Just last week, Forbes posted a story about the top hotels for getting away with a group.   While the idea of going on vacation used to be to get away from

crowds, there seems to be a growing trend towards bringing the crowds with you when you go. At least you know who you are dealing with!  At the Alexandra Resort, we’re well equipped to handle travelling groups - whether it’s a family reunion, a girl’s getaway or the newly emerging “mancation”. The Alexandra Resort provides an ideal setting for getting away together, which is why we designed the Group Getaway package deal:  When you reserve eight (8) rooms you get two (2) free.

But that is not the only reason: The Alexandra Resort is also perfect for group travel because of our size, location and amenities.  We boast one of the longest stretches of powder beach along Grace Bay, namely 600 feet of white sand beach just for our guests.   We’ve added more chaise lounges, sun beds and beach umbrellas, so our dedicated beach attendants will make sure you and your group have what you need on the beach.   Plus, our guests can take advantage of our complimentary paddle boards, kayaks and snorkeling equipment - so there is something for everyone in your party to enjoy. 

The location of the resort - in the heart of Grace Bay - allows guests to conveniently stroll to shops, restaurants and nightlife providing groups with added flexibility.

Also, perfect for groups are the many amenities located on-site at the resort.  Our tour desk offers water and land-based excursions, plus guests have easy access to a full-service spa, tennis courts, fitness center and a freeform pool with swim-up bar.  Even though our rooms are spacious and well-equipped, guests take advantage of the shared BBQ area and often gather pool-side or on the beach deck at our popular Mango Reef restaurant for sunsets.  Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Mango Reef, offers al fresco dining with a wide range of menu items making it ideal to accommodate parties of all sizes and budgets.

The Alexandra Resort offers groups, big and small, a perfect vacation.  Come see for yourself and take advantage of our Group Booking package. 

A $10m redevelopment of passenger facilities at Providenciales International Airport was announced by John Smith, CEO, Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority.

The planned expansion will nearly double the size of the terminal to better accommodate the 500,000 passengers who pass through the Airport each year. It will increase in size from 51,462 to 92,321 sq ft.

Work is scheduled to begin later this year and be completed in 2014 and will ensure that the TCI’s airport meets the International Association of Travel Agents criteria for Level C Class facilities.

Once completed passengers will be able to enjoy expanded check in counter areas and self check in facilities, additional bathroom facilities, larger retail space for shops and restaurants, and improved medical amenities.  

The first phase of works will include the construction of a new traffic circulation system, an extension to the existing west car park, and extension of the departure Lounge.

The second phase will continue with the extension on the international check in area, security check point as well as the arrivals hall.

The third and final phase will include the domestic departures and arrivals area, completion of car park and aesthetics, including water features.

“Providenciales International Airport is absolutely crucial to the Islander and visitor experience,” said Governor Ric Todd. “First impressions are vital, and I am certain that this work will provide the level of experience that our visitors demand.

“People who use the airport facilities know that it can become crowded at peak times – so does the Airport’s Management. That is why they have been planning these crucial works  as part of their overall master plan which also saw the runway expansion completed last year.”

“We are embarking on a journey of fundamental change in the way we conduct business and welcome tourists to the Turks and Caicos Islands,” said John Smith, CEO, Turks and Caicos Airports Authority. “Our terminal expansion project will not only offer better facilities for passengers, but provide us with the room to expand over the next 15 years.” 

An artist rendering of new airport:

Come learn about the life cycle of the Queen conch, from egg mass to harvested adult. You will see first hand the processes and technology the only commercial conch farm in the world has developed over the past 20 years. The tour will start in the gift shop with a quick biology lesson and a description of our hatchery technology, from there the tour takes the guests through the Metamorphosis buildings and the Post Larval facilities. Guests are then able to bend over and pick up one of the farms 2 million conch housed in the onshore ponds. The offshore pasture, filled with circular pens to rear the conch until they are harvested, serves as the backdrop to the entire tour. The tour ends up with Sally and Jerry, the resident wild conch, who are brought out to give guests a good photo opportunity to take home to friends and family.

All tour leaders are local Turks Islanders who can provide wonderful insights to local culture as well as recommendations for dining or leisure spots on the island.

FAQs

1. How do you pronounce conch?
   Conk
2. Is conch a snail?
   It is a marine snail, also known as a gastropod mollusk. The conch is classified in the phylum Mollusca , class Gastropoda, order Mesogastropoda.
3. Can you eat conch?
   Yes, the Queen conch has been, and continues to be on of the major protein sources in the Caribbean diet as well as being exported internationally.
4. Where are you located?
   At Heaving Down Rock, at the end of the Leeward Highway, on the island of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, BWI
5. How many conch farms are there?
   One, The Caicos Conch Farm is the only one on the world.

Farm History

Trade Wind Industries, Ltd was incorporated in 1984 with a vision of pioneering a pan-Caribbean conch mariculture industry that would benefit the region by providing jobs, stimulating economic growth, supplying a low-cost source of protein, and protecting wild conch stocks from exploitation. The queen conch, scientifically Strombus gigas, has been a staple of the Caribbean for at least a thousand years. Its meat provides a major source of protein for the region, while its shell has been used for tools, weapons, jewelry, ceremonial objects, and as a construction material. Over-fishing has depleted wild stocks of conch; today it is now listed on the CITES Appendix II, as a commercially endangered species. Despite Caribbean-wide country quotas on harvesting wild conch, the remaining conch population continues to decline rapidly as over-fishing continues. Conch harvests are a major source of food and income for many local people, and without a source of replacement income they continue to harvest conch. Twenty years ago sixteen Caribbean/Latin American countries exported conch to the world market place; today only three still have commercial quantities of wild conch to offer to the market place.

In 1984, Chuck Hesse, TWI's founder and CEO, realized the potential to simultaneously help the environment, employ local fishermen, and generate profitable returns by farming conch.

TWI's goals are to expand conch production at its farm in the Turks & Caicos and to license grow-out farms throughout the Caribbean. Achieving these goals will increase supply and reduce production and shipping costs. Once adequate supply is established, TWI will expand its marketing into Asia, where conch is in high demand, both for its nutritional benefits and acknowledged cultural and aphrodisiac properties.

While achieving its goals, TWI will continue research to lower the cost to produce farmed conch below that of harvesting it from the wild. History has shown that once farmed product is in the marketplace at prices lower than that of wild conch, the wild stocks will be able to recover.

Oyuna Tuyssuzian is Mongolian by birth and from an early age she was interested in fashion. Her design aesthetic has been shaped by her experiences working in diverse areas in the fashion industry.

When she decided to start her own label in Vancouver, Canada, she sought to use her skills and knowledge acquired throughout her career to make beautifully constructed clothing using quality materials. She believes in flattering a woman’s body through great tailoring and fit, with a focus on silhouette and line.

Oyuna’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection was taken to Montreal, Canada, for a photo shoot and she is presently in the Turks and Caicos Islands to continue her work inspired by the textures and colours of the Caribbean.

One of the gorgeous models in this shot is no other than Alexandra GM. Anette Mullings.

Popular weekly magazine US News and World Report has just named TCI – our home, the Turks & Caicos Islands – as one of the top 10 honeymoon destinations in the world. Here is an excerpt:

Why go: Famed for its snowy white beaches and cerulean waves, Turks & Caicos also offers its honeymooners a place to get away from it all. The islands feel like a deserted tropical paradise, but they're also only a 90-minute flight from Miami. When lounging on the downy sand outside of your luxury resort grows wearisome, you and your spouse can ferry to Salt Cay for some more secluded beach time and maybe even some snorkeling or scuba diving. 

Read full article on http://travel.usnews.com/Rankings/Best_Beach_Honeymoon_Destinations/

The Alexandra Resort, located on world famous Grace Bay Beach in Turks & Caicos Islands, recently published a "Top 15 Things to do with Kids in the Turks & Caicos Islands" list for their guests.

The list included the following activities:

1.      Go to the children’s park at The Bight.  Located right on Grace Bay Beach, there are swings, a jungle gym, teeter totters and more.

2.      After playing at the park, head across the street to the National Environmental Centre and view exhibits on the coral reef and ecosystem s in Turks & Caicos.

3.      Enjoy a glass bottom semi submarine ride, which departs with Caicos Tours from Turtle Cove.  You might see sharks and turtles, and you’ll definitely see lots of tropical fish and beautiful coral.

4.      Go horseback riding with Provo Ponies on beautiful Long Bay Beach.

5.      Spending the morning at Taylor Bay or Sapodilla Beach then head over to Neptune Villas where you can enjoy a tasty lunch at Las Brisas, followed by either a 2 hour pontoon boat cruise or some kayaking on Chalk Sound.  Make arrangements with the owners of Las Brisas.

6.      Arrange a boating excursion with Caicos Dream Tours to visit some other cays and do some snorkeling.  Caicos Dream Tours' excursions depart from the beach in front of the Alexandra Resort.

7.      Visit Fun World, which offers mini golf, rock climbing and go-karts.

8.      Try out snuba, which allows you to try the experience on scuba diving by going a little deeper than snorkeling without deep sea diving.

9.      Learn a new sport!  The Turks and Caicos is a great place to try out kite boarding, paddle boarding, tennis, golf and more.  There are great facilities and qualified instructors on the island.

10.  Take a day trip to another island.  With fast speed ferry service available to North Caicos and South Caicos, your family can enjoy some time on the water and then the opportunity to discover other islands in this beautiful country.

11.  See the glow worms!  On the third and fourth night after the full moon, take a cruise on the Atebayra and witness the amazing glow worm show.

12.  Digicel TCI Cinemas offers at least three shows daily and is the perfect spot to visit if the weather is not conducive to outdoor activities.

13.  Enjoy a Mommy and me trip to the spa.  Some of the spas on the island offer manis, pedis, and facials for kids.

14.  Even kids enjoy a bit of retail therapy.  Head to Regent Village and Salt Mills for tourist boutique shops, and if you are looking for toys, visit the Do It Center, Kischo or Business Solutions.  The Unicorn Bookstore is also a fantastic place to buy books for children and adults, as well as a nice selection of toys and arts and crafts supplies.

15.  Visit the only conch farm in the world.  Children and parents alike will enjoy the educational tour that tells the story about the local delicacy from the sea.

The Alexandra Resort features family-friendly suites, all equipped with housekeeping facilities, flat screen TV's and large decks or patios.  In addition, there is a brand new kids club, The Pelican Club, a large free form swimming pool, complimentary non-motorized water sports, tennis courts, a fitness room and the popular Mango Reef Restaurant.  The resort occupies over 600 feet of frontage on one of the top ranked beaches in the world.  

Great spring specials are now available, including a very family friendly Easter Getaway, available to book until March 15, 2013.

Tourists and visitors alike converge each year at Children’s Park along Provo’s renowned Grace Bay Beach for a day of family fun at the annual Fool’s Regatta. Initially an April Fool’s Day event, the regatta is now held each year in June. This year it’s scheduled for June 16.

The Fool’s Regatta is a fantastical display of sailing, an important legacy in the Turks & Caicos. The day’s highlight is undoubtedly the Great Raft Race, where teams paddle furiously aboard hilariously patched-together vessels in hopes of claiming victory. There’s also a Hobie Cat race, and iconic island sloops compete in the Caicos Sloop races.

Even if you aren’t a boatie, there’s plenty of land-based fun at this regatta, including entertainment like live steel pan performances, tug-o-war, and plenty of local food and drink. If you’re thinking about planning a trip to Provo, this is the time to be there, and The Alexandra Resort is just minutes away from all the action.

Not only will he celebrate the debut of Saint George Fashion House ‘Island Breeze; Turks and Caicos’ resort 2013 collection; the first ever to represent the Turks and Caicos Islands at Caribbean Fashion Week, and his first year in fashion design since his June 8th 2011 New York City debut. What is more; Turks and Caicos Islands own, South Caicos native, head designer and proprietor of Saint George Fashion House (SGFH) Kazz Forbes, opened Caribbean Fashion Week 2012 designer showcase June 8th 2012 in Jamaica.

Caribbean Fashion Week, ‘the heart and soul of Caribbean style’ sees some of the best designers throughout the region and across the globe; world famous cover girls; celebrities; hot parties and superstar concerts with 16th time Grammy nominee Brian McKnight, Grammy winner Estelle, Konshens, Cham featuring “O”, Shurwayne Winchester, the Jolly Boys and more.

Established by Pulse Investment Ltd. in 2001, Caribbean Fashion Week (CFW) is the region’s largest, most recognized and internationally respected fashion event. The event features the Caribbean’s best designers within the region, the Caribbean’s best designers based in the world’s major markets, internationally famous designers from around the world, world famous supermodels and celebrities and important fashion press from around the world, including Vogue and Fashion TV Paris.

Forbes says, “This is by far, the biggest year for Caribbean Fashion Week, with a record number of over fifty designers and it is indeed an honour to be opening! Words alone cannot express my excitement and gratitude.  I am so thankful to the Almighty, my supporters and everyone that makes Caribbean Fashion Week a continuous smashing success!

‘Island Breeze; Turks and Caicos’ resort 2013 collection was inspired by the breathtaking beauty of the Turks and Caicos Islands. For me I think of the quality of light in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the sun, sand and sea, the blue of the moonlight and the minty light of the days. I go often to the beach, and there I try not just to see, but to feel the beauty of the environment. In my collection I have tried to re-produce that feeling.”

Caribbean Fashion Week array of features also includes regional and international fashion buyers, a British Vogue rating as an important new trend in world fashion, viewership of 340 million in close to 300 countries via Fashion TV Paris, nightly after parties amid a hectic Caribbean Fashion Week social schedule, embodiment of powerful Caribbean creative and cultural traditions, world class production and styling, key contributions to the United Nations World Food Programme, via Catwalk the World, key partnership with public and private sector entities for fashion industry development and alliances with international fashion organizations and events for designer opportunities.

Provo is known for the extensive range of fine dining establishments located on the island, but most tourists enjoy at least one casual night with a good pizza and a "cold one."  Here are some of our favourite spots for a good pizza.  In Turtle Cove, the waterfront restaurant Il Buco serves a terrific thin crust pizza.  In Grace Bay, try Pizza Pizza (no, not the Canadian franchise) or the newly opened Hey Jose, just a short walk from the Gourmet IGA.  And speaking of the IGA, they offer a great take-out pizza there too!  There is a wood fire pizza oven at the grocery store, and a large, freshly made pizza with 3-4 toppings costs about $20. 

Mango Reef is a proud sponsor of this year's Annual Dog Show held by The TCSPCA, the oldest and most established Animal Welfare Organization in the Turks & Caicos Islands.