AirStMaarten - Monthly Newsletter - August 2010

The AirStMaarten Newsletter is professional with a personal touch, informative and to the point with news, opinions, background information, articles and promotions.

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In this August 2010 issue:

1. INTRO: Reader's Input Wanted
2. SPECIALS: Summer Specials Normandie Hotel St. Barths
3. ARTICLE: AirStMaarten: Destination St. Barths Is On Facebook
4. SPONSOR MESSAGE: CheapoAir
5. NEWS ITEM: Private Jet Facility To Be Built In St. Kitts
6. TRAVEL TIP: Share A Charter On Facebook
7. AGENDA: When Are Restaurants in St. Barths Re-Opening?
8. ADVERTISEMENT: Save NOW For Your Next St. Barths Trip
9. CUSTOMER SERVICE: How To Book With AirStMaarten

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INTRO: Reader's Input Wanted
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Dear friends and clients,

I am preparing our next AirStMaarten Newsletter and I need your help because reader's input are always valuable and most welcome.

So before I head over to St. Barths with my digital camera, pen and notepad, tell me what you would like to read and see in the upcoming issues.

If you have ideas, stories, articles, reviews, recommendations, trip reports and photo's you would have like to have published in our newsletter, don't hesitate to email these to me. You can also post these on our Facebook Fanpage.

Ofcourse, it is now hurricane season and many are not venturing down to St. Barths at this time of the year. But if you do, make sure first to read last year's September issue featuring an article about "What To Do If Caught In A Hurricane In The Caribbean".

If we do happen to have a hurricane paying us a visit, you can track it via satellite photo's found on the "Weather" page of our tourist information website at http://www.stmaarten-info.com.

So if you have any ideas, stories, articles, reviews, recommendations, trip reports and photo's you would have like to have published in our AirStMaarten: Destination St. Barths Newsletter, don't hesitate to email these to me.

Happy Readings!

Terrance Rey

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2. SPECIALS: Summer Specials Normandie Hotel St. Barths
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Normandie Hotel room

Romantic Week-end
450 Euros (for two people)
with
(a) 3 nights at the Hotel; (b) Bottle of Champagne at arrival;
(c) Continental breakfast each morning;
(d) Complimentary wine each afternoon; (e) Rental car;
(f) Dinner for 2 at K’fe Massai on Saturday night.

Three or More Nights
Ask about our Special Rates
Room + Welcome Gift + Continental Breakfast + Afternoon Wine

Family Vacation Special
1200 Euros
for
2 adults and 1 or 2 children in connecting rooms for 5 NIGHTS;
Continental Breakfast each morning; Welcome Gift; Complimentary afternoon wine & soft drinks; Dinner one night at Le Bouchon;
Plus rental car.

Book via contact@normandiehotelstbarts.com.

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3. ARTICLE: AirStMaarten: Destination St. Barths Is On Facebook
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AirStMaarten Destination St. Barths on Facebook

Addictive as it can be, I spend enough time on Facebook to take it seriously to the point where I am actually using it more as a marketing tool than any other internet marketing channel currently in use to promote AirStMaarten and my other internet-based businesses and e-commerce websites.

The importance and the reach of this giant among social media platforms cannot be underestimated. For me to ignore it is to ignore a gigantic potential audience and to bypass a huge and active community while trying to build a community of my own for clients wishing to travel to St. Barths. Ignoring Facebook is simply not in my best interest. Therefore..., AirStMaarten: Destination St. Barths is now also on Facebook.

AirStMaarten: Destination St. Barths already has over 60 fans and the fanbase steadly growing every day. Fans can now also sign up to receive this newsletter on the AirStMaarten: Destination St. Barths Fan Page by selecting the tab "Join My List".

Presently, fans can also check the Shared Charters schedule under the "Events" tab. You can RSVP to these Shared Charters Events and see who you will be sharing private charters with. You can also choose to share a charter with some of your Facebook friends and make it a social event.

As time goes by, I will be implementing more applications on the AirStMaarten: Destination St. Barths Fan Page, such as an online Store where fans can order AirStMaarten merchandise. I already testing such an App on my personal Facebook page where friends can order flowers and giftbaskets and have them delivered anywhere in St. Maarten.

If you have not joined Facebook yet, you can sign up today at http://www.facebook.com and become a Fan of AirStMaarten: Destination St. Barths.

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4. SPONSOR MESSAGE: CheapoAir
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Cheap Air Flightbanner

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5. NEWS ITEM: Private Jet Facility To Be Built In St. Kitts
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Private Jet Facility To Be Built In St. Kitts

Private jet facility to be built in St Kitts

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, Thursday August 26, 2010 – Construction of St Kitts’ multi-million dollar private jet facility at the Robert L Bradshaw International Airport is set to begin in February next year 2011.

Officials are expecting the new terminal – estimated to cost between US$15 million and US$20 million – to boost high end tourism in St. Kitts and Nevis.

“It would make the country much more attractive to the high-end travelers, the celebrities, etc who…like to be pampered and like hassle free travel,” Chairman of the Board of the St. Christopher Air and Sea Port Authority (SCASPA), Linkon Maynard, said at the recent contract signing ceremony . “I think that is what the Fixed Based Operations (FBO) facility guarantees to that type of traveler.”

The project is part of the general upgrade plans for the ports. Maynard disclosed that four proposals were submitted for the construction of the private terminal, and the bid by UK-based Veling Aviation Ltd was selected.

“Apart from the profit sharing arrangement to bring more revenue into SCASPA, it is also going to have significant spinoffs into the economy as a whole,” Maynard added, noting that the negotiated contract allows current FBOs access to the facility for their business and first class passengers.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport Senator Ricky Skerritt said the construction of the terminal is a significant step forward in the transformation of the country’s tourism product.

“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,” he said. “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.”

The terminal amenities will include an upscale lounge, bar, meeting room, business center, showers, open air plaza and other interactive features found in similar facilities. The designers have incorporated green areas that will feature plants, moats and a water fall.

Construction will be done in three phases and is scheduled to start in February 2011 with the first phase completed and operational by August 2012. Veling consultant Michael Dingemans said the construction phase will provide work on site for locals while the FBO itself will employ a minimum of 10 full time persons, with the staff count increasing to 20. The project is a Build Operate Transfer (BOT) project with a term of 30 years.

St. Kitts - St. Barths

St. Barths - St. Kitts

Sidebar: St. Kitts is less then 30 minutes flying from St. Barths. This planned FBO facility for private jets on St. Kitts would entail a welcomed alternative for private jets wishing to avoid St. Maarten during the high season. St. Kitts' airspace is not as congested as St. Maarten's airspace during the busy periods. Furthermore, St. Kitts airspace offers direct access to the San Juan airspace without having to go through St. Maarten's air traffic control.

Background: St. Kitts covers 68 square miles of land and is separated by 2 miles of channel from its sister island, Nevis. The population is approximately 44,000 and the main language is English. The islands of St. Kitts and Nevis enjoy a tropical climate with low humidity and an average yearly temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit or 26 degrees Celsius.

A stable democratic government encourages foreign investment through various fiscal incentives. This offshore financial center is fully modernized and offers major banking institutions. St. Kitts' government is continuing to become one of the world's premiere tax havens.

With tourism, an ever-growing economy, a deep-water harbor, an International Airport with direct flights from Puerto Rico, Miami, Charlotte, Philadelphia, UK, Toronto, and most of the Caribbean islands, St. Kitts offers the investor a vacation paradise as well as a secure investment.

For more info on St. Kitts, visit the official St. Kitts website at http://www.stkittstourism.kn.

Related news: St. Kitts Ready For Open Skies Deal With The US

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6. TRAVEL TIP: Share A Charter On Facebook
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If you are on Facebook, you can also check the AirSXM Shared Charters schedule to St. Barths under the "Events" tab on the AirStMaarten: Destination St. Barths Fan Page. You can RSVP to these Shared Charters Events and see who you will be sharing a private charter to St. Barths with. You can also choose to share a charter with some of your Facebook friends and make it a social event. Highly recommended if you want make it a fun-filled trip to St. Barths.

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7. AGENDA: When Are Restaurants in St. Barths Re-Opening?
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Closing Parties in St. Barths

Posted in last month's newsletter about Maya's Closing Party on August 28th. However, now the big question - posed via an email from a newsletter reader - is... "When Is Maya's Re-Opening?" Anyone knows the answer, let me know. As a matter of fact, let me know when all the restaurants that have closed for the season are re-opening.

NEW: St. Barths Restaurants Guide and Reviews hosted by Premium Island Vacations.

Maybe Jim might just allow me to link http://www.sbhdining.com to his St. Barths Restaurants Guide and Reviews page.

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8. ADVERTISEMENT: Save NOW For Your Next St. Barths Trip...
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... and earn 10% in savings.

Last year it was the United States economy. This year it is the European economy.  When will they get in sync and recover together?
 
Right now, you have an opportunity to save some money in anticipation of your next trip to St. Barths. (You know you will be coming again!).
 
Take advantage of the declining value of the Euro and lock-in your SXM-SBH-SXM travel cost now.
 
Buy a gift certificate for travel between November 15 and April 15 and save money.

  • Buy a $500 Gift Certificate and pay only $450
  • Buy a $1000 Gift Certificate and pay only $900
  • Buy a $2000 Gift Certificate and pay only $1800
  • Buy a $4000 Gift Certificate and pay only $3600
  • Buy a $5000 Gift Certificate and pay only $4500

Gift certificates must be used for purchases of single bookings of our shared charters or private charters.
 
Only the $500 gift cerficates can be used for single bookings for commercial tickets with Winair or St. Barth Commuter.
 
If you buy now, I will waive the regular 4% creditcard surcharge on all gift certificate purchases. If you buy $1000 or more, I will throw in a gift coupon for complimentary VIP Services worth $125.
 
Email us to place your order now.
 
Best regards,
 
Terrance Rey
 
PS: If you are a travel agent or villa owner, please email me via sales@airsxm.com for more information about our new incentive programme.

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9. CUSTOMER SERVICE: How To Book With AirStMaarten
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Booking Procedure & Reservation Information

Submit a reservation request online at www.airsxm.com. Once we receive your request, we will send you a Reservation Offer for your consideration. Once you accept our proposal, we will require payment. You can use our credit card form to send us your credit card information. We accept all major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. You can also pay by bank transfer, check, cash or Paypal. Once payment is received, we will book the commercial flight or private charter and send you a Reservation Confirmation.

If you have requested additional services such as VIP Transfer Services, we will send you a Final Confirmation containing all details of your travel itinerary and services booked. And that's how you book with AirStMaarten.

Other Customer Service Resources:
Our Shared Charters concept explained in full detail
VIP Transfer Services through Princess Juliana Int'l Airport
Island Concierge Services on St. Maarten and St. Barths
Read what our satisfied clients are saying about our service
Ticket Insurance
We also accept payments via Paypal
St. Maarten Villa Rentals
St. Maarten Yachting and Sailing Charters
Sign up for our email newsletter service

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Contact us

- Website: http://www.airsxm.com
- Email: customerservice@airsxm.com
- Telephone: +1-721-526-4420
- Charters: +1-721-523-3564
- Faxnumber: +1-866-503-0347

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