When I first visited St. Lucia a little over a year ago, I was touched by its beauty and unsuspecting charm. St. Lucia is unlike a number of other Caribbean destinations; it is an undiscovered gem that still holds a sense of exclusivity. This was even more obvious to me as we visited properties around the island. Take Ladera Resort for example. With its 9 villas and 16 suites, the units have an "open wall" with the west side of each left open, giving not only breathtaking views but also a once in a lifetime experience. The site inspection left me inspired but also disappointed as I knew I would not be able to share this with an incentive group of any significant size. I in fact left St. Lucia feeling that I only had four properties in the north (near the capital city of Castries) and one in the south where the Piton mountains rise, to offer clients seeking to send incentive groups from the U.S. However, all that has changed!

Consider Anse Chastanet at the base of the Pitons, with 49 three-walled rooms located at beach level and along the hillside. The property is this fall adding 30 rooms, The Infinity Suites, to its inventory. The Infinity Suites will have their own reception area and concierge services, while the suites will be technology-free like the rest of the rooms on property (there are therefore no telephones, radios or televisions in the rooms).

Beyond expansions and renovations, there are several properties that are being developed from the ground up, one of which will open within the next few months. Overlooking what author James A. Michener once described as "the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean," Discovery at Marigot Bay will open as the island’s most luxurious, boutique resort. Scheduled to open this summer, the property boasts 57 suites, over half of them with private plunge pools, and 67 rooms. Each room also has a porch with a view of the bay. The Lapli spa features treatment rooms each with its own private deck with an open-air shower. Additionally, the spa features a Zen garden with ofuru wooden soaking tubs and two massage cabanas. Also located in the north and anticipated to open by the end of the year is The Plantation at Cotton Bay, a 209-unit, all-villa property that will be managed by Sunswept Resorts.

If there is any doubt about just how seriously developers and hoteliers are considering the attractiveness of St. Lucia, the Starwood Hotels & Resorts in January announced plans to build a Westin hotel at Le Paradis, a new luxury development. The condominium-resort will feature 232 guest rooms, as well as an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed golf course, and an international spa with 26 treatment rooms. The hotel is scheduled to open in August 2007.

So, are you ready to reward those winners and wow them with an unforgettable experience? If so, just remember, St. Lucia is ready.

For more information on St. Lucia, our DMC partner - Carib Travel, or ideas for your incentive individuals or groups, send us an email or visit our web site at www.sncdestinations.com.

5 Tips to Cross-Cultural Communication If you have never taken an international business communication course, or sat through a cross-cultural workshop, here are 5 simple tips to help improve your cross-cultural communication skills. These are helpful even when speaking with someone of a different culture who speaks English. Keep it Simple and Slow Down Conform to basic grammar rules more strictly than you would in everyday conversation. Make sure your sentences express a complete thought, and keep in mind that punctuation will help in clarifying meanings. Avoid big words; slow down and speak clearly. Avoid Asking Yes/No Questions If the question is not understood, a yes/no answer can be misleading. Responding yes to the question such as “Do you understand?” may be your colleague’s or guest’s way of saving face (your face). In some Asian cultures for example, it is considered rude to say no and they will go to extremes to avoid doing so. Paraphrase to Ensure Understanding Never assume that the other party has understood what you have said. When necessary, summarize or state differently what you have said in order to verify it. At the same time, do the same in order to ensure that you also understand and that accurate cross-cultural communication has taken place. Do not Raise Your Voice Have you ever seen those scenes where one party raises his or her voice in an effort to ensure that the other party has understood? Well, it does not work in cross-cultural communication. Maintain your speaking tone as a raised voice may in fact be interpreted as aggression or similar. Keep a Check on Your Humor Each culture has its own style and use of humor. In some cultures, humor is unacceptable in a professional or business setting. And, the style of humor that may be acceptable in one culture may be received negatively in another. If uncertain in a given situation, it is best to avoid humor (including those emoticons in your email correspondences). To find more cross-cultural tips visit our blog, Something Extra. For more information on our cross-cultural workshops, visit our web site.   SNC Destinations, Inc. email: info@sncdestinations.com web: http://www.sncdestinations.com blog: http://sncdestinations.com/cblog PERMISSION TO REPRINT: The contents of this e-newsletter may be copied, reproduced or freely distributed for all non-profit purposes without the consent of the author as long as the author's name and contact information are included. This e-newsletter is sent to all individuals who signed up for our mailing list at www.sncdestinations.com or www.sncdestinations.com/cblog, and to friends and clients of SNC Destinations. We treat your contact information as private and confidential. We will never sell or distribute our subscriber list.