The Autograph Collection, Marriott International’s fastest growing brand, announced today that the Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, in the British Virgin Islands, will join the Collection in early 2012, under a franchise agreement with Scrub Island Development Group Ltd.  The luxury resort, on a serene, private island, offers 67 guest rooms, suites and villas with West Indian décor, a marina, restaurants, secluded beaches and spectacular reefs within swimming distance.

The resort will be the first Autograph Collection hotel in the Caribbean and Marriott International’s first property in the British Virgin Islands. Launched last year, the Autograph Collection is a group of exceptional independent hotels, each hand-selected for their originality, character and uncommon details. To date, Autograph Collection portfolio includes more than 20 properties in the United States and Europe and this number should double by the end of the year.

“The Scrub Island Resort is perfect for the Autograph Collection because it is one-of-a-kind, independently operated property that can retain its personality, while benefitting from our powerful sales engine and economies of scale, which is important in these competitive times,” said Laurent de Kousemaeker, chief development officer for Marriott International in the Caribbean and Latin America. “We are excited about the opportunity to reveal this exclusive resort in the Caribbean, for the rest of the world to also enjoy.”

Located on a 230-acre private island east of Tortola and approximately two miles from Tortola Airport, the Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina began operations in mid-2010 with a hotel, resort amenities and residences. It is the first private island resort to open in the BVI in more than 15 years. The resort was developed and is operated by Mainsail Lodging and Development, a hospitality company based in Tampa, Florida. It will be available for booking on www.marriott.com and www.autographcollectionhotels.com in early 2012. 

Amenities on Scrub Island include a 60-slip marina, a gourmet market and retail outlets, a multi-level pool, three secluded white sand beaches, five food and beverage outlets, a beach club, nature/hiking trails and a fitness center and spa, which will be relocated and expanded by early 2013. With 7,000 square feet of meeting space, the resort now has the largest meeting facility in the BVI.

“Scrub Island Resort is an exciting addition to Autograph Collection, located in a premier Caribbean destination,” said Kip Vreeland, vice president for Autograph Collection. “As our first Caribbean resort in the exclusive Retreat category, we are confident that our Autograph Collection guests will embrace this unique resort as the newest member of our portfolio.”

“We are pleased to be part of the Marriott International reservations engine and to promote our beautiful resort to a wider audience,” says Joe Collier, founder and president of Mainsail, which will continue to operate the resort.

City.Mobi

Also in Caribbean today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to British Virgin Islands.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

BritishVirginIslands.city.mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.