New flights, 800 new rooms.

Visitor arrivals to St. Lucia increased 22.8% and tourism officials anticipate continued growth in 2005. New direct daily air service on American Airlines between Miami and St. Lucia commenced Nov. 1, augmenting the new service from Houston (Continental) and Atlanta (Delta) which began earlier this year. Some 800 new hotel rooms will be added to the country's inventory. Sandals Resorts International has announced plans to expand the company's family-themed Beaches Resorts brand to St. Lucia. This $80 million resort will be the first Beaches in the Eastern Caribbean and the fourth Sandals-owned resort on St. Lucia. Coconut Bay Resort & Spa (245 rooms) is scheduled to open in Feb. 2005 on the old Club Med site. CocoPalm (113 rooms, suites), the second of three properties of the newly-formed Coco Resorts, is scheduled to open in Feb. 2005. Discovery at Marigot Bay Spa Resort and Marina (57 apartments), a five-star property in Marigot Bay, will be completed in the fall of 2005. The Plantation at Cotton Bay, the first five-star luxury villa resort in St. Lucia, is scheduled to open in April 2005 (74 accomodations). Discussions are at an advanced stage for the construction of a Jack Nicklaus Golf Course. Details: Stephanie Gladstone/ Erika Vives. Nancy J. Friedman Public Relations. Tel: [phone]. Email: [e-mail]/[e-mail]. Web: www.njfpr.com