Acts appearing at the 2010 Bermuda Music Festival have been announced by Ewart Brown, Premier and Minister of Tourism and Transport.
The line-up for the 15th annual festival includes Ziggy Marley, Toni Braxton, Angie Stone, and Estelle. It will be held at the Fairmont Southampton from September 30 to October 2.
Tickets go on sale July 26 and are available online at www.bdatix.bm and in Bermuda at the iStore on Reid Street in Hamilton and Fabulous Fashions at the Heron Bay Plaza.
Ewart Brown, Premier of Bermuda and Minister of Tourism and Transport, is today praising local hotel The Reefs on their recent renovation and expansion.
The Premier said, “One of the keys to Bermuda’s tourism turnaround is proactive, visionary leadership among our hoteliers. The recognition that what was good enough forty years ago isn’t good enough for the modern, sophisticated traveller should compel our entire Tourism industry to keep our product renewed, revitalized and ahead of our competition.
The Reefs’ David Dodwell has shown that he is not content to rest on the laurels of his hotels’ fine reputation, but instead has looked for ways to keep his product fresh, exciting and customer driven. He is a pacesetter for hoteliers who have been slow to upgrade the product and he has demonstrated a deep understanding of his customer.”
The Reefs which has been consistently ranked in Travel & Leisure Magazine as one of the best resorts in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda region has just completed a renovation and expansion project that now incorporates fractional ownership.
Premier Brown remarked, “The fact that The Reefs have made a commitment to employing, promoting and retaining Bermudians within its staff should be noted. We often say that the best thing about Bermuda is our people and The Reefs should be praised for keeping Bermudians on the frontlines of tourism at their hotel.”
Yesterday Premier Ewart Brown announced the Sandys Parish resort will undergo an $80 million dollar redevelopment and reopen in May 2011.
He said, “This development is yet another step on the path to revitalizing Bermuda’s tourism product to ensure we regain our reputation as a first class resort destination. This new development is also going to provide jobs during the re-development as well as additional jobs once the resort re-opens in 2011.”
Bermuda is turning up the heat with its new Sizzling Summer Promotion, offering up to $600 in resort credit based on room nights booked. Guests receive a $600 credit when booking a six night stay, $500 credit when booking a five-night stay and $400 credit when booking a four-night stay.
The Department of Tourism teamed up with the Bermuda Hotel Association for this exclusive promotion, available for booking April 1 – 30 for travel May 1 – October 31, 2010.
Property developer Kevin Petty has told the Royal Gazette newspaper that a new $100 million cottage colony will be built on the site of the Lantana within 3 years.
The developer has been hired by Lawrence Doyle. The New York hedge fund manager purchased the property in 2008.
The Royal Gazette reports today that plans are being drawn up for a new hotel in Southampton Parish.
The development, on the site of the old Munro Beach Cottages, will include 26 two-bedroom hotel suites, a restaurant, and swimming pool. The site is adjacent to the Port Royal Golf Course.
Brickman has issued a statement saying that construction work on a new Four Seasons hotel in Bermuda will begin later this year.
The development will consist of a 150 room hotel and 80 fractional units. It will be located on the site of the Coral Beach Club and Horizons & Cottages in Paget Parish.
Brickman is a real estate private equity firm based in New York. They purchased the properties in 2008.
Premierf Dr. Ewart Brown, who is also Minister of Tourism & Transport, said: “This is the fifth year for the Love Festival and I am more than pleased with how the event has grown over the years. The activities planned for this year are sure to entice couples to come and Feel the Love this Valentine’s weekend.”
The Bermuda International Love Festival is an annual weekend getaway flooded with romantic touches from evening cocktails and rounds of golf to great eats and dreamy serenades. It is the ultimate luxury love experience for the well-deserving couple. From February 12-14, 2010 couples will enjoy the plush accommodations and amenities of the Fairmont Hamilton Princess while being treated as preferential guests all weekend long.
This year, some of the festival’s highlights include:
• The Premier’s opening celebration featuring Robb Report’s “Best of the Best,” at the Tucker’s Point Hotel & Spa followed by a performance by The Wycliffe Gordon Quartet, hosted by Robb Report
• Men’s and women’s golf at the newly renovated Port Royal Golf Course, home of the 2009 and 2010 PGA Grand Slam of Golf, hosted by GolfWorld Magazine
• An intimate dinner party at Port O’Call Restaurant
• Brunch at The Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art
• VIP seating for a performance by Grammy award-winner, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, sponsored by the Bermuda alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated
• Private performance by R&B legend, Chuck Jackson
To top it off, couples can let their hair down at any of Bermuda’s hottest nightclubs, or simply unwind at one of Bermuda’s renowned spas.
Travel packages to the 2010 International Love Festival cost $1,600.00 per couple and include an exclusive Gold Room at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess for three nights as well as all Love Festival activities. To revive your love connection in paradise this Valentine’s Day weekend with that special someone visit www.bermudalovefestival.com.
Government House today released further details of the November 24-26 2009 Royal Visit to Bermuda by Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh.
The Queen will make official visits to the historic town of St George as well as the Royal Naval Dockyard. A Church Service at the Anglican Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Hamilton will see some lucky residents who submitted their names as part of a lottery, join a host of dignitaries at the historical service. Her Majesty will also attend an official dinner given by the Premier and Government of Bermuda.
The route of the Royal motorcade as it travels around the Island has been designed so that members of the public, school children and various youth groups will be able to meet or catch a glimpse of the Royal Party.
Government House said today that Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will be accompanied by Foreign Secretary David Miliband when their flight arrives in Bermuda on the afternoon of Tuesday 24 November, 2009. Her Majesty will be met by the Governor and Lady Gozney and the Governor will then present the Premier and Mrs Henton Brown to the Queen.
The Royal motorcade will leave the airport and arrive in St George at 3.20 pm. Her Majesty will be met by the Commanding Officer of the Bermuda Regiment, Lt. Col. Gonsalves and Mrs. Gonsalves. Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will receive a Royal Salute from a Guard of Honour of the Bermuda Regiment. The Chief Justice, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Assembly and local Members of Parliament and their spouses will head the list of dignitaries on hand to meet Her Majesty and His Royal Highness.
Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will proceed to the Town Hall where they will be introduced to the Mayor of St. George’s Mariea Caisey; St George’s Alderman, Kenneth Bascome; Vicar of St Peter’s Anglican Church, Rev David Raths; Town Crier, David Frith and Chairman of the St George’s Foundation, Kenneth Snaith.
Girl Guides and Brownie troupes, school children from east end schools and seniors together with some of those who re-enacted the Sea Venture landing in 1609, will join members of the public that are expected to gather along the sidewalks from King’s Square to Ordnance Island to see the Royal couple.
In the event of inclement weather, the Royal Party will visit the World Heritage Centre, via King’s Square, and will meet the various dignitaries inside the Centre. Opportunities to meet school children and other groups will be available as can be accommodated. The Royal motorcade will then travel to Government House, departing St George via Water Street. The Queen will hold a reception for invited guests at Government House.
On Wednesday, November 25 2009, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh will present Duke of Edinburgh Awards to Bermuda’s Gold winners and a few others at Government House. The Royal party will then travel to the Anglican Cathedral for a 10.30 am service celebrating Bermuda’s 400th Anniversary. The service will be attended by leaders of Christian denominations and other faiths. The arrival of the Royal Party and the church service will be covered by live television on ZBM and on CITV – the Government television station. In addition, monitors will be erected outside the church for the viewing convenience of the general public gathered outside the Cathedral.
Following the church service, the Royal party will head to Albouy’s Point at approximately 11.20 am where they will board a ferry to Dockyard. On their 11.40 am arrival in Dockyard, they will be met by Minister of Energy and Telecommunications, the Hon. Michael Scott, JP, MP; seniors, children from west end schools and members of the public. Here, the Royal Party will separate briefly, with HRH the Duke of Edinburgh and Foreign Secretary David Miliband paying a visit to the sloop, the Spirit of Bermuda and Her Majesty being met by the Hon. Walter Lister, JP, for a tour of the Clocktower building.
At the Spirit of Bermuda, Captain Simon Colley will be with about thirteen 16-year-old girls from Bermuda Institute who will be sailing that week as sail trainees. Mr. Walter Lister who serves as Chair of the West End Development Corporation will introduce members of his board; area MPs the Hon. Terry Lister, JP, MP, and Hon. Dennis Lister, JP, MP as well as the Deputy Chairman of St. John Ambulance.
Inside the Clocktower building, Her Majesty will watch Sandy’s Middle School children perform a short selection on Dockyard history before meeting some of the apprentices who were training when the Royal Navy facility closed in 1950/51 and who finished their training in Portsmouth. She will also see costumes depicting a traditional Bermuda wedding and a cedar carving demonstration will be conducted by Dr David Saul. Before departing the Clocktower building at 12.25 pm, Her Majesty will unveil a plaque by Mr Lister.
Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will then be driven to the Maritime Museum for lunch with Dr. Edward Harris and invited guests. An Honour Guard by the Bermuda Sea Cadets will greet their arrival. At the conclusion of the Maritime Museum visit, Her Majesty will inaugurate the mural of Bermuda’s history by local artist Mr Graham Foster. The Royal Party will proceed back to Government House via car.
Also on Wednesday November 25 2009, Foreign Secretary David Miliband will meet Dr Tony Knapp when he visits the Bermuda Institute of Oceanic Sciences.
On Wednesday evening, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will attend a formal dinner at Tucker’s Point, hosted by the Premier and Mrs Henton Brown.
In keeping with tradition that saw Her Majesty plant trees on Government House grounds during Bermuda visits in 1953, 1975 and 1994, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will plant two Royal Palm trees at Government House grounds before they depart Bermuda, 11.30 am Thursday November 26 2009.
The Bermuda Sun reports that the Elbow Beach hotel will close its main building in November. Accommodation will comprise just 98 hillside suites and cottages.
The newspaper quotes general manager Frank Stocek as saying ‘After 101 years of grand hospitality, Elbow Beach is poised to offer guests the next level of luxury accommodation in Bermuda. Our recently renovated garden cottages and suites have been extremely well received by our guests, and they will be further enhanced while the renovation plans for our legendary main building are being developed.’