Sandals / Beaches updates!

It's been a crazy couple of weeks with lots of Sandals trainings and events going on!

I had my yearly 4 hour classroom training 3 weeks ago, then the next week off to Chicago for the Sandals dinner with Adam Stewart CEO of Sandals and the chairman Butch Stewart! I was called up on stage to speak- I don't know how many of you were around last year but that was my first time speaking to an audience and I was petrified! Well this was ,my second time and yup- I am still pretrified! I guess it wouldn't be so bad if I had something prepared but it was a, "BTW your next" and off you go! My husband said I did well, just was really quiet. Honestly I don't remember but two words of what I said! The funny thing is my throat was soooo parched and when I sat down and reached for my glass of water my hands were shaking so bad that I couldn't take a drink! I survived though and I am really proud of myself that I did it!

Then last week we were invited onboard the "Lady Sandals" yacht for dinner and more training! She's a beautiful ship- it's nice to see how the other half live! Check out Sand and Sun Vacations facebook page for pics! A little history on the yacht- Mr Stewart sold it to Nicolas Cage, who then made some modifications and enjoyed till he had some financial issues -he then sold it back to Mr. Stewart! I suppose it's as close to the rich & famous as I'll ever get LOL!

At any rate- the updates !

Lots and lots of rennovations going on! Beaches Sandy Bay and Beaches Boscabel are having millions sunk into them in the form of rennovations! This will be fantastic for destination weddings! look for butlers in the near future!

Sandals Grande Ocho Rios- Big, big plans in the works for rennovations, updates and upgrades! This will no longer be a lead in resort for Sandals!

Sandals Dunns river Villagio- still not being renewed. Rumors are that the septic system needed major work and the owners were not willing to do the needed repairs and upgrades-such a shame.

Now for the BIG NEWS!!

They are breaking ground for amazing Over the Water bungalows in St. Lucia! there will be ( if I remember correctly) 24 and 4-6 of those will be on the very end and have private pools and hot tubs! All of the suites will offer fish viewing windows in the living rooms just like in Tahiti! I am sooo very excited about this as sooo many of my honeymooners want that experience in Tahiti but the cost of the airfare, exchange rate, flight times and that they are not all inclusive mean that many don't go! These offer the best of both worlds and with St. Lucia being referred to as the Hawaii of the Caribbean it'll be just breathtaking!

Ok and now- the OTHER BIG NEWS!

Sandals / Beaches are going to build a brand new Beaches, similiar in layout to the Italian Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos right next to Sandals Whitehouse in Jamaica! This is still about a year and half out or so before they break ground but will be amazing and offer so much to that area! PLUS they are adding a golf course for the guests of the resort !

First of all, TAJennifer....

I would like to offer you a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS on making it through your speech in front of all the Sandals bigwigs....I can only imagine how nerve-racking it must have been, and you should be so very proud of yourself for digging deep and pulling through beautifully! (And I've had to do a little public speaking myself, so I know that crazy-shaky feeling all too well; you just prayed no one noticed, right? I just hold the glass with both hands, drink from it like a toddler, and hope not to spill any on myself!)

And I am really VERY excited to hear about the over-water improvements to the St. Lucia property -- how cool! I just watched "Couples Retreat" (filmed at the St. Regis in Bora Bora) and those types of suite looked absolutely out of this world, but you're right, the cost I can imagine would be too extreme for "real people" to afford.....so glad to hear that my new husband and I might have a future dream anniversary destination that is within reach!

As always, EXCELLENT work and thanks for all that you do!

Quick Question: do you know which of the St. Lucia properties it was?

Hi Jennifer!! I think you should feel very proud that they slected you to speak at the Sandals dinner! Obviously they recognize that you know your stuff!! Congrats!!

Thank you for all the wonderful updates!! I LOVE the updates scheduled for St Lucia, as we have been debating between St Lucia and Antigua for our one year anniversary, but I think the over the water bungalows could be the deciding factor!! Do you know which St Lucia resort they are scheduling this for?

Glad to help!

The OTW bungalows are scheduled for Sandals Grande St. Lucian!

Sandals is also in talks about having them at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Jamaica! Those, if approved, will still several years out!

Jennifer -

Any idea when the OTW bungalows are scheduled to be complete at Sandals Grande St. Lucian? We are thinking about honeymooning there next May...is that wishful thinking?? Lol! I'm really excited about this news, I've always dreamed of staying in one!