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B M & T ••• July/August 2016 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 39 AREA GUIDES BAJAN HOSPITALITY INTRIGUES MEETING PLANNERS: BEAUTIFUL SANDY BEACHES & RICH CULTURE PROVIDE EXCELLENT BACKDROP FOR MORE INTIMATE OCCASIONS BY CYNTHIA MOLUSK Feel the doors of your imagination open wide when you discover Barbados for therein lays the magic of this island, where you are limited only by your dreams and fancies. Whether you're a conference attendee or a leisure traveler this trip will be one to remember. Barbados is known as a plush, English- speaking resort island and to business people and meeting planners, as an island that works. Nestled in one of the region's top rated destinations is a world-class conference center, the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC). This facility is the premier event cen- ter in Barbados, boasting 11 meeting rooms with a maximum capacity of 1,400 in the largest room. From intimate meeting rooms to large conference halls suitable for conferences, exhibitions, weddings, banquets and award cere- monies, the center can comfortably accommodate your next event with 70,000 sq. ft. of adjustable exhibit space. LESC's central location makes it the ideal meeting place for the discern- ing client with easy access to highways, accommodation and air transfers. The Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre is indeed flexible, functional, comfortable and convenient. Make Barbados and LESC the choice for your next meeting. Beach weddings are always amazing, and you've got plenty of those to choose from. The island is surrounded by gor- geous white sand-beaches, each one with something special to offer in terms of setting and capturing the mood you want to create. For those who fancy some- thing else for your clients, botanical gar- dens at Andromeda, Orchid World or the Flower Forest are ideal, fragrant locales, where love blooms forever. Similarly, his- toric chapels and churches with stained glass windows in St. Andrew, St. George and St. John – to name just a few – pro- vide the perfect backdrop for this special day in the unparalleled tropical splendor of Barbados. Located on a tropical peninsula on Needham's Point, Hilton Barbados Resort is surrounded by two white sand- beaches and pristine blue waters, just five minutes from Bridgetown and 20 minutes from Grantley Adams International Airport. The oceanfront resort boasts 350 ocean-view guestrooms, including Executive Floor rooms, all with private bal- cony. Hilton Barbados Resort also fea- tures superior dining and the largest hotel meeting space in Barbados with over 10,000 sq. ft. There is just so much to do – so many treasures to uncover – as you and your meeting attendees soak up the warmth and enjoy the comforts of Barbados. Land Lubbers and Sea Farers alike can have their pick of surf and turf activities appropriate for all ages and stages of calm or daredevil delight! Singles, lovers, friends and families also have rich and plentiful options to choose from. Whether they want to swim or sunbathe, party and play hard or enjoy art, culture and cuisine at its best, it's right here waiting for them. Various festivals are celebrated in Barbados annually. From January till December several venues on the island come alive in celebration for one reason or another. The largest and most impor- tant festival in Barbados is Crop Over, which celebrates the end of the sugar- cane harvest. This summer festival is cel- ebrated over several weeks and includes fairs, fetes, parades and contests. Crop Over culminates on Kadooment Day. This day features an explosion of colors, food and masqueraders dancing rhythmically to the pulsating beats of Calypso along the streets towards Brandons Beach on the Spring Garden Highway. It is truly the sweetest Summer Festival. To enter Barbados all visitors must have a passport and a valid return ticket. Most countries around the world don't require a visa to visit Barbados. The Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) lies 8 miles from the center of the capital city Bridgetown, in an area officially known as Seawell. • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Hilton Barbados Resort 350 Accra Beach Hotel & Spa 280 The Crane Residential Resort 150 Amaryllis Beach Resort 150 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Center Total Exhibit Space 70,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 11 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Barbados Tourism Authority (800) 744-6244 www.visitbarbados.org Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre Photo Credit: Barbados Tourism Authority B A R B A D O S