SLTB unveils another star-powered Annual Health & Wellness Retreat OPSR TEPA partners to forge strategic linkages
The Saint Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB) has unveiled the program and major highlights for the third annual Saint Lucia Health and Wellness Retreat which runs from Nov 1-3, this year.
In typical fashion, the SLTB has been successful in attracting star power to what is being developed into a high profile, differentiated destination sub-brand within the overall tourism product of Saint Lucia; most of whom bring to the table the backing of high profile network television fame as subject experts representing pro-sports, cuisine, meditation and physical fitness.
Cat Cora, the first and only female ‘Iron Chef’ and co-host of Around the World in 80 Plates on Bravo is among the celebrity team associated with the 2013 Saint Lucia Health include. The list includes Gabrielle Bernstein, New York Times Bestselling Author and founder of the social networking site HerFuture.com inspiring, empowering and connecting women; John Schumacher, Master Yogi with over 40 years of experience and founder and director of Unity Woods Yoga Center; and Luke and Joanna Gray who operate a lifestyle company aimed at transforming lives through fitness, food and lifestyle.
From Saint Lucia, the lineup of experts is complemented with Marie Piazza, exercise, weight loss and nutrition expert, and owner of fitness mecca Sportivo Fitness; Jimmy James, Tai Chi master and Danielle Devaux, fitness specialist and facilitator of the popular Blood, Sweat and Tears workout.
With SLTB’s aim of leveraging Saint Lucia’s ample and authentic natural features and resources along with its award-winning tourism plant, the annual Health and Wellness Retreat seeks to exploit the potential for within what is a multi-million dollar global industry, to attract a new visitor segment, while increasing arrivals in a low occupancy period. In achieving this, the SLTB will also be partnering with health and wellness producers and services to ensure the economic linkages are built into the Health and Wellness experience, so that the domestic supplier taps into a new consumer market.
To this end, Saint Lucia’s trade export agency, Office of Private Sector Relations (OPSR) TEPA has entered into a partnership with the SLTB to introduce a wellness village featuring Saint Lucian owned gyms, spas, health food outlets, nutritionists and dieticians. The OPSR is excited to partner with the SLTB for this new frontier in Saint Lucian tourism. “It gives us great pleasure to highlight local ready for export businesses. We believe that this is future of Saint Lucian commerce, and look forward to a long a fruitful relationship with the SLTB,” said Gaspard George, project officer.
The 2013 Saint Lucia Health and Wellness Retreat will be set against the varied natural backdrops of Pigeon Island National Landmark, with its manicured lawns and white sand pocket beaches.
The three-day retreat will feature information exchange seminars, beachside massage therapy, Tai Chi and yoga instruction and healthy cooking demonstrations. Also included are daily spa treatments at participating resorts as well as the opportunity to indulge in the natural therapeutic benefits of mineral and mud baths. The diverse activity lineup will take place primarily at Pigeon Island, with selected excursions planned for the nature-rich southwestern town of Soufriere.
A partnership has also been forged with Yoplait, brand sponsors of the annual walk for a cure, which coincides with the timing of the annual retreat this year. Other partners are Caribbean Super Station and The Wave.
Visit www.stlucianow.com/hw for booking information. The second annual Saint Lucia Health and Wellness Retreat takes place November 1st – 3rd at Pigeon Island National Landmark at a cost of $200 per day or $595 for the full weekend of activities.