PRESS RELEASE - 2008
Dominica Doings - Updates On The Nature Island Dominica Announces New Projects, Upgrades, Packages and Excursions PRESS RELEASE - 2008
Roseau, Dominica (August 21, 2008) - Dominica (pronounced "dom-in-eek-a") is booming with new hotel upgrades, events and restaurants, all which go hand-in-hand with the desire to preserve the island's natural and unspoiled beauty. Dominica also offers a wide variety of summer/fall rates and packages to suit every traveler's budget.
Here are some of the "What's New" offerings in Dominica:
HOTEL RENOVATIONS:
Rainforest Shangri-la Resort - Rainforest Shangri-la Resort has completed construction on their fourth stone hot tub on their river just this month. The first three also recently completed are fed by three separate natural hot springs with different mineral content and different temperatures. The new tub is fed by River Blanc and two hot springs. A total of seven stone hot tubs are planned to be constructed. This eco-friendly property is the only resort in Dominica that has the only boiling water cave, "Dragon?s Mouth." For more information please email shangrila@cwdom.dm or visit www.rainforestshangrilaresort.com.
Beau Rive - This elegant property which is nestled into a hillside of three acres of tropical gardens and forest, is currently working on two new cottage rooms in the garden below the main hotel building. Each room will have an oceanview, queen-sized bed, private shower and all of the amenities the existing eight guestrooms offer. Renovations are anticipated to be complete in December 2008. For more information, please email beaurive@cwdom.dm or visit www.beaurive.com.
Sea Cliff Cottages - Located only 15 minutes from Dominica's airport, experience the beauty of a tropical Caribbean night at Sea Cliff Cottages, which has completed construction on its cottages and is now available for renting. The most recently completed cottage features two bedrooms with a spectacular view of the sea and mountains. Amenities include but are not limited to, balcony, WiFi, washing machine, cable TV, cell phone, full kitchen. For more information please email seacliff@dominica-cottages.com or visit www.dominica-cottages.com.
Domcan's Retreat - Located on the Central coast of Dominica on the edge of the rainforest, you'll find Domcan's Guest House. Each suite consists of a fully outfitted kitchenette, comfortable living room, full bathroom and a large bedroom. The view from the bedrooms are panoramic view of the surrounding forest, mountains, and Domcan's own floral garden, while the view from the living room verandah is of the coconut tree valley and the ocean, which has a new unit on the ground floor is scheduled to open on October 2008. For more information email domcanrestauarnt@hotmail.com or visit www.domcansguesthouse.com.
TOUR OPERATORS/EXCURSIONS
Sea Turtle Watching - An island-wide Sea Turtle Conservation program is being launched in various communities of the North and Southeast for the 2009 turtle watching season. More than forty individuals completed an in-depth training program including Sea Turtle Biology and Tour Guiding techniques in an effort to create a comprehensive community-based ecotourism and management program which will include guided tours to watch the hatchlings make their way to the water, beach patrols and scientific data collection. Beach patrollers have already been conducting beach patrolling, turtle tagging, taking measurements and, where necessary relocating nests and eggs. Three species of internationally endangered marine turtles the program has begun monitoring are the leatherback, hawksbill and green turtles. The tours are US$10 per person in season, which is approximately from March through October, with the heightened season running from March 15 to end June. Local snacks and drinks such as roast breadfruit, codfish, and coffee will be sold as well as souvenirs with souvenir T-shirts available at select beaches. For more information, contact the following:
Email: errolmar@cwdom.dm or call 767-448-4091/4001; 613-6630; 275-0724
The beaches that are presently manned, under the control of the following community groups:
La Plaine Sea Turtle Observatory
Email: aaattidore@hotmail.com; laplaineturtles@hotmail.com or call 767-446-2052
Nature Enchantment Team (NET) at Rosalie in the South East of Dominica
Email: myzenho@yahoo.com or call 767-277-1608
North Eastern Wildlife Conservation Environmental Protection and Tours (NEWCEPT) in the North East of Dominica.
Email: CharlesWatty@hotmail.com or call 767-225-6258.
Whitchurch Tours - Whitchurch Tours who have been offering tours to cruise passengers for years, our now offering their Community Garden & Creole Cooking Experience and Cabrits Historical Tour & Caribbean Cooking Experience are now offering their tours to hotel guests. For more information email shipping@whitchurch.com or visit www.whitchurch.com.
Antours - Antours has introduced a new excursion, River Tubing on the Layou River, which launched on March 1, 2008. The tour starts with a visit to the Emerald Pool in the luxuriant rainforest in the heart of Morne Trois Pitons National Park. Cruise down the Layou Valley to reach the River's edge where your tubing adventures begin. For more information, email antours@yahoo.com or visit www.antours.dm.
Green Island Watersports - Green Island Watersports is the newest tour operator on the island. From water skis to the banana boat, Green Island Watersports offers a variety of water sports activities. A range of fun activities for beginners advanced or singles. Water ski, wake board, knee board, banana boat, sumo, tubes and bumpers are just a few of the excursions Green Island Watersports offer their clients. For more information email gilles@green-island-watersports.com or call 767-265-1510.
RESTAURANTS
Ritual's Coffee House - Located on the Bay-front in Roseau Ritual's Coffee House, opened their doors to the public on December 10, 2007 and have changed the way to view the coffee shop experience. With wide glass windows luring your eyes inside to the large flat screen televisions, stainless steel, glass and wood motif, creates a trendy cozy atmosphere. The menu does not stop at the usual coffee and sandwiches, but boasts items that tease your taste buds, like the decadent Amaretto Cheese Cake. There are also plenty of menu items that children will enjoy, ranging from freshly baked cookies and muffins. For more information email franchising@ritualscoffeehouse.com or visit www.ritualscoffeehouse.com.
Mirage Restaurant - Located above Mero village below The Justine Fadipe Medical Center, Mirage is a new 30-seat restaurant that will serve fresh market cuisine. North African, Mediterranean, East and West Indian, South American and Asian are just some of their specialties. Mirage's grand opening is August 21, 2008. Their hours follow: Thursday - Tuesday for dinner 5 pm - 11 pm, Sunday noon - 9 pm. As of October 23, 2008, the eatery will be open for lunch every day, serving crepes, salads and desserts. For more information, email mirage.mero@gmail.com.
Known as 'The Nature Island' and located between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean, the independent nation of Dominica (pronounced "Dom-in-eek-a") is the largest and most mountainous of the Windward Islands, encompassing an area of nearly 290 square miles. Of volcanic origins with mountains reaching heights of nearly 5,000 feet, rainforests that are considered among the last true oceanic rainforests in the world, more than 365 rivers, waterfalls, the second largest Boiling Lake in the world and pristine coral reefs, Dominica's natural diversity is truly unique. Dominica is also home to the last remaining settlement of the Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean - The Carib Indians. A place where man and nature live in harmony, adventurers and nature lovers alike will revel in the Island's eco-tourism options which include scuba diving, snorkeling, mountain biking, kayaking, horseback riding, nature tours, hiking/trekking, whale, dolphin and bird watching, sailing and fishing.
Dominica continues to be recognized for its attributes and responsible tourism efforts, including being the first country in the world to receive Benchmarking designation from the prestigious eco-tourism organization Green Globe 21. National Geographic's Center for Sustainable Destination ranked the island as the top sustainable island in the Caribbean and among the top ten in the world. Most recently, Dominica was recognized by Islands Magazine and was included in its 2007 Blue List for being a leader in responsible tourism and ensuring an environmentally and culturally sound island for future generations.
For more information on Dominica, contact the Discover Dominica Tourism Authority at 866-522-4057.
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