St Barth Observer

The 20^th Annual Reader’s Choice Awards from the Conde Nast Traveler are in! Conde revealed the results and polling data to the public in their November issue of the popular travel magazine. The size of the sampled population was huge this year, in fact the largest ever, at 28,000 readers. Conde Nast threw a gala on Wednesday, October 10^th in NYC at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum to celebrate and announce the results to insiders and guests.

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Digicel, the Caribbean’s fastest growing telecommunications company and largest GSM operator in the region plans to offer an exciting new promotion in which customers can enjoy free weekend minutes. Digi to Digi calls up to one hour are free for postpaid customers and calls more than two minutes by prepaid customers will receive the entire hour free. Launched in 2001, DigiCel has become one of the most successful operators in 22 Caribbean islands, including coverage in St. Barth, while recently expanding its market to Central America. The promotion will run from September 14th until October 31st. According to general manager Roy Gillingham, the promotion is a way in which the company can thank customers for their loyalty.

Hurricane forecasters Philip J. Klotzbach and William M. Gray of Colorado University have released their predictions for the remainder of the hurricane season here in St. Barth, which lasts until November. Thus far, the season has posed no great threat to he island. However, climatologically September is the most active month of the year for the development of strong tropical storms, and the experts are predicted above average activity predicted for the remaining three months. (more…)

Caribbean Sun Airlines

Caribbean Sun, a small South Florida based airline plans to return to the skies this winter after six months of company restructuring. The airline has upgraded both its fleet of aircraft and its service plan and will provide transport throughout the Caribbean islands, which may increase travel options to and from St. Barth. (more…)

Brendan Loy
The entire Caribbean had all eyes on the path of Hurricane Dean, as it headed toward the islands with increasing ferocity. The hurricane barreled through the Caribbean this weekend, leaving behind floods, debris and at least three deaths on the islands of St. Lucia, Martinique and Dominica before heading toward Jamaica. Luckily, the eye of the storm passed well south of St. Barth, bringing nothing more than a bit of wind. A great relief to tourists and locals alike, Hurricane Dean did not cause any damage or injury on the island.

deshotels

St. Barths and a neighboring Caribbean island St. Martin officially gained partial political and financial autonomy from Guadeloupe. The French government now will allow these two islands to create and modify laws regarding issues such as local taxes, tourism, and transportation.
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Altamer Expansion

Island Global Yachting recently announced that it will be building a luxury five-star 101-slip marina with 30% of it allocated to accomodate mega-yachts. The Altamer Marina, which is due to open by fall of 2009 will also include a 740,000 square feet, 164-unit resort with duty free shopping and restaurants.

According to Island Global Yachting this marina will rival most of the others in the area that used to draw luxury and mega-yachts in the region.

Toronto Life

The fashionista hot spot, Scoop in NYC, known for carrying the hottest items like these Diane von Furstenburg dresses, recently opened its beach shop in Mykonos, Greece, last week. According to Scoop co-founder Stefani Greenfield, her intentions are to replicate this beach shop or scoop beach concept in other hot locations such as Saint-Tropez and St. Barths.

Our World Foundation

Championed by Michel Magras, the idea of using wind turbines to produce energy on St. Barths has been gaining support with island officials. A feasibility study will take place with the construction of test towers on the coast at Toiny. The 120 foot towers will be used to verify the strength and dependability of the offshore wind. Placing the turbines on land rather than at sea would allow greater accessibility for maintenance and emergency situations. For example it would be easier to fold up the blades during a hurricane alert. The first phase of the project would be to install 4 to 6 turbines at Toiny, which would continually produce 4.5 to 6 megawatts of power.

St Barth Commuter

The citizens of St. Barths will vote for the teritorial council that will govern the island tomorrow, sunday, july 1st. Due to its seccession from guadaloupe, the island will no longer be governed by a mayor but by a governing body that makes up the territorial council.

The voters get to choose from a list of 4 groups. the winning group will get 7 seats on the council and the remaining 12 seats get divided among 4 groups. (more…)