With the cold temperatures still muddling any hope of spring fever, it is a perfect time to send clients to a warm weather destination where they can sink their toes in the sand and enjoy an ocean view. Here are some of the latest hot spots travelers should consider when looking for beach escape.
Karisma to Open Overwater Bungalows in Latin America This September
Karisma Hotels & Resorts has announced that it will open Overwater Bungalows at El Dorado Maroma, a first for Latin America, in September 2016.
Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultants who have already sold El Dorado Spa Resorts Hotels and Generations Resorts by Karisma will exclusively sell the Overwater Bungalows from now until September 1, 2016. In addition, these agents will also get 21 percent commission.
The first phase, which consists of 30 suites, is currently under construction. The rooms will have ocean views, glass-bottom floors and direct ladder access to the ocean, along with outdoor showers, private infinity pools, indoor Jacuzzis and oversized decks.
For dining, there will be the Gourmet Inclusive Over Water Ocean Grill & Wine Bar, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, complete with an open kitchen and offering views of the Caribbean Sea.
Also, guests staying in the Palafitos (Overwater Bungalows) will receive special amenities, including 24-hour room service, exclusive beach beds, customized beach picnics, full butler service, packing and unpacking services, and more.
The bungalows can be booked only at Karisma Hotel reservations. Agents can use the “book now” tool at karismatravelagents.com or call 1-866-KARISMA.
New Three-Bedroom Villa From Anantara Kihavah
Anantara Kihavah has announced the debut of its new Three-Bedroom Beach Pool Residence at the Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas.
This new residence has more than 11,000 square feet of space, and is ideal for large families or multiple couples. A wooden deck provides ample space for gatherings, while a dining cabana and a Jacuzzi pool add more elements.
Guests arrive by seaplane and are escorted along a white-sand path that cuts through dense jungle to the residence’s private entrance. Accommodations include three bedrooms with a king bed and a two-person, a garden pathway that winds to a connecting door leading to an adjoining Beach Pool Villa, and an infinity pool with a dining pavilion. Also, families will also enjoy the fact that the space can sleep six adults and six children comfortably. In addition, a private Villa Host will be available 24/7 to meet the needs of guests.
Visit www.kihavah-maldives.anantara.com
Anantara Salalah Resort to Debut in Oman in Summer 2016
One of Oman's most anticipated resorts of the year, Anantara Salalah - Al Baleed Resort, is slated to open this summer in the Dhofar Governorate in Southern Oman.
Celebrated for its fine sandy beaches and rich cultural heritage, the Bangkok-based Anantara brand has developed the property in partnership with Omran Hotels & Resorts and one of the country's top property developers, Musstir.
The resort will comprise 40 rooms and studios, eight one-bedroom villas and 88 one-, two- and three- bedroom pool villas, all surrounded by tropical gardens. There will also be a swimming pool, tennis courts, gym, children’s club, water sports on the beach, and the Anantara Spa, where the treatments will showcase local ingredients.
Guests will also have the opportunity to take a boat across the lagoon to visit the city’s Botanical Garden and the Al Baleed Museum of Frankincense. Dining options will include a “Middle Eastern beach bar” and a signature Asian restaurant.
Visit www.anantara.com
Six Senses Scheduled to Open Properties in the Seychelles, Scouting Other Locations
Luxury Travel Advisor recently reported that Six Senses is preparing to open a private-island resort this year in the Seychelles called Six Senses Zil Pasyon. The company has also announced that it plans to open multiple properties in Bhutan, Bali, Africa, and Central and South America.
Six Senses also announced that it will debut a new resort in the Seychelles called Félicité, a resort that can only be accessed by a 20-minute helicopter ride (operated by Zil Air), as the island is just 30 nautical miles northeast of Seychelles International Airport (SEZ). It will also be possible to arrive by boat from nearby La Digue and Praslin islands.
Also in the pipeline for Six Senses are resorts in Bhutan and Bali, scheduled for 2017, and CEO Neil Jacobs has announced that the brand is scouting locations in Africa, Central and South America, including Nicaragua and Colombia. The brand is also looking at the possible acquisition of a hotel in Italy, as well as a number of different possibilities in the U.S. market.
The new properties are part of a global expansion plan created by Six Senses to add five resorts by the end of 2017, bringing the total to 15 for the Bangkok-based hospitality brand.
Visit www.sixsenses.com
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| Bedroom at Six Senses Zil Pasyon |
New 20-Story Hotel Planned for South End of Myrtle Beach
The Associated Press recently reported that a new 20-story high-rise oceanfront hotel is planned on the south end of Myrtle Beach. It will be the first major development in the area since before the Great Recession.
According to multiple local media outlets, the 240-room Bayshore Hotel will have a private waterpark, reportedly costing more than $50 million. It will be built on a vacant site in located south of Ocean Boulevard.
The hotel will be the first project to be built under a new city incentive designed to spur redevelopment in the area. The program includes a rebate of up to $1 million in permit and other development fees.
Design Hotels Adds First Hotel in the Indian Ocean
Design Hotels has announced Shanti Maurice in Mauritius as its newest member, and its first hotel in the Indian Ocean to be added to the portfolio, joining its sister properties, Nira Alpina and Nira Montana.
The hotel, envisioned by Mauritian designer Jean-Marc Eynaud, has a tropical feel, using materials such as local hardwoods, lave stone, granite, marble and slate to create a sense of place.
Also, Shanti Maurice has launched a brand new cuisine called Aquacasia, which uses traditional recipes from the Indian Ocean to add an authentic element. Dining venues include Stars, the Fish Shack and the Rum Shed, which is built like a traditional, local rum shop.
In addition, the 36-acre landscape affords tropical gardens and a large spa offering 25 treatment rooms designed for ultimate relaxation.
Visit www.shantimaurice.com