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St Lucia hotels renew hurricane guarantee
Some 22 hotels in St Lucia have renewed a Hurricane Guarantee programme launched for the first time last year to encourage people to travel to the Caribbean island during the traditional hurricane season.
Even though the island is rarely hit by hurricanes, hoteliers felt the need to offer a guarantee from June to September following a slowdown in bookings as a result of the devastation caused to other Caribbean islands by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in 2017.
CEO of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority Beverly Nicholson-Doty said: "Consumer confidence is extremely important to us in Saint Lucia, so the Hurricane Guarantee is in place to assure our visitors that they are covered in the unlikely instance that an established hurricane will alter their travel plans.
"Based on history and statistics, the likelihood of a major hurricane landing in Saint Lucia is low, but we want our guests to feel confident booking their holiday."
As part of the programme, individual hotel groups plus hotel operators associated with the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA), offer the Hurricane Guarantee, which covers cancellations made prior to arrival and if a holiday is cut short because of a hurricane.
Participating hotels include Anse Chastanet, Bay Gardens Resorts (five properties), Bel Jou Hotel, Calabash Cove, Hotel Chocolat, Jade Mountain, The Landings Resort & Spa, Marigot Bay Resort and Marina, Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa, St. James Club Morgan Bay, Ti Kaye Resort & Spa and Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort.
Under the guarantee, guests are offered free cancellations if a hurricane warning is issued by the Saint Lucia Meteorological Service and if a hotel isn’t able to stay open due to hurricane damage guests will be invited to return for a free stay within one year of it re-opening.
In addition, the following hotels offer their own individual hurricane policies: BodyHoliday Saint Lucia, Castles In Paradise, Palm Haven, Oasis Marigot and Sandals Resorts (three properties).
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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