Divi Resorts Announces Aruba Phoenix Beach Opening

Chapel Hill, NC, December 07, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Divi Resorts recently announced a December 23, 2008, opening for the new towers currently under construction at Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach in the well-known Palm Beach area of Aruba. The expansion project includes four eight-story buildings that more the double the size of the resort. The curtain also goes up on a new complex of restaurants, pools and grounds.

Among the new dining establishments is Pure Beach, a casual café with a European beach club aesthetic. Encircled by the waters of the freeform pool retreat, the café will be outfitted with slip covered couches for lounging along with low tables and chairs, all decorated in a chic beige and white color scheme. Rooms will be done in a contemporary Caribbean style with pure white bedding and dark woods.

The construction is part of the makeover of the Divi resort collection that began in 2006 and extends across the entire Caribbean, from Bonaire to St. Croix, St. Maarten, Aruba and Barbados. With completely renovated suites, new restaurants, golf villas, spas, condos and more, Divi undertook the investment ($115 million spent thus far), upgrading facilities and amenities to provide a higher quality vacation experience. According to E.J. Schanfarber, President and CEO of Divi Hotels Marketing, Inc., "The changes are positioning the brand as the true aficionado of Caribbean vacations."

Also set for a December 23rd opening is the final 52 of 240 golf villas at the nearby Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort. A few months later, in March, the Residences at the Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort will be ready for occupancy. The Residences represent the company's first full-ownership product and is an upscale community of 45 luxury studios, one- and two-bedroom condominiums nestled within the sparkling greens of the Links at Divi Aruba golf course.

While work is progressing in Aruba, construction has been completed in St. Croix on an open air gourmet pizza restaurant called East End Pizza, which opened July 15 at the Divi Carina Bay. The family restaurant serves wood-fired pizzas and breads and is located directly across from the miniature golf course and driving range, added last year. The resort recently welcomed a new head chef, Christopher Loftus, who is in charge of all the property's dining establishments including the Starlite Grille, Dockside Café and the new East End Pizza. Divi Carina Bay was voted one of the "Best Large Hotels" (150-299 Rooms) in Caribbean Travel & Life's Best of the Caribbean Readers' Choice Awards 2007. Schanfarber recently commented that, "They should all come back to enjoy the miniature golf course and driving range, the new gourmet pizza kitchen as well as the changes in all our restaurants under Christopher's direction."

Elsewhere, the Bonaire property, Divi Flamingo Beach Resort, will have all studio suites freshly renovated by the time high season begins in December with new furniture, drapery, bedding, kitchen cabinetry, bathroom fixtures and flooring.

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