The Latest in Luxury Resort & Real Estate News

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Pristine Bay Resort, Black Pearl Golf Course Announce New Real Estate Offerings

(ROATAN, HONDURAS) -- Pristine Bay Resort and the Black Pearl Golf Course, one of the western Caribbean's more anticipated residential and resort communities and championship golf courses, announces its one- and two-bedroom luxury villa suites will be ready for occupancy in six to nine months. 

Starting at $350,000, the villa suites run from 832 to 1,185 square feet and are ideal for retirees or second-home owners. This announcement comes in concert with news of the Black Pearl, Roatan's first golf course, opening for play on January 1. Designed by the legendary father-son duo of Pete and Perry Dye, the Black Pearl features 14 holes with ocean views and a Dye-signature, island-green par 3. Pristine Bay Resort, in partnership with Lancaster Group, will be the island's first five-star hotel and is slated for a "soft opening" in April 2010.

"Our villa suites are perfect for primary and vacation homes and offer exceptional real estate investment opportunities in the coveted western Caribbean," says Mario Toriello, vice-president of sales and marketing for Pristine Bay Resort. "With the opening of the acclaimed Black Pearl golf course on January 1 and our luxurious Pristine Bay Resort next April, now is the time to secure one of our world-class properties."

Two-, three-, and four-bedroom free-standing villas are also available starting at $620,500. Condominiums are another option, ranging from $348,000 to $700,000. Phase I and II residential lots, many with unobstructed ocean views, begin at $250,000 and range up to $1.2 million.

Roatan has exceptionally favorable property and tax laws for foreigners. They can own up to three-quarters of an acre and Pristine Bay offers all-important title insurance. Property taxes are approximately $1.30 for every $1,000 of assessed value and there are no income tax, sales tax or import duties.

"You only need to visit us once here in paradise and you'll want to live on Roatan for the rest of your life," Toriello says.

Located on the lush, tropical island of Roatan, 35 miles off the coast of Honduras, Pristine Bay Resort, in partnership with Lancaster Group, is situated on a 400-plus acre site adjacent to the Caribbean Sea. The azure waters off the coast of the island, enhanced by the world's second largest barrier reef, provide a stunning backdrop and one of the truly unique settings for golf in Central America.

The Black Pearl, Dye's first project in Honduras and Roatan's first golf course, is an 18-hole, par-72 resort layout measuring 7,179 yards from the back tees. The course starts at the ocean's doorstep, rises into the island's rolling foothills, then takes golfers on a wild ride back to the seaside clubhouse. It will feature one of Dye's signature island greens, and 14 holes will offer stunning vistas of the ocean and the Meso-American Barrier Reef.

Pristine Bay Resort features a wide variety of residential products including: bay view and golf course condominiums, two-, three-, and four-bedroom villa units and one-quarter-acre custom home lots, many with unobstructed views of the ocean. Villas start at $620,000 and range up to $1 million; Phase I and II lots are priced from $250,000 to $1.2 million; and condominiums from $348,000 to $700,000. A 155-slip full-service marina located near the Black Pearl clubhouse will provide deep-water access for a wide variety of sea-going vessels.

Residents and guests will have access to the ocean-front Bay Village at Pristine Bay with boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, cafes and other entertainment options. The 120-room, five-star Resort and Spa at Pristine Bay, to be managed by the Lancaster Hotel Group, is scheduled to open in April 2010.

Roatan International Airport (RTB) is served by nine weekly, non-stop flights from the United States (Houston, Atlanta, Miami and Newark) on Continental, Delta and TACA. Flights to the island through the Honduran cities of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and San Salvador, El Salvador are also available.

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Ugadale Cottages at Machrihanish Dunes Named Hotel of the Year

(ARGYLL, SCOTLAND) -- Machrihanish Dunes announced Dec. 9 the Ugadale Cottages have been named the 2010 "Hotel of the Year" in the Small Hotel/Guest House category of Golf Tourism Scotland's (GTS) annual Gold Standard Awards. This award comes on the heels of Machrihanish Dunes' recent recognition as one of the "Top 100 Golf Courses in the U.K. and Ireland" by GolfWorld Magazine, as well as becoming the first 18-hole golf course in the U.K. to receive GEO Certification - for a sustainable approach to creating and maintaining an environmental responsible golf resort.

Golf Tourism Scotland's (GTS) annual Gold Standard Awards are given in recognition of golf courses, accommodation providers, tour operators and others that have gone the extra mile in their delivery of superior products and services in the golf tourism industry. Established in 2005, GTS is aimed at raising the standards of Scotland's golf tourism in areas of product development, marketing, training and research. With over 130 members involved in almost every aspect of the golf tourism industry, the GTS Gold Standard Awards have become one of Scotland's most revered honors, celebrating the very best of Scottish golf tourism. This award, along with the recent recognitions by industry leaders such as GolfWorld and GEO, further solidifies Machrihanish Dunes' place among the world's great golf destinations.

GTS chairman, Nick Hunter pointed out at the Awards Ceremony: "It's been a fantastic year for golf throughout Scotland. We've hosted a number of high-profile tour events which have showcased exactly why playing golf here is so special. And despite tough times, our members have upped their game so that once again our facilities have improved and our standards of service have been fine-tuned. The Gold Standard Awards recognize the very best exponents of this process, but I think the golf industry generally should be congratulated for a job well done."

The Ugadale Cottages at The Village at Machrihanish Dunes are situated in the heart of Machrihanish along the picturesque shores of the Atlantic Ocean on the Mull of Kintyre. The Cottages offer guests a taste of new luxury in one of Scotland's most naturally beautiful areas. Each elegantly appointed and fully furnished cottage is finished inside and out with natural stone, hardwoods and wonderful touches that epitomize the coastal Scottish cottage at every turn. The roomy cottages are thoughtfully and luxuriously configured to perfectly accommodate visiting golfers and families. Since opening in 2009, the Ugadale Cottages have received critical acclaim from visitors and industry professionals from across the globe as they come to experience Scotland's most treasured coast and play pure links golf at Machrihanish Dunes and the neighboring Machrihanish Golf Club.

"We at Machrihanish Dunes know that when a guest arrives at the Ugadale Cottages he/she has travelled a great distance to experience some of Scotland's best Links courses, take breathtaking nature walks along its beaches and scenic trails and at the end of the day enjoy great food and a comfortable accommodation," said Kevin Lewis, general manager at Machrihanish Dunes. "We strive to create a memorable and relaxing experience along with strong customer service that will not only satisfy our guests but exceed their expectations."

The Ugadale Cottages, the lodging accommodations of the Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club, are situated in the heart of Machrihanish and only moments away from Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre. Directly across from the first tee of the world-renowned Machrihanish Golf Club and adjacent to the Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club,  Ugadale Cottages offer world-class accommodations for world-class golf. The Royal Hotel in Campbeltown and The Ugadale Hotel in Machrihanish, two historic hotels that are in the process of restoration, are slated to open in late summer 2011.

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