Press Releases

VICTORIA HOUSE EARNS FODOR’S CHOICE 2010 DISTINCTION
FROM FODOR’S TRAVEL

HOUSTON, TEXAS – July 15, 2010 – Victoria House has been recognized by Fodor’s Travel, the foremost name in travel publishing, as a 2010 Fodor’s Choice selection. This distinction represents a remarkable achievement and recognizes Victoria House as a leader in its field for service, quality, and value in the 2010 year.

Since 1988, Fodor’s Travel has been awarding the Fodor’s Choice distinction to only the very best hotels, restaurants and attractions around the world. Every year, Fodor’s writers experience, examine and evaluate thousands of hotels, restaurants and attractions in their travels across the globe. While every business included in a Fodor’s guide is deemed worth a traveler’s time, only fifteen percent of those selections are awarded the very highest, Fodor’s Choice designation by Fodor’s editors.

“From hidden-away restaurants to can't-miss museums, Fodor’s Choice selections recognize the top sights, properties, and experiences our editors and updaters have found in their travels,” says Fodor’s publisher Tim Jarrell. “These places are the best of the best, providing a remarkable experience in their price range or category.”

As a 2010 Fodor’s Choice recipient Victoria House receives special recognition in the current Fodor’s guidebook to this region and on Fodors.com.

About Victoria House: Victoria House offers guests a variety of accommodations including thatch-roofed casitas, beachfront and poolside villas, and spacious suites, all in a tranquil colonial setting.  Swaying coconut palms and verdant lawns overlook the white sand beach, the Caribbean Sea and the Great Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, just ¾ of a mile from our beach.  Lush, manicured gardens inspire serenity and relaxation and four swimming pools, including two infinity pools, are available for the enjoyment of hotel guests. The award-winning Palmilla Restaurant and Admiral Nelson’s Beach Bar provide world-class food and beverage service daily. Activities are coordinated from the Fantasea dive shop, located on the 300 ft hotel pier.

About Fodor’s Travel: Fodor’s Travel, a division of Random House, Inc., is one of the world’s leading providers of travel information.  Covering over 300 destinations worldwide, Fodor’s guidebooks and Web site, Fodors.com, have provided the most up-to-date, accurate information for travelers for more than seventy years.  Written by a team of over 700 writers located around the globe, Fodor’s provides travelers with engagingly written, intelligently and accurately reported, and absolutely indispensable travel guidance.

For more information on Victoria House please visit www.victoria-house.com

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Pristine Bay Resort Debuts Phase One of Luxurious Resort Villas

March 10, 2010

ROATAN, Honduras -- Pan Caribbean Capital Partners I, Ltd. and Pristine Bay Resort - partners in one of the western Caribbean's most anticipated luxury resort, golf and residential communities for vacation home ownership - have introduced "The Resort Villas at Pristine Bay" in Roatan, Honduras.

The first 11 of an eventual 30 two-bedroom, two-bathroom luxury units - each with unobstructed views of the beach and ocean - have been released to the public for sale. There are three different floor plans from 2,700 to 3,400 square feet (inclusive of air-conditioned, covered deck and outside deck area).

The villas are inspired by Caribbean architecture with high, white-washed ceilings; stained wood trusses and trim; Italian terracotta tile roofs; wood shutters; and white plaster walls. Other design features of the fully-furnished units include spacious bathrooms with the finest fixtures; large great rooms; full-service kitchens; dining and living areas with French doors opening to expansive terraces; infinity edge pools and more.

Owners acquire the property in fee simple and enjoy full access to all resort amenities. They receive 60 days of annual use and excellent cash flow from the hotel rental pool. Prices range from $805,000 to $895,000.

"Real Estate Investors are excited about 'The Resort Villas at Pristine Bay' continuing Roatan's burgeoning reputation as the Caribbean's next hot spot," says Riley Sharman, Managing Director of Jungle & Reef Consulting, LLC, a consulting firm handling the sales and marketing of the resort villas. "The resort's 'barefoot elegance' ambience provides a relaxing yet luxurious escape, as well as a sound investment."

Pristine Bay Resort's exceptional amenities include Roatan's first golf course, The Black Pearl, designed by Pete and Perry Dye. It boasts ocean views on 14 holes and a signature island-green, par-3 11th hole. A 155-slip, full-service marina near The Black Pearl clubhouse will provide deep-water access for a wide variety of vessels. The five-star, 120-room Resort and Spa at Pristine Bay, sure to soothe and rejuvenate, is scheduled to open in February 2011 and will be managed by Destination Resorts, Ltd., which also manages Victoria House Resort on Ambergris Caye, Belize and Casa Encantada in Antigua, Guatemala.

For more information about The Resort Villas at Pristine Bay, (www.resortvillasatpristinebay.com)  contact Riley Sharman at rsharman@ResortVillasatPristineBay.com or 310.860.6251.

For information about Pristine: www.pristinebayresort.com, mmonica@pristinebayresort.com, 323.203.0623, 786.315.8657.

About Pan Caribbean Capital Partners I, Ltd. / Destination Resorts, Ltd.
Pan Caribbean Capital Partners I, Ltd. is a privately held Houston investment partnership. Destination Resorts, Ltd. is headed by J. William Sharman, Jr. who is also the Chairman & CEO of The Lancaster Group, Inc., a hotel development and management firm with corporate offices in Houston, Texas. Mr. Sharman was also a founder of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, an international consortium of over 500 properties in 70 countries.

Lancaster properties have included the Lancaster Hotel in Houston, Texas; the Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C.; the Cotton House on Mustique Island in the Grenadines; the Argyle (now Sunset Tower) in Los Angeles; Hotel Maison de Ville and The Audubon Cottages in New Orleans; and many others. It has specialized in developing, repositioning and managing small luxury hotels and resorts (typically 20 to 175 rooms) for more than 25 years.

Lancaster's focus on small hotels and resorts of distinction generate profits and brand value for property owners. Intimately familiar with the needs of business and pleasure travelers, the company has provided a high level of personal service and performance internationally.

About Pristine Bay Resort
Located on the lush, tropical island of Roatan, 35 miles off the northern coast of Honduras, Pristine Bay Resort is on a 400-plus acre site adjacent to the Caribbean Sea. The azure waters the world's second largest barrier reef off the island coast - famous for world-class fishing and scuba diving - provide one of the truly unique, stunning backdrops for golf in Central America and the western Caribbean.

The Black Pearl, Dye's first project in Honduras and Roatan's first golf course, is an 18-hole, par-72, 7,179-yard layout. Play starts at the ocean's doorstep, rises into the island's rolling foothills, and then takes golfers on a wild ride back to the seaside clubhouse.

Residents and guests will have access to the oceanfront Bay Village at Pristine Bay with boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, cafes and other entertainment options, as well as a beach club and 155-slip marina. The Resort Villas at Pristine Bay are under construction and the 120-room, five-star Resort and Spa at Pristine Bay, managed by Destination Resorts, Ltd., an affiliate of The Lancaster Group, is scheduled to open in 2011.

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

Casa Encantada, Anituga
Guests Pick their 2010 “Most Affordable Luxury” B&B Award Winner
From over 8,500 B&B’s worldwide!
Casa Encantada B&B

PETALUMA, CA FEBRUARY 16^th,  2010- Congratulations to Casa Encantada in Antigua Guatemala, who was recently chosen as offering the “Most Affordable Luxury” out of 8,500 B&B’s around the world!  Our readers have spoken and the Casa Encantada has unanimously received the greatest number of votes in this category by their loyal B&B guests and regular visitors to LanierBB.com.  Innkeeper Julia Sole certainly earned this prestigious award, her hard work and effort has not gone unnoticed by the traveling public!

Located in lovely Antigua Guatemala, the Casa Encantada serves their guests with extraordinary comfort and unparalleled attention to detail. Warm, welcoming and full of character, the Casa Encantada offers travelers an ideal base for a relaxing and memorable bed and breakfast retreat.

Guests at the Casa Encantada are always the top priority of innkeepers and staff. With excellent attention to detail and personal service, the Casa Encantada is the ultimate bed and breakfast destination for any traveler in search of an unforgettable experience.

Pamela Lanier’s Bed and Breakfasts, Inns and Guesthouses International has been assisting inn goers with a comprehensive variety of boutique lodgings since 1982, announcing an “Inn of the Year” winner for 26 consecutive years.  The oldest and most prestigious B&B vote program in the world, guests may now vote for any bed and breakfast in over 80 categories on LanierBB.com, all votes tallied and winners announced at the beginning of each year in Lanier’s print guide, The Complete Guide to Bed & Breakfasts, Inns and Guesthouses International, award-wining website, newsletters and with press affiliates.

Thinking of visiting Antigua Guatemala, or want to meet the exceptional innkeepers that put their heart and soul into their B&B?  Contact them today and they’ll receive you at their B&B with open arms and smiling faces!

Casa Encantada
9a Calle Poniente Esquina 1
Antigua, Guatemala
713-344-2344
www.casaencantada-antigua.com

Victoria House Looks Forward to 2010
Ambergris Caye, Belize - January 20, 2010

Victoria House Resort has once again received overwhelming endorsements from the international travel media as one of the top resorts in Central America and the Caribbean.  

As 2010 dawned, Victoria House was recognized by Condé Nast Johansens as the Most Excellent Beach Hotel in the Americas, Travel and Leisure Magazine’s Top 500 of the Worlds Best Hotels List for the 3^rd year in a row, and featured in the United Kingdoms The Independent in a glowing article entitled “The Big Six: Central American boutique hotels”

Victoria House offers guests a variety of accommodations including thatch-roofed casitas, beachfront and poolside villas, and spacious suites, all in a tranquil colonial setting.  Swaying coconut palms and verdant lawns overlook the white sand beach, the Caribbean Sea and the Great Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, just ¾ of a mile from our beach.  Lush, manicured gardens inspire serenity and relaxation and four swimming pools, including two infinity pools, are available for the enjoyment of hotel guests. The award-winning Palmilla Restaurant and Admiral Nelson’s Beach Bar provide world-class food and beverage service daily. Activities are coordinated from the Fantasea dive shop, located on the 300 ft hotel pier.

Victoria House is pleased to introduce a new package: Barefoot Elegance. This package offers a discounted nightly room rates, breakfast and dinner daily, a bottle of champagne, a snorkel trip to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley and more. In addition, the new Spring Special provides an opportunity to enjoy a complimentary night for guests staying 6 or more nights at Victoria House.

A Member of the Harper Collection, Kiwi Collection and Signature Travel Network Consortium and recognized by the Hideaway Report, Victoria House is one of the most popular resorts in Central America and the Western Caribbean.

For more information about Victoria House visit www.victoria-house.com

 
Villas at Victoria House
Ambergris Caye, Belize  

Houston, TX (February 26, 2007)Lancaster Group, Inc...Nestled on Ambergris Caye just two miles south of the small town of San Pedro, Victoria House is the island’s premiere luxury resort, offering the most diverse luxury accommodations in Belize.   The ambiance is plantation style and tropical surrounded by acres of flowering gardens, unspoiled beaches and tall swaying palm trees.   

Although full service it remains small, elegant and exclusive offering forty-five accommodations with two guest pools and two private villa pools.  Dining is a romantic experience at Victoria House and award winning Restaurant Palmilla complements this with Caribbean cuisine infused with Asian  flavorings of Executive Chef Nori.  The restaurant and Admiral Nelsons Beach Bar, another perfect spot for a casual “fresh catch of the day, lunch or candlelight dinner is open for all meals 

Located on the hotel pier is the hub of daytime activity, Fantasea Dive Shop, offering all aspects of water sports including world class Scuba diving with PADI certified Dive Masters, salt-water fly fishing guides, and inland jungle or Mayan ruin excursions.   

Resort accommodations include Plantation Rooms and spacious suites, unique Palapa Casitas, and individual villas with private pools. The new luxury, Villas at Victoria House, comprises of three/two bedroom villas and four one and two bedroom suites, all located on the edge of a 60 foot infinity pool and marble waterfall.  In keeping with the relaxed ambience of the resort there are no radios or telephones or even Jet Ski’s to disturb the peaceful atmosphere, however, upon guest request the new villas offer flat screen cable televisions.  Villas at Victoria House all boast beautiful sea views, signature bath amenities; granite tiled bathrooms with indoor/outdoor shower gardens, state of the art appliances and beautifully crafted mahogany wood ceilings and four-poster beds.  All accommodations at Victoria House are climate controlled 

San Pedro, a small and quaint village offers an abundance of souvenir shopping, local crafts, art galleries and a variety of oceanfront restaurants and barefoot beach bars.  Golf carts are the preferred mode of island transportation and can be rented from the hotel.  

CASA ENCANTADA IN ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA OPENS 

Houston, TX, (June 7, 2004) Lancaster Group, Inc. . . .Casa Encantada, a luxurious hotel in the 16^th century Spanish Colonial City of Antigua, Guatemala has opened after extensive renovations of the prior Hotel Casa Mayor.  The Lancaster Group of Houston, Texas will manage Casa Encantada (“the Enchanted House”). 

J. William Sharman, Jr., the owner of Casa Encantada, stated, "Antigua is a very special place and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Casa Encantada is the embodiment of an intimate hotel with a historic sense of place, wonderful furnishings and art and a caring staff giving personalized service that will provide an ideal home for exploring and savoring the unique attractions of Antigua." 

Casa Encantada ( www.casaencantada-antigua.com) has only ten individually decorated rooms and suites, a roof top terrace with bar and breakfast dining overlooking the city and surrounding mountains, a private courtyard and garden with a lounging area and pool, a reception and salon and a graceful arcade leading from the traditional timber and iron door.  A collection of antique huipils, the colorful Mayan ceremonial dress, representing twenty distinct tribal regions grace the walls.  Amenities such as telephones, televisions, refrigerators, signature bathrobes, feather and down bedding with fine Italian linens and custom made four-poster iron beds complement each room. 

Ms. Janet Woollam, Managing Director in Central America, indicated, "Antigua has such charm and such an amazing variety of art galleries, antique shops, museums, colonial architecture, restaurants and culture that is waiting to be discovered by the traveling public.  It is surrounded by mountains and wonderful coffee and flower plantations with a constant stream of cool evenings and warm days."  

Casa Encantada will be managed by Ms. Julia Sole and will join the popular Victoria House on Ambergris Caye in Belize as Lancaster Group managed properties in Central America.  Ms. Frances Broussard, Managing Director of The Lancaster Group, reported that this is an ideal fit for the group, which specializes in the development, renovation and operation of small, unique and luxurious hotels and resorts, it’s U.S. properties include The Lancaster in Houston and The Fairmount Hotel in San Antonio with previous development including the Maison de Ville in New Orleans, the Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C. and the Argyle on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.  www.casaencantada-antigua.com 

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