Few destinations are more alluring for incentive winners and meeting attendees than the islands of the Caribbean.

From stunning waterfalls to white sandy beaches, the islands have something to offer every type of group. Here’s an update on where to meet, eat, stay and play in one of the most popular tourist destinations in North America.

Bahamas
Between the poles of Grand Bahama and Great Inagua are the 700 islands that make up the Bahamas. The 100,000-square-mile archipelago offers the world’s third largest barrier reef and miles of clear water and coral islands. The islands have been “home” to English Puritans, notorious pirates including Blackbeard and Calico Jack. With more than 20 conference centers, the Bahamas is one of the most meeting-friendly destinations in the Caribbean.

Getting There
With 57 airports throughout the Bahamas, visitors have their choice of 40 inhabited islands to visit. Most meeting and incentive groups head to Nassau/Paradise Island, which is served by Nassau International Airport (about 10 minutes from Nassau and 15 minutes from Paradise Island) or Grand Bahama Island, which is served by Grand Bahama International Airport (10 minutes from most of the major hotels). Have attendees bring their passports, as the Bahamas are under British jurisdiction.

Meet
Take groups of up to 150 aboard the Majestic Lady for a dinner cruise. This 75-foot, triple deck cruise ship takes passengers along Nassau’s waterfront while they enjoy a chicken and beef buffet with salad, Bahamian peas and rice, dessert and coffee. After dinner and shoptalk, enjoy a Calypso show and limbo contest. Cost is $60 per person and includes hotel transfers.

Stay
The biggest hotel in Nassau, the Atlantis, Paradise Island, just keeps growing. Adjacent to the main hotel complex is a new, 600-room resort-within-a-resort called The Cove. Catering to VIPs who want to lounge around in a more private setting but still enjoy the amenities of the Atlantis, the resort features an adults-only, zero-entry swimming pool. Also new at the Atlantis: a new spa and 50,000-square-foot ballroom.

The British Colonial Hilton Nassau offers 288 rooms of which 47 are executive level. Staying in the executive suites affords your group the executive lounge, which has complimentary breakfast and refreshments throughout the day. The hotel also offers 11 meeting rooms, the largest of which can seat 400. A gym and a pool are on location, and the popular Straw Market and casinos are only a few minutes away.

With 73 junior and two bedroom suites, Old Bahama Bay at Ginn Sur Mer in Grand Bahama is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. With a private boardroom (seats up to 20), a lounge (seats 60) and a restaurant (seats 100) all meeting needs are taken care of. After the meeting, invite attendees to take a dip in the 4,000-square-foot, heated swimming pool.

Play
As a present to the Bahamian government, Theo Galanopoulos sank a 228-foot-long cement hauler to make an artificial reef. At a depth of 100 feet, the boat rests on her port side. Known as Theo’s Wreck, this favorite place to dive is 1.5 miles from the coast of Grand Bahama. Take incentive winners to this spot with underwater disposable cameras so they can have a permanent record of the event.

Nassau’s Straw Market (a great site for spouse tours) is open daily from 9-5.

Next to Señor Frogs in downtown Nassau, the market featurese 500 local merchants.

Eat
The casually elegant Provence Restaurant in Nassau is the creation of chef/owner Marc Innocenti. Schooled in France, Innocenti has since moved to the Caribbean bringing a French Mediterranean cuisine to his restaurant. The entire restaurant can be rented out for groups of up to 100. Enjoy the very popular seafood salad and a slice of cheesecake with fresh fruit.

Dubbed the “best kept secret in Grand Bahama” by the Miami Herald, The Ferry House looks out over the Bell Channel Bay. Open for both lunch and dinner, the restaurant has private rooms, the largest of which can accommodate 140. One must-try dessert: a poached apple in red wine with vanilla ice cream.

For More Information
Contact the Bahamas Tourist Office in New York,
(212) 758-2777, or visit www.bahamas.com.

The Virgin Islands
The U.S. Virgin Islands, dubbed by Columbus, are the namesake of St. Ursula and her 11,000 virgins who were massacred on a pilgrimage. In 1917 the United States bought the islands from Denmark for $25 million in gold to improve its military position during WWI. Due to its affiliation with the U.S., passports are not required from United States citizens. With a wide selection of conference facilities, the Virgin Islands offer an optimum retreat with the perfect blend of work and play.

Getting There
There are daily nonstop flights from many major cities in the U.S. including New York, Baltimore and Miami, and flights that offer layovers from many other major cities. With three airports on St. Croix, two on St. Thomas and one on St. John, getting to the Virgin Islands is simple.

St. Thomas
The island of St. Thomas contains the U.S. Virgin Islands’ capital, Charlotte Amalie, named for a Danish Queen. With one of the most beautiful harbors in the world, St. Thomas offers spectacular views, warm waters and duty-free shopping.

Stay
The Bolongo Bay Beach Resort offers an ocean view with 40 of its 65 rooms. Sitting on eight acres and a 1,000 foot palm-lined beach, this hotel has some of the best views on the island. Offering two fresh-water pools, a swim-up bar, kayaks, sailboats and wind surfers, it will be difficult to keep meeting attendees inside (although if a meeting is required, the resort offers a conference room that holds up to 50 people).

The Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa features 294 rooms and an on-site convention center with 14 meeting and event rooms, the largest of which holds 800 people. When your meeting is over, send incentive winners down to the Journey Spa, which was awarded “Best Spa in the Virgin Islands.” For a fun evening activity, take the troops to the hotel’s full service bar, which features video slot machines and live music.

Play
St. Thomas is home to the Mahogany Run Golf Course, the only 18-hole course on the island. Open since 1980, this 6,022 yard, par-70 golf course offers the “Devil’s Triangle” consisting of holes 13-15. Upon completion without a penalty shot, each golfer will receive a “Certificate of Successful Completion,” but battling the sea winds, and sloping hillside won’t prove easy. It’s the perfect spot for a friendly group competition.

Eat
Take a few VIPs to the Banana Tree Grille located on the property of historic Bluebeard’s Castle. Enjoy a Banana Tree Sunset or Chef Bellantoni’s Mediterranean Seafood Cocktail as you gaze out over Charlotte Amalie Harbor at the cruise ships and yachts fronting a magnificent sunset.

St. Croix
St. Croix is the largest of the Virgin Islands. Boasting 54 sugar mills, the island is known for both sugar and rum. Join the pirates, take a swig of rum, then march off to see the sights and sounds of the island.

Stay
Stay at the Caribbean’s longest running resort, The Buccaneer, which offers 138 rooms, each with a private patio or balcony. The Buccaneer in Christiansted was the first hotel in St. Croix and hasgrown exponentially since its 11-room introduction in 1922. Following tradition, guest rooms are still named after the coin of the day. Put incentive winners in rooms with names like Lucky Farthings and Pretty Penny. Once settled, meet in one of the Buccaneer’s four conference rooms that can hold 12-125 people, but be warned – they all have distracting views of the beach.

Play
St. Croix is laden with Danish heritage. Christiansted, the former capital of the Virgin Islands, was built by the Danes as protection from the pirates. Within the city limits is Fort Christiansvaern, a yellow-brick fortress dating back to the late 1700s. It is the best preserved of the five remaining Danish forts. When the threat of pirates had subsided, the fort was used as a jail and later for religious purposes. Also in Christiansted are the Old Danish Customs House, the Apothecary museum and more.

Danish culture seeps into Frederiksted as well and is visible in the historical buildings along the waterfront, Fort Frederik, the old Danish school and St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church.

Once incentive winners are finished soaking up the history, take them on a tour of the Cruzan Rum Factory. Inhale the intoxicating scents from the distillery, watch as the bottles are labeled, and pick up samples for everyone on the way out.

Eat
Kendrick’s of Christiansted offers elegant dining in one of the most resilient restaurants in St. Croix. After being badly damaged in 1989’s Hurricane Hugo, Kendrick’s only took three months to be up and running again. The restaurant, which has been featured numerous times in Bon Appetit, creates a mouthwatering signature desert: sponge cake with sautéed bananas and spiced rum butter. Features a private room for up to 50.

St. John
The smallest of the three Virgin Islands, St. John is two-thirds national state park. Most of the original growth had been cut down for sugar cane production. Among the second generation growth are 800 species of plants, 50 tropical birds and one lone native plant – the Teyer Palm.

Stay
Caneel Bay, a Rosewood Resort, is set among seven breathtaking beaches. Lying on 170 acres are 166 rooms and two indoor and one out-door conference room, which can hold up to 200 people. When attendees are ready to put the work away, take them to the watersports center where they can enjoy sailing, windsurfing and introductory scuba lessons.

Play
Let attendees experience St. John through a kayak, hike and snorkel tour with Virgin Island Ecotours. Snorkel over the vibrant coral life and hundreds of tropical fish; kayak through Caneel Bay; and hike a trail on Turtle Point. At the end of the tour, hold a picnic on the beach.

Eat
Morgan’s Mango, an open-air restaurant, is the perfect setting for a casual gathering. Enjoy fresh lobster or Mahi Mahi in a Cruzan rum and mango sauce. Split into four separate rooms, each holding 100 occupants, the restaurant offers a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Puerto Rico
With Puerto Rico’s tourism motto being “Puerto Rico lo hace major!” or “Puerto Rico does it better!” it’s no wonder the island is such a popular place for incentive trips and business meetings. Rich in culture, the island, three times the size of Rhode Island, was declared the first ecclesiastical headquarters by Pope Leo X in 1519. Puerto Rico, originally named San Juan Bautista after St. John the Baptist, does not require passports from its U.S. visitors. Bring co-workers who had to stay at home a taste of the islands with authentic coconut or papier-maché masks.

Getting There
Most flights to Puerto Rico land at the island’s largest airport, the Luis Muñoz Maríz International Airport in Isla Verde, just outside San Juan. Fly directly to Puerto Rico using most major airlines from New York (3 1/2 hrs.), Los Angeles (8 hrs.), Miami (2 1/2 hrs.), Chicago (4 1/2 hrs.) and many others. Taxis from the airport range from $7 to $24 depending on drop-off destination.

Meet
Plaza de Armas (Arms Square) is Old San Juan’s main square. With four statues representing the four seasons, two churches, cultural history and the people of the city, it is a great place to meet, eat or shop. For generations, Plaza de Armas has served as a social meeting point.

Stay
Puerto Rico is home to the Copamarina Beach Resort & Spa, which is a 20 acre tropical beach resort with a half-mile-long, isolated beach bordering the crystal clear blue waters of the Caribbean. On the south coast of Guánica, Copamarina houses its full-service bodyderm spa, specializing in Reiki, body wraps, and hydrotherapy. When attendees are fully relaxed, get down to business in one of two conference rooms for 35-180 people. If things get heated, meeting-goers can take their aggression out on one of two lighted tennis courts or have a peddle boat contest.

Play
Old San Juan is home to El Morro, an impressive military stronghold. With six levels and 18-feet-thick walls, this fortress stands 140 feet above sea level. Bring meeting-goers or spouses on a tour and learn about how the fort was historically defended by the Spaniards, and has never been successfully penetrated.

El Yunque National Forest, a tropical rain forest home to 240 types of trees and plants, is a must-see for groups. Situated in Rio Grande, El Portal Tropical Forest Center has film exhibits and interactive displays about the rain forest. El Yunque is one of the most accessible tropical rain forests in the world.

Eat
Ajili Mójili in San Juan offers a blend of the rich culinary arts of the Spanish Conquistadors, the African slaves and the local Indians. Named for the Ajili sauce, which was originally used to season meats and fish, Ajili Mójili offers mouthwatering dishes in the signature sauce. For dessert, treat everyone to a dish of tembleque (coconut pudding). A private room seats up to 100. Visiting Restaurante Raíces is easier than ever now that they’ve added a second location. Choose to dine in either Caguas or San Juan and enjoy the décor of the island’s customs, traditions and native crafts. Take the group out for either lunch or dinner and enjoy a private room for up to 30 people. Among the favorites on the Puerto Rican Caribbean Menu is the Creole style Mahi Mahi stuffed with shrimp in garlic.

Jamaica
Described by discoverer Christopher Columbus as “the fairest isle that the eyes have beheld,” Jamaica is the largest island in the English-speaking Caribbean. Be the first to book a meeting at Jamaica’s newest convention center scheduled to open in December 2008.

Getting There
Most major U.S. cities offer nonstop or one-layover flights to Jamaica. Fly into Montego Bay’s Sangster International or Kingston’s Norman Manley. The jaunt takes just over three hours from New York and an hour and a half from Miami.

Meet
Rose Hall, Montego Bay, Jamaica will be the site of the new $51.7 million Montego Bay Convention Center, scheduled to open December 2008. The convention center will be built on 23 acres of land and will provide approximately 215,278 square feet of rooms for meetings, exhibitions and other events.

Stay
The 402-Half Moon resort in Montego Bay is nearly finished with a five-year, $8 million renovation, with upgrades to 64 guest rooms and the golf course. In October, the resort also opened a brand new, 68,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor spa. For special incentive winners, book a session with the “Spa Elder,” a guide versed in the art of using Jamaica’s natural therapeutic remedies, who will develop treatments for individual needs. With over 26,000 square feet of meeting space including one of the Caribbean’s finest state-of-the-art Conference Centres, Half Moon’s meeting facilities can accommodate meetings from 10 to up to 500 attendees.

The 730-room Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios opened in 2005 following a major renovation. The hotel features more than 32,000 square feet of meeting space and a luxurious spa.

Play
Jamaica has been home to many famous musicians including Bob Marley. Take meeting-goers on a tour of the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston or take a trip to Nine Mile, the place of Marley’s birth and death.

Dolphin Cove at Treasure Reef offers incentive winners a chance to get up close and personal with dolphins. It also offers glass bottom kayaking on the Caribbean, five acres of tropical rainforest, a jungle trail walk featuring exotic birds, snakes and iguanas and the challenge to be a “Sea Keeper,” where guests try their hand at training dolphins.

For the more athletically inclined, Jamaica is home to Blue Mountain. From ground to peak is seven miles, with an increase in altitude of 3,000 feet. The Jamaicans prefer to hike just before sunrise, before the view is obscured by the mist. Start the three-to-four hour hike with buses from Kingston that can be arranged at any hotel. For the hike, instruct attendees to bring comfortable clothing, walking shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, a warm jacket, rain gear, flashlight, a hat with a brim and plenty of water.

Eat
Experience local and international blues/jazz at Red Bones – The Blues Café in Kingston. A former Spanish colonial residence, this restaurant offers diners a choice of eating inside, in the courtyard or on the terrace. Posters of Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane and many more musical legends hang on the wall amidst the array of musical instruments. Make sure to have guests save room for Jamaica’s signature rum cake.

Sun & Surf
Use these products to make an incentive to the Caribbean a memorable event.

Pre-Trip When you announce this year’s incentive destination, hand out one of these flip-flops to prospective winners, promising the second one once they’ve reached their goal. This pair is etched with your company’s logo, so that when recipients wear them, they’ll leave a lasting impression in the sand. Available from asi/55030.
	Day One Head to the beach for volleyball or some beach Olympics. Give each team member a cool-looking water bottle, like this one that is made of translucentpolycarbonate in blue, clear, purple or red. Available from asi/31485.
Day Two Taking the group on a jaunt to the rain forest in Puerto Rico, or on a similar adventure? Help them keep their cool with a logoed tank. This women’s tank comes in several festive colors. Available from asi/82271.
	Send top reps off to the spa with this cushy bathrobe that has patch pockets and self-belt. Available from asi/90913.
Day Three Send winners home with this beautiful Balinese hand-woven beach bag that includes imprintable fabric pocket on front. Available from asi/73525.
	Post-Trip Let winners proclaim their “President’s Club” status with this white cloisonné pin, which features four-color-process printing. Comes in great stock shapes, available with 14-carat gold or platinum plating. Available from asi/77340.