Carribean conferences and incentives: 10 reasons to visit

by Paul Oswell

C&I options range from jamming in recording studios to exclusive retreats

1. With the recent return of 007 to the big screen in new Bond flick Quantum of Solace, there's never been a better time for Bond-themed incentives, and there is arguably no better destination than the Goldeneye Resort in Jamaica. Owned by the Island Outpost group, this luxury property is the former home of Bond author Ian Fleming, and where he penned the James Bond novels. Small groups can enjoy unadulterated luxury, with five individually appointed villas, private beaches and jet-skis. The media room has its own theatre screen and wi-fi is available in all the main communal areas. The 18-acre complex is located in the quiet village of Oracabessa, a 20-minute drive from the resort of Ocho Rios. Meals can be taken in the gazebo or in Fleming House.

2. Another high-class getaway ideal for small groups is Richard Branson's Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. The entire island can be hired for up to 28 guests (over 14 rooms) and it offers just about every island-life amenity demanding groups could hope for. It's reached via San Juan in Puerto Rico, St Thomas in Antigua or Barbados, followed by a flight to Beef Island, Tortola - or by helicopter. A swim-up bar, tennis courts, speed boats and a full-size snooker table are among the more esoteric facilities.

3. "Barbados is the understated jewel in the Caribbean crown," says AXA Life head of events Patti Heaven. "It offers both the wild coastal charm of the Atlantic and Caribbean calm." Her pick of the venues is the Fairmont Royal Pavilion, a 72-room beachfront property with an ocean-facing meeting space for 25 and an interior meeting room for 50. Gourmet dining is available at the Palm Terrace restaurant and less formal meals at the Cafe Taboras. "It delivers quality accommodation, a perfect beachfront location, professionalism and value, and it's unusual to get all this in a five-star setting," adds Heaven. "The feedback from the group was that it exceeded expectations."

4. At just three square miles, Canouan Island in the Grenadines may be small, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in setting. Tucked among its lush green hills and secluded white sand beaches, is the 156-room Raffles Canouan Island. It offers a boardroom and five meeting spaces, as well as the Grand Ballroom for receptions for up to 300 guests. Catering for small to mid-size exclusive events, the resort has dedicated conference service managers, who act as personal DMCs. John Lawson, director at AYMTM, says: "We took 12 couples on a high-level incentive for a financial services company, and an overnight trip to Canouan, staying at Raffles Canouan Resort, provided a sophisticated contrast to Barbados."

5. Jamaica is famous for its music, and with this in mind, Island Outpost mogul Chris Blackwell's boutique hotel collection has opened Geejam in Port Antonio - ideal for groups wanting to get down to the local beat. Located on six acres of the lush San San Estate, the property extends from the foothills of the John Crow and Blue Mountain chains to the Caribbean beachfront. As well as luxury accommodation, Geejam features its own private recording studio, so groups can organise a band (perhaps with the assistance of a few local recruits), have a few jamming sessions and lay down some tracks. Head for inspiration at the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston.

6. Given the focus on leisure, large-scale convention facilities in the Caribbean can be hard to come by, but the new International Waterfront Project in Trinidad's capital city, Port of Spain, is a key development. This huge project will take place in stages up until 2020, and already there is a newly opened 428-room Hyatt Regency Hotel, with 3,900m2 of function space, including a 14-seat boardroom, two ballrooms, and 12 break-out spaces. On completion in 2009 the Waterfront Centre is expected to have an auditorium and performing arts theatre, and the English-speaking Caribbean's largest conference space, covering more than 5,000m2.

7. Relaxation is a natural part of any Caribbean experience, so spas tend to feature heavily on the majority of itineraries. The Calabash Hotel and Villas (www.calabashhotel.com) on Grenada has recently opened its five-star Heaven and Earth Spa, perched on an ocean-front ledge. Facilities include a yoga pavilion. The property has also extended its luxury villa by offering five units to accommodate bigger groups.

Cuisinart Resort & Spa in Anguilla has also opened a 1,765m2 extension to its award-winning Venus Spa this summer. The luxurious £4.6m addition more than triples the size of the existing facility and offers 16 state-of the-art treatment rooms. The resort can welcome groups of up to 120.

8. Boutique properties are the name of the game on St Lucia, with marina resort The Landings (www.thelandingsstlucia.com) launching in four phases with the first phase opening in December 2007, offering 62 suites along with a spa, water sports centre and Beachfront Club Lounge and Restaurant. The Landings has been designed to overlook Rodney Bay's natural harbour. Meanwhile, boutique hotel Cap Maison opened in July 2008 (www.capmaison.com). The resort boasts 50 rooms set on St Lucia's exclusive Cap Estate, with the setting affording panoramic views of historic Pigeon Island and across to neighbouring Martinique. Two properties opening in 2009 will bolster the island's portfolio: La Paradis, opening in 2009, will feature a luxurious spa and an 18-hole Greg Norman golf course, and the Ritz-Carlton will offer an exclusive 275-room ocean front and residential resort.

9. For incentive groups on Barbados, the St Lawrence Gap on the south west coast is where the dining is. Laura Taylor, account director at World Events, says: "If you are looking for restaurants then The Cliff is by far one of the most amazing and dramatic settings for groups of up to 120. For a dine-a-round, ensure that you include Pisces, Aqua, Josef's and Champers." For an evening of local culture, Taylor recommends Oistins Fish Fry where delegates can enjoy BBQ stalls with fish of all kinds (around £5 per head). "They will soon be sipping rum and dancing to the live calypso acts at the stage area," she adds.

10. True rock and roll hideaways don't come much better than those on St Bart's. The Eden Rock Hotel is already marketed as a six-star property and, this month, the hotel will be augmented by the opening of Villa Rockstar - 1,486m2 of ultra-luxe suite in its own cloisters. Welcoming up to 14 dinner guests, the villa not only comes with its own house cars, but features a fully equipped recording studio as part of a music room and theatre/cinema complex. Guests can enjoy VIP meet and greet services in Antigua and St Martin plus exclusive airport transfers from St Barts' airport to Eden Rock.