Season’s Greetings!

Christmas to me is all about spending time with family and giving back in order to bring a smile to someone’s face.  Especially during the holiday season, a gift from the heart can be anything and often times it means so much more than any gift could offer!

You know, celebrating Christmas in the Caribbean is really no different than celebrating it anywhere else, except instead of snow-capped mountains and freezing temperatures, we have clear horizons and warm, tropical breezes and nights with the background as the beautiful Caribbean Sea. A picture-perfect backdrop that even Santa and his Elves from the North Pole look forward to visiting each year!

Now’s the time to reflect on what’s truly important in life and share the spirit of joy with those you around you. When I think about what means most to me, those things that enrich my life, I think about my family and close friends; and, of course, my extended family, you, our valued travel agents.

At this time, I'd like to extend my most heartfelt thanks to all of you who continue to support our hotels and for selling our Luxury Included resorts with confidence year after year. We recognize that our success in 2009 was made possible because of your continued loyalty.

As 2009 draws to a close, I would like to extend my best wishes for the holiday season.  I hope that for all of you, it is a time for relaxing with family and friends, reflecting on your blessings, and finding ways to help those who are less fortunate. And, no matter where you may call home, always remember, that your Sandals and Beaches family is here to welcome you back anytime.

Happy New Year!
 

Christmas at Sandals is a whole lot "cooler" with the Island Vibes and the Caribbean Sea as your backdrop.

All I want for Christmas is my Own Private Idaho - or Island that Is!  Santa and his Elves wave as they drive past Sandals Cay, the Private Island at Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort & Private Island, spreading holiday cheer.

Santa trades in his reindeer for a MasterCraft and some skis... this is how we fly in the Caribbean!

Santa and his lovely Elves float-in, "Island-Style" to spread Holiday joy, love and laughter at the resorts made for two people in love.

I can never get over some of the amazing events and experiences that I participate in—all thanks to my job. Recently I even was able to welcome a head of state to Sandals Grande Ocho Rios and host a luncheon for him and his lovely wife.

President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania came to Jamaica for an official, four-day visit aimed at bilateral attempts to improve relations between the two nations. And we at Sandals Resorts had the honor and pleasure to hold the Official State Luncheon for the visit at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios. It was an incredible function, attended not only by the Tanzanian leader, his wife and his delegation, but also by official representatives of the Jamaican Government and local dignitaries.

I really enjoyed spending time with President Kikwete and showing him some of the aspects of Jamaica that make this island so special. President Kikwete was particularly impressed with the unbelievable feast prepared by Sandals Grande Ocho Rios’ chefs. He also thought that the grounds of the property were beautiful and the Honeymoon Villas made a big impression on him.

By the end of the luncheon, after President Kikwete had toured the property, sampled some of our delicious Sandals food and received some Sandals souvenirs from yours truly in the gift shop.  I believe that the leader of Tanzania and his delegation came away with a great impression of Sandals Grande Ocho Rios and, of course, Jamaica. And, for my part, I can’t wait to return the favor and take a trip of my own to check out Tanzania for myself!
 

There I am face-to-face with President Kikwete of Tanzania, as we meet at the Official State Luncheon of his visit to Jamaica, held at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios.

Here I am exchanging a few words with President Kikwete’s wife, the very gracious Excellency Salma Kikwete.

The President of Tanzania addresses a gathering of dignitaries and government ministers from both his country and the nation of Jamaica at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios.

President Kikwete really admired some of our Sandals gear.

I so enjoyed introducing President Kikwete to Jamaica and to Sandals. Check out how much fun we’re having in the gift shop.
 

In my enthusiasm to spread the word about Sandals and Beaches Resorts and all the amazing new initiatives we are spearheading, such as The Sandals Foundation and Island Routes Luxury Adventure Tours, I am happy to travel just about anywhere. Recently, I headed across the Atlantic to London to attend the World Travel Market. This is an incredible event that attracts almost 50,000 travel professionals each year, from every corner of the planet, who come to see and share the very latest innovations, destinations and trends in the hospitality industry.
 

The World Travel Market gave me the perfect opportunity to let everyone know about all of the exciting things that have been happening at Sandals and Beaches over the past 12 months and to announce the unbelievable plans that we have for the future. It was a whirlwind couple of days for me and I managed to pack in a lot. Jet lag was definitely not an option!
 

The festivities began at the World Travel Awards, which were held at the historic Dorchester Hotel in London. You’ll be happy (but not surprised at all) to learn that Sandals and Beaches cleaned up—we won 12 awards that night! Over the rest of my time at the World Travel Market, I was thrilled to deliver a series of presentations on our newest developments, such as our partnership with Martha Stewart, the upcoming opening of ultra-luxurious Sandals Emerald Bay and our plans for overwater suites at Sandals Grande St. Lucian. I met many new people and got to hang out with old acquaintances and friends. All in all, it was a productive and fun trip and I can’t wait for next year!

It’s kind of hard to tell (because the lights are turned down to make it easier to see the screen), but that’s me giving a presentation at the World Travel Market in London.

Here I am with Karl Thompson, the Managing Director of Unique Vacations in London, as we go over a few details of my presentation.

Big smiles all around—especially from the Chairman—as we show off the unprecedented 12 awards that Sandals and Beaches won at the World Travel Awards!

One of the reasons that I am so pumped about our new tour company, Island Routes, is because it allows me to share with you, and with all the guests at Sandals and Beaches resorts, so many of the Caribbean’s most incredible experiences. I’ve grown up practically living outdoors—swimming, fishing, off-roading and exploring every inch of these islands and their waters. Up until now, most of these experiences have been unavailable to anyone but natives like us, people who know the best spots and the easiest ways to get there. But Island Routes has changed all of that. We’ve opened up the doors and made all these unbelievable encounters accessible for everyone who loves a thrilling adventure in the midst of tropical nature.
 

To give you an idea of what a typical Island Routes tour might be like, I thought I’d take you along on one of my recent off-road excursions up into the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. Many people might not be aware that these mountains are incredibly high—with some peaks reaching up to well over 7,000 feet! They are also truly beautiful, with impossibly green hillsides and valleys, plus clouds that can come right down and cover everything in mist. This place has to be one of the most spectacular spots I’ve ever seen.
 

Yet, before now, it’s been virtually unknown to most tourists. Why? Because there are very few good roads; the terrain is difficult to navigate and many of the most gorgeous sites are hard to get to, unless you know where you’re going and what you’re doing. So, basically, up until this point, if you wanted to really check out the Blue Mountains and you weren’t a local who knew these mountains well—like we do—you may have had a hard time accomplishing your goal.
 

But, luckily, Island Routes has arrived to save the day! With our fleet of off-road vehicles, like the Land Rover I was riding in on this trip, and our amazing native tour guides, you too can see and feel these hills and these islands just like we do. I am so excited about Island Routes because I know that it’s going to open up a whole new side of the tropics and give everyone who’s interested an insider’s view of the Caribbean, one that you’re absolutely going to love.

Here I am with my super-cool vehicle of choice—ready to tackle the Blue Mountains and explore some tough and breathtaking terrain.

Behind the wheel, stopped for a few minutes to figure out where to head next and also to take in the silence and the scenery. By the way—no roads in sight….

A convoy of me and my buddies makes our way along a dirt road deep in the mountains. (I’m in the Land Rover with the Island Routes logo on the spare tire.)

Don’t even ask me where I was going! All I know is I was having a really good time getting there. Island Routes will take you places in the Caribbean that you never thought existed.

Check out the angle of my Land Rover. Is there anywhere that Island Routes can’t take you? I seriously doubt it.

When you go in search of great off-road experiences, this is the perfect transportation. At Island Routes we believe that only the very best will do!
 

In my job there’s never a dull moment. I had a real blast recently when I got to meet and hang out with 60 of the world’s most cutting edge social media journalists at the amazing White Nite Fantasy Party, which Sandals hosted at Sandals Cay, the private island off Sandals Royal Caribbean.
 

The journalists, who were from industry leading organizations like ABC, AOL, Newsweek, the New York Times, Cosmo, Esquire and People Magazine, were all down in Jamaica as part of the top secret JetMystery Weekend trip organized by JetBlue Airlines, the Jamaica Tourist Board and the online magazine, Thrillist.
 

The White Nite Party was one of the highlights of the whole weekend. Over 300 people dressed in white came out to eat, drink, dance, see and be seen. The music was jumping, with dancehall beats from Craig “Serani” Marsh. The food was delicious, provided by our incredible Sandals chefs. The drinks never stopped flowing. And all the while, all the action was being tweeted and facebooked in real time. It was an unbelievable night!

Check out all the smiles as I pose with John Lynch, Chairman of the JTB; Ben Lerer, the CEO of Thrillist; Chad Myerson, the Head of Caribbean & Latin American Sales; and Adam Rich, Editor in Chief of Thrillist.

Ciao Bella’s Michelle Rousseau and interior design stylist Gillian Henry show the rest of us how to look really cool in white.

Stilt-walker Errol Rowe gives a big thumbs-up, as he soaks up the party vibes with Unique Vacations’ Executives Ryvis Sierra and Yoni Epstein and Sandals Lifestyle’s Lisa Lake.

People Magazine Editor Amy Keith looks like she’s really enjoying her evening on Sandals Cay!
 

Here I am giving everyone a warm welcome and inviting them to let go, take in the chic, tropical vibes and enjoy the party!

Serani wows the crowd with some of his most smokin’ hits.

All of my life I’ve had a strong connection to and love for the ocean. I’ve spent countless hours and days swimming, fishing and boating in the waters of the Caribbean. Without the incredible crystal-clear seas and white-sand beaches of the islands, there would be no such thing as Sandals and Beaches Resorts. Basically, the very success of entire populations across the region relies on a healthy and strong marine environment to help sustain a whole slew of industries ranging from tourism to fishing.
 

That’s why the Sandals Foundation, in conjunction with the Jamaican government and with the cooperation of local fishermen and community members, has been working so hard to create a series of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) throughout the island. By prohibiting fishing within their boundaries and allowing the fish population to rebound from decades of overfishing, these MPAs will eventually cause a chain reaction that will restore Jamaican coral reefs to health, which will build up the beautiful beaches and spawn even more fish for the fishing industry. So, in the long run, this will benefit not only the environment, but also the economy of the local community as well.
 

After all the hard work and planning, we just officially opened our very first MPA in Ocho Rios. Everyone who attended the official launch ceremony at Beaches Boscobel for the very first of what we hope will be many MPAs was excited about this project. For those who were instrumental in bringing this first sanctuary online, including Christopher Tufton, the Agricultural Minister of Jamaica, and Heidi Clarke, the Senior Coordinator of the Sandals Foundation, this was a very proud moment. It’s taken a lot of blood sweat and tears and required a ton of cooperation, but now that we’ve established this first MPA, I am convinced that we’re on our way to preserving our marine ecology and rejuvenating our coastal communities. Great things lie ahead!

It was a great honor to say a few words to officially kick off this very first Marine Protected Environment in Jamaica.

Looking out towards the new marine sanctuary, with a plaque marking the area and describing the project in the background.

I look on with a big smile, as Jamaican Agriculture Minister, Christopher Tufton, gets ready to cut the ribbon officially opening up the MPA.

Agriculture Minister Christopher Tufton and I read the plaque that sits in front of and explains the MPA. It felt amazing to finally see all our effort paying off.

Jamaican Agriculture Minister Christopher Tufton, Sandals Foundation Coordinator, Heidi Clarke, and I commemorate the start of this amazing project with big smiles, as we stand next to the MPA plaque.
 

There’s been a lot of buzz lately around the opening of a brand new adventure tour operation in the Caribbean, Island Routes, which offers excursions designed by natives of these islands—like myself and my family—who grew up finding and playing in the best and most beautiful spots in the whole region.
 

Since I first told you about the formation of Island Routes—an independent company that is affiliated with Sandals and Beaches—earlier this year, I’ve been truly looking forward to the moment that we could get the ball rolling and officially kick off this incredible venture. And that’s just what we did earlier this week with a three-day extravaganza of touring, dining and celebrating throughout the North Coast of Jamaica. We invited local and international members of the press to come and participate in Island Routes’ grand opening events and it definitely seemed like a good time was had by all.
 

During the days, people could choose from a whole range of unbelievable excursions, like swimming with the dolphins, deep sea fishing or river tubing. And at night we all got together and had a blast. One of the evenings we all took a sunset cruise on a catamaran and ended up dancing on the beach to some totally authentic Caribbean vibes. At the end of the three days, I think everyone was blown away by the range of choices and the quality of the thrilling adventures that Island Routes has to offer. Island Routes really allows us to show off the magical sights and experiences of the Caribbean—something I never get tired of doing. You should definitely come and check it out for yourselves!

Carmen Munoz of Casa Naranja Media Group in New York and James Ruggis, Executive Editor of Modern Agent, wave to the camera as they enjoy one of Island Routes tours—being poled down the Martha Brae River on an authentic bamboo raft.
 

Here I am pointing out something interesting to Peter Zaremba, the travel writer from the New York Daily News, as we sail along on a sunset cruise.

Striking a pose and sharing a laugh aboard the sunset cruise catamaran with Dominique Peterkin, the General Manager of Island Routes and Roberta Garzaroli, the President of the Atrebor Group, the PR Agency that’s representing Island Routes.
 

Island Routes General Manager, Dominique Peterkin, shows off some stylin' moves, as she shares a dance on the sand with Walter Greene, the Travel Editor for Carib News.

Showing some real commitment to her job (and some impressive rhythm), Island Routes GM, Dominique Peterkin and a group of Island Routes Team Members lead the whole crowd in a traditional Jamaican dance during the launch party.

I know that I say this all the time, but the truth is: sometimes I absolutely have the best job in the world. Not too long ago some of the most beautiful women on the planet arrived in the Bahamas, one of the most breathtaking places on the globe, to take part in the Miss Universe Pageant. And I got to meet and hang out with many of these inspiring people—including the eventual winner, Miss Venezuela.

As part of the festivities leading up to the actual contest, Sandals threw a party for the contestants and for all those involved with putting on this incredible function. The Chairman personally hosted the evening at gorgeous Sandals Cay, our offshore island at Sandals Royal Bahamian, and an amazing time was had by all. Between the natural beauty of the sea, sand and tropical surroundings and the unbelievably good-looking contest participants, it was a really dazzling night.

Then, on the occasion of the pageant, itself, the Chairman and I were proud to attend and represent Sandals and Beaches. After the judging was over and the tough decisions were made, it was our privilege to congratulate the newly crowned Miss Universe, Stefania Fernandez!

From start to finish, the Miss Universe Pageant was a truly impressive event and we at Sandals and Beaches were very excited to be a part of the celebrations. From a personal standpoint, I have to admit, I enjoyed every minute of it!

Representing the island of Jamaica…. The Chairman and Miss Jamaica share a moment at the party for Miss Universe contestants at Sandals Cay, the gorgeous offshore island of Sandals Royal Bahamian.

Big smiles all around from the Chairman and some of the lovely Miss Universe participants at the function at Sandals Cay.

The Miss Universe Pageant contestants take a pause from having fun at Sandals Cay to strike a pose holding a Sandals banner.

As you can tell from our happy expressions, the Chairman; Joe Cinque, the President of the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences; and I were thrilled to pose with the brand new Miss Universe 2009, Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela.

The work of the Sandals Foundation, our charitable arm focused on uplifting and improving the Caribbean in the three areas of community, education and environment, is something that is really dear to my heart. I am firmly convinced that there is so much that we can all do to make a difference in these islands that have given so much to me, to my family and to every single person who’s ever enjoyed the beauty and culture of the region.

That’s why I was so thrilled recently when we joined together with Flight Centre Canada, one of the world’s leading travel consultants, to launch a massive, weeklong initiative, involving several separate projects throughout Turks & Caicos, designed to help clean and green the island and spruce up many of its schools and community areas. You can’t imagine the excitement that was in the air on the day that we kicked everything off. Along with teams from the Sandals Foundation, close to 400 management personnel from Flight Centre Canada headed out across Providenciales and began pouring all of their time, effort and enthusiasm into this really worthy causes.

It was really inspiring to watch and be a part of something that was so big, yet so organized and so successful. Some of the projects we worked on included repairing and rebuilding a conch farm; creating a brand new playground and reading garden at a local Primary School; establishing an outdoor, landscaped study area at the High School; planting trees at the Frenchman’s Creek Nature Preserve; and constructing a new basketball court facility for the local kids to enjoy. If you want to learn more about all of the amazing initiatives that are part of this program, please log on to www.sandalsfoundation.org and take a look!

Aside from their unbelievable contribution of time and muscle power to aid the Sandals Foundation in supporting and uplifting Turks & Caicos, Flight Centre also donated $50,000 USD to the Foundation to help us with our goal of making the Caribbean region a better place to live, work and play. As Flight Centre President Greg Dixon said so well: “Working on these projects gave us a chance to give back to the destinations that help us make a living. Our hope is that we are leaving a legacy and starting a trend that will last for years to come.”

I have literally been blown away by people’s commitment to charity and their community spirit. In fact, just the other day two guests at Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios, Jamaica—husband and wife, Freddie and Mitzi Rick from West Virginia—were so psyched about our mission that they wrote a check for $5,000 to the Sandals Foundation! With incredible acts of generosity like this, I firmly believe that, together with the Sandals Foundation, we are on our way to making sure that great things lie ahead for the Caribbean.

Here I am with 250 fired-up managers from Flight Centre Canada, as we get ready to go out there and make a difference in Turks & Caicos!

A smiling Flight Centre manager gets her hands dirty as she plants a reading garden for the students of Clement Howell High School.

A big thumbs-up from a Flight Centre Canada volunteer, as he and his 32-member team help to rebuild the world’s only conch farm, which was destroyed by two major hurricanes.

Check out the big smile as this Flight Centre crew member does her part to install and beautify a new recreation area for the kids at the Osetta Jolly Primary School.

Flight Centre Canada President Greg Dixon presented the Sandals Foundation with a much-appreciated check for $50,000. As you can see from our happy faces we both know just how much good this money will do throughout the Caribbean.

You won’t find a more generous couple than Mitzi and Freddie Rick from West Virginia. These two Royal Plantation guests simply donated $5,000 to the Sandals Foundation out of the goodness of their hearts!