May 2012

2012

Costa Rica Scoop intelligence for upscale travel by Grupo Islita

Mr. Gustavo Segura, MBA

reetings from Costa Rica! I thank you for taking the time to review “Costa Rica Scoop”, the bi-monthly

newsletter of Hotel Punta Islita and El Silencio Lodge & Spa. In this edition, we would like to celebrate friendship. Andrés Corrales has joined the Grupo Islita family as the head of our Sales and Marketing Department. His friend-ly enthusiasm will certainly help us fur-ther hone the synergies between our two properties. We have created new products that facilitate friend getaways. The “Amigas

in Costa Rica” caters to women who like to travel with their close friends, show-ering them with cultural activities, spa wellness, and upscale pampering. ”Weekend Whisk” specials let impromp-tu travelers plan a quick last-minute adventure to enjoy either Costa Rica’s stunning beaches or cloud forests. Ideal to take advantage of many new direct flights servicing Costa Rica from major hubs in the USA. Warmest regards and thank you for your wonderful friendship!

G

Friendly Words From our CEO

Welcome Andrés!

@

rom Costa Rica to faraway lands including Qatar, Andrés has wisely

combined scholarship, a lifelong pas-sion for travel, and an innate commit-ment to superb customer service. He holds advanced degrees including a BSc from Florida International Univer-sity and an MBA from IMHI-ESSEC in Paris. As a professional, he has culti-vated an expertise in luxury travel products at Four Seasons, and Grand Hyatt. His living experience in Europe, Asia, and the Americas has fueled his interest in diverse cultures and lan-guages. Andrés is fully bilingual (Spanish-English).

“I am delighted to join the Grupo Islita

family! As a Costa Rican, I look for-ward to working with a nationally-developed product that has earned not only international excellence acco-lades but recognition for innovative and successful corporate social re-sponsibility programs.”

Andrés Corrales joins Grupo Islita as the new Sales & Marketing Manager

F

Andrés explores the French Alps.

ANDRES@GRUPOISLITA.COM

$1749*

- Travel Special - - Friends’ Travel Special -

@

Amigas in Costa Rica

A one-of-a-kind opportunity to relax and have fun with your best friends. Perfect for sisters, office mates, class reunions, or a lively group of soccer moms! It features private ground transportation between Hotel Punta Islita and El Silencio Lodge & Spa for a chance to witness Arenal Volcano and Costa Rica’s diverse landscapes.

Bienvenidas!

7 nights/ 8 days

One marvelous country, two pre-

mium destinations, and eight

days to relax, laugh, explore, and

enjoy with your best friends. It’s

your turn to be pampered!

Includes

3 nights in a Suite at El Silencio Lodge & Spa

Daily breakfast at Las Ventanas Restaurant

Guided hike along El Silencio’s private forest reserve

Guided cultural tour featuring Bajos del Toro community

Al fresco Yoga session

Private cloud forest dinner

Rainforest Aromatherapy treatment at Esencia Spa

2x1 eco-adventures in the cloud forest

Private ground transportation HPI-ESL through Arenal

4 nights in a Deluxe Room at Hotel Punta Islita

Daily breakfast at 1492 Restaurant

Guided cultural tour featuring the Islita community

Private beach garden dinner

Wellness massage at Casa Spa

*Per person in double occupancy. Includes taxes. Rates and conditions subject to to black-

out dates and availability. Valid until December 19th, 2013.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: RESERVE@GRUPOISLITA.COM

The latest edition of the Hotel Punta Islita Golf Tourna-

ment took place this past April 29th. This special event

once again brought together golf enthusiasts to enjoy a

fun day of driving, chipping, and putting in full camarade-

rie while supporting our local communities. The big win-

ner was the local Islita School! 100% of the registration

fees (about $3000) will be donated to help refurbish Is-

lita’s elementary school and provide better learning op-

portunities to our youngest neighbors. We enthusiasti-

cally thank all participants and the corporate sponsors

who generously supported the tournament. Our deep

gratitude to Movistar, Hawaiian Tropic, Banco General,

Alpiste, Honda, Pastas Roma, Mercado de Valores de

Costa Rica, Café Britt, Banca Promérica, and our sister

property, El Silencio Lodge & Spa.

Hotel Punta Islita’s par 3, executive 9-hole golf course

features a beautiful natural backdrop. Its management

incorporates environmentally-conscious practices includ-

ing irrigation with recycled water and the use of pest-

resistant hybrid turf. If you are a golf aficionado, we cor-

dially invite you to enroll in next year’s tournament.

For more information, we kindly ask you to contact:

golf@hotelpuntaislita.com

- Hotel Punta Islita -

2 nights lodging in a Deluxe Room

Daily breakfast per person

Guided Cultural Tour

RT private ground transportation from San Jose International (SJO) or Liberia International (LIR)

2x1 Horseback Riding Adventure Coupon

*Per person, double occupancy. Includes taxes. Rates and conditions subject to blackout dates and availability. Valid until Dec 19th, 2012.

Enjoy a quick getaway to Costa Rica’s colorful beaches with seamless logistics.

from * $534

Weekend Whisk! @ RESERVE@GRUPOISLITA.COM

Fore a Good Cause!

http://bit.ly/HotelPuntaIslitaWelcome

Check out our new website! www.hotelpuntaislita.com

And please join Hotel Punta Islita’s Facebook community.

otel Punta Islita’s sym-

biotic partnership with

local communities places

strong emphasis on edu-

cation. The ongoing Islita

Creative Center program

will provide innovative

didactic tools for children

and adults. Emphasizing

creativity, critical think-

ing, and access to technol-

ogy, it hopes to effectively

improve the area’s

schooling index. It is a

collective effort that has

enlisted the generous

support of embassies, cor-

porations, and private citi-

zens. Hotel Punta Islita

has donated manpower,

management, a site, and

the basic infrastructure. If

you would like to become

an ally, please contact:

narias@fundacionvz.org

or

lpretiz@fundacionvz.org

H

RESERVE@GRUPOISLITA.COM

Hint of Mint Strawberries

Surprise your friends with this fresh take on

a sweet favorite...

• 1 cup fresh strawberries -hulled

• 1/2 cup mint leaves -washed & drained

• Choice of sweetener, sugar or lime juice

Line a stainless steel steamer with fresh mint leaves. Fill with strawberries and-steam for about five minutes. Set aside, cool down, and refrigerate. Sprinkle

with your favorite sweetener or sugar and serve chilled. If you would like to enhance the citrus flavor, ditch the sug-ar and drizzle with fresh lime juice!

- El Silencio Lodge & Spa -

$550 *

2 nights lodging in Suite with private whirlpool

Daily a-la-carte breakfast, lunch & dinner per person

Guided Hiking Adventure

Round-trip ground transportation from San Jose International Airport (SJO)

2x1 Horseback Riding Adventure Coupon

Weekend Whisk!

*Per person, double occupancy. Includes taxes. Rates and conditions subject to blackout dates and availability. Valid until Dec 19th, 2012.

e just completed

maintenance on El Si-

lencio Lodge & Spa’s

trails. The La Melodía

Trail is reopened and a

new mini-trail playfully

dares guests to take a

cool water plunge in a

natural splash pond

along the Gorrión River. Exploring El Silencio Lodge & Spa’s private hiking trails rewards

visitors with unexpected natural surprises.

@ RESERVE@GRUPOISLITA.COM

Enjoy a quick getaway to Costa Rica’s relaxing cloud forest with seamless logistics.

News From The Trails!

W

http://on.fb.me/ElSilencioLodgeWelcome

Please join El Silencio Lodge & Spa’s Facebook community.

“Love is

friendship,

set on fire.”

-Jeremy Taylor

Meryl and Joseph celebrate in Costa Rica!

Congratulations Meryl and Joseph!

e thank Meryl and Joseph for sharing their

honeymoon memories in Martha Stewart

Weddings. Costa Rica is an ideal destination

for couples seeking a perfect blend of romance

and adventure. El Silencio Lodge & Spa was de-

lighted to be your host. Thanks for your com-

ments! To learn more about their experience:

http://bit.ly/MarthaStewartElSilencioLodge

W

“Our Bajos hotel, El Silencio Lodge, was

completely rejuvenating”

The flickering hearth at El Silencio Lodge & Spa’s main lodge sets the ideal mood for animated conversation or just relaxation.

RESERVE@GRUPOISLITA.COM

-Harry Zurcher President, Grupo Islita

osta Rica? I still remember when men-tioning my country was followed by a puzzled look. Confused with Puerto

Rico or mistaken for an-other island, I was al-ways prepared with a mini-speech. I would explain that we were a small nation in Central America. Peaceful, na-ture-loving, friendly, and blessed with some of the planet’s most spectacular landscapes. There was no Google back then so I presume that, to many in my audience, my mini-speech remained their sole knowledge of Costa Rica. Today, mentioning Costa Rica brings out one of two responses: I recently visited and it was the most amazing destination ever! I can’t wait to return OR I know someone who was recently there and had a blast. They can’t stop talking about the experience. I can’t wait to visit! Indeed Costa Rica garners growing internation-al attention. The world knows that we have not had an army since 1948 and that much of our GDP is invested in education and health sys-tems. That this nation of 4.5 million inhabitants is a true leader in environmental conservation and human development. That it is at the top of many global rankings, including Yale & Co-lumbia Universities’ Environmental Perfor-

mance Index and the New Economics Founda-tion’s much-talked about, Happy Planet Index. Many now know that Costa Rica even has a Blue Zone within its borders, an area where people routinely live past 100 in great health and good spirits. (In case you were wondering, Costa Rica’s Blue Zone is in Nicoya, Guana-caste… where Hotel Punta Islita is located.) Traditional development indicators also confirm Costa Rica’s advantages, underscoring its finan-cial stability, economic freedom, and transpar-ency. World-class multinationals like Intel, Am-azon, Procter & Gamble, and Hewlett Packard have recognized this, setting up state-of-the-art research facilities and call centers. Even Google now boasts a presence. We can now find Costa Rica in Google AND Google in Costa Rica. But what does it all mean for the tourism indus-try? How does Costa Rica’s privileged situation translate into a travel experience? Beyond the

marvelous bio-diversity that captures the imagi-nation, visitors find a welcoming nation, cul-turally rich and open.

Where educated people know how to voice their opinion, show initiative, and display self-confidence. Where friendly people are intellec-tually curious and appreciate sharing their her-itage and learning from others. In short, a per-fect environment for discovery!”

“C HAPPINESS

INSPIRES TRAVEL!

- About Costa Rica -

Mr. Harry Zurcher, enjoying Islita Cove on horseback a

few years prior to the inauguration of Hotel Punta Islita.

Beetle Juice! In Costa Rica, the month of May brings a surge in beetle activity as they reach the repro-

ductive stage in their life cycle. Beetles (Coleoptera) constitute almost 25% of all of the

planet’s known living creatures. More than 40,000 species have been identified in Costa

Rica. Beetles communicate chemically through the use of phero-

mones and acoustically by rubbing body parts together.

Some species display parenting behavior, a rare

trait in insect species. Diversity is their hallmark

with some specimens featuring a metallic sheen

armor. Some can even hold air bubbles for diving underwater.

In Central America and Costa Rica, the horned Hercules Beetle can

reach a total length of close to seven inches!

El Silencio Lodge & Spa promises a sanctuary where visitors can recon-

nect with our planet’s inspiring melodies. But our holistic concept of

wellness goes further. We envision a tourism model that protects its

stunning natural surroundings, fosters the personal growth of staff,

and promotes the development of neighbor communities. Harmoniz-

ing the well-being of all stakeholders is key to El Silencio's uplifting ex-

perience, fully reflecting Costa Rica’s happiness and friendship mantra.

We cordially invite you to voice your support for El Silencio Lodge &

Spa’s sustainability efforts by nominating us for the Virgin Holiday’s

Responsible Tourism Awards 2012. Our sister property, Hotel Punta Islita was a win-

ner in 2010 and we would love to follow in their footsteps! Plus, by nominating you

could win amazing travel prizes! http://bit.ly/ResponsibleTourismAwards2012

Sustainability

Highlights: 5-Leaf maximum CST

Certification

500 acre tropical cloud

forest reserve

Blue Flag eco-

certification

Green Flag water man-

agement certification

CO2 offsetting initiatives

Waste management

program

Planet-friendly cleaning

products

Active community in-

volvement

95% of its staff is local

A colorful beetle’s image is photographed by Eco-Concierge Andrey Alpízar as it traverses a leafy landscape.

Sustainability Awards are Open to Nominations!

Grupo Islita’s two select

properties blend the best of

Costa Rica’s beach and

mountain settings featuring in-

tense nature, upscale comfort

and bespoke services.

We now offer a unified

reservations center and a

dedicated bilingual team to

help travelers, travel profes-

sionals and their partners en-

sure seamless logistics from ar-

rival to departure.

Grupo Islita simplifies Costa Rica travel planning!

How may we assist you?

Email: reserve@grupoislita.com

Phone in Costa Rica: +506 2231-6122

Toll Free from US & Canada: 1-866-446-4053 or 1-888-437-7111

Online chat: www.hotelpuntaislita.com or www.elsilenciolodge.com