucia, BLU, is on course to open, as planned, on April 1.

Harlequin turned this hotel, which was formerly the Village Inn, into a classic four-star accommodation with excellent facilities, including tennis, HQ coffee and cuisine from executive chefs who have worked at the company’s flagship property, the Buccament Bay Resort in St. Vincent and The Grenadines.

Mark Sawkins, vice president of operations for Harlequin Hotels & Resorts (as well as general manager of Buccament Bay Resort), has told Travel Agent in the past that the company is looking beyond the Caribbean and scouting destinations in Central and South America. In fact, the company is hoping to start construction on a new hotel in Brazil next year while Peru continues to be at the top of its wish list.

Also, at last year’s Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange, Travel Agent heard about a new property, The Hideaway, in Las Canas, Dominican Republic, just outside of Puerto Plata and 30 minutes from the nearest airport. This 200-room resort is slated to open by 2013.

Harlequin Hotels & Resorts, the owner and developer of the planned Merricks Resort, also purchased the Allamanda Beach Hotel, Hastings, Christ Church in Barbados. The property is scheduled to open in April after a $5.5 million renovation. The company is also looking to build a resort in Jamaica as well, but no time table has been set yet.

Visit www.harlequinhotelsandresorts.com.