Just five months after British Airways second inaugural flight from London (Gatwick) landed to a festive welcome – signifying great news for St Kitts real estate investors – St Kitts announced that a new private air terminal is scheduled to be built at the island’s Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport.

The primary objective of the multi-million dollar private jet terminal that was announced on Thursday, August 19, 2010, is to build a product that will further enhance St Kitts and its reputation as a premier tourist and real estate destination.

This comes as great news for the exclusive beachfront real estate development Ocean’s Edge - located at Frigate Bay. Ocean’s Edge is located within ten minutes of the R L Bradshaw International Airport and is adjacent to the Royal St. Kitts Golf Club.

The private air terminal project is a Build Operate Transfer (BOT) project with a term of 30 years. The development will be in phases and will complement the overall development of St. Kitts and Nevis in the tourism and real estate sectors.

The first phase of the development which will be located towards the west of the main Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport parking apron will feature the main tropical-styled and environmentally friendly terminal. This new private air terminal will consist of world class lounges, a state of the art business center, and related offices and international processing facilities, as well as a landscaped courtyard and an events centre.

Minister of Tourism & International Transport, Senator Ricky Skerritt commented on the significant step forward the private air terminal is in the transformation of St. Kitts’ tourism product.

He said, “With competition for the global private jet market so intense, this project is designed to facilitate the type of arrival and departure experience that discerning travelers, including entertainment celebrities, sports stars and international investors, expect. This new private air terminal will enable St. Kitts to deliver the highest quality of personalized service to passengers on private Jets, as well as scheduled VIP arrivals, featuring our genuinely welcoming Kittitian hospitality.”

Construction of St. Kitts’ private jet terminal at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport is scheduled to start in February next year with fixed base operator service operations commencing at the end of 2012.

The new private air terminal will be constructed and operated by global aviation solution provider Veling Limited. Veling will use local contractors, craftsman and tradesman as well as tapping into international expertise for such a specialist project.

Located in the northern part of the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean, St. Kitts offers a diverse real estate and tourism product developed from the destination’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and rich history that begins with the second voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1493.

The island’s sandy beaches and warm clear waters surround a treasure trove of historic sites, exhilarating music, colours and food. A stunning variety of cultural events and recreational activities include hiking through the tropical rainforest, riding the scenic railway that connects the island’s sugar plantations, visiting the Caribelle Batik factory, and touring Brimstone Hill, the only man-made UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Eastern Caribbean.

St. Kitts partners with British Airways, St. Kitts Marriott Resort, Christophe Harbour and Ocean Edge’s at the 2010 Taste of London
 
London 24 June 2010 – The St. Kitts themed ‘Caribbean beach bar’, became a focal point at the recent 2010 Taste of London Festival as the island made its debut at the annual summer event held in Regents Park, London from 17 to 20 June 2010.   Over 50,000 people visited Taste over the four day period with many calling in at the St. Kitts booth to find out about holidays to the destination as well as to sample a range of delicious flavoured rums and enter a fantastic competition to win a holiday for two.

The ‘beach bar’ offered visitors a taste of what to expect when visiting the island; the background image summing up the spectacular landscapes, beaches and watersports on offer, while the rum barrels and tasting highlighted the island’s sugar cane history and existing rum products.   The UK team kept visitors enthused with stories about the island, the range of accommodation to be found, tours and excursions as well as the variety of places to eat, drink and relax. 

Information on special holiday offers by British Airways Holidays was available as well as information on Christophe Harbour and Ocean’s Edge, two of the current resort developments for those interested in investing in St Kitts real estate.   

The St. Kitts steel band, which performed every day at the main band stand as well as in the BA Garden, added to the traditional Caribbean atmosphere around the booth.
St. Kitts’ presence was supported via partnerships with Christophe Harbour and Ocean’s Edge, as well as British Airways and the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, who offered return flights and accommodation respectively for the competition prize.  

Lisa Elmes-Bosshard, UK Consultant to the St. Kitts Tourism Authority said, “The St. Kitts’ brand gained significant exposure at the 2010 Taste of London Festival. The rum tasting was a big hit with consumers, and we received over 1000 entries to the competition which will become an important addition to our increasing database. This is another example of the benefit of using smart partnerships for marketing our Caribbean island destination, St Kitts, and we extend a huge appreciation to our tourism partners who supported us at the Taste of London Festival.”  
 
About Taste Festivals and Taste of London
Taste Festivals, a global phenomenon and a trusted brand, now operates this hugely successful event format in 15 cities around the world.  With a sell-out crowd of over 50,000, Taste of London remains the flagship event and star attraction. 

Whether an artisan producer or big brand, Taste of London provides an exceptional platform from which to interact with and promote to a foodie as well as a wider audience.  

About St. Kitts
Located in the northern Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, St. Kitts offers a diverse tourism product developed from the destination’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and rich history.  The island’s stunning variety of tourism attractions include hiking through the tropical rainforest, riding the scenic railway that connects the island’s sugar plantations, touring Brimstone Hill Fortress, the only man-made UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Eastern Caribbean, and the more traditional vacation pastimes such as watersports, golf, shopping, tennis, gourmet dining, gaming at one of St. Kitts’ two casinos or simply relaxing on one of the island’s sandy beaches.  Guests can select from accommodations ranging from intimate plantation inns to larger hotels or resorts.  

St. Kitts is served twice weekly by British Airways from London (Gatwick) to St. Kitts on Tuesdays and Saturdays. For more information about the island, visit the website at www.stkittstourism.kn or follow St. Kitts on Facebook (My St Kitts) and/or Twitter (Stkittstourism)