Congratulations! Happy 60th birthday Lise

Congratulations! Happy 60th birthday Lise

by | Jul 8, 2019 | Environs, Pool, Restaurant, Special event

Congratulations! Happy 60th birthday Lise

On Saturday June 29th our proprietor Lise reached her big-six-o and of course that was a good reason to celebrate and to do some other things than just the usual weekend workdays.

We actually started already on Friday by giving ourselves time to get a guided tour of the new Hotel Kempinski which is still under construction. The opening is scheduled for October and it looks like they still have a lot to do but General Manager Michael Schoonewagen feels confident they will be ready in time.

What an impressive 5-star Grand Luxe resort this is going to be. A majestic entry and lobby, sea views all around, 3 restaurants, a conference center, more swimming pools than you can imagine, a fitness and spa complex like you’ve never seen and even the smallest room is bigger and more luxurious than the superior rooms in Hotel The Champs.
Our tour also included all the kitchens, offices, and the spaces “in the back” for the staff. Picture this: a buffet restaurant for the 175 staff that can easily compete with any public restaurant on island :-).

This resort is absolutely going to be a big addition to our island and for those guests who cannot afford the 5-start room rates (they are scary…) The Champs can offer a great alternative:
Book a Superior XL room at The Champs and have some money left to go dine in one of the 3 restaurants of Kempinski or treat yourself to a day in their spa. Our beds and our personalized service will make you feel like a 5-star VIP guest and the perks at Kempinski will complete your vacation of a lifetime. We will be happy to shuttle you up and down.

So back to Lise’s birthday. Friday night we enjoyed dinner prepared by Chef Francis and Tarnita in our own restaurant at Hotel The Champs. Friday night is pizza night but we took one of the alternative dishes, the mussels & shrimps in white wine sauce with a side salad. I just love that sauce. I used one of the shells of the mussels to scoop up the sauce to the very last bit. Delicious.
For the Saturday we had in mind to go “shop” for a new car for Lise and her staff team. The current vehicle has survived hurricane Maria but we never really brought it back in good shape and the engine is giving us challenges so we’re ready for the next one.
Bad luck for us, or is it that we just don’t pay enough attention? We drove to Canefield to find out that Auto Trade is not open for sales in Saturday morning since the hurricane. Well, I tried to check that on Friday using my WhatsApp but I should have made a phone call. So now Lise just had a nice island ride in the sun on the Saturday but no signed deal for a new car. Sorry Lise!

Saturday evening dinner was the “pièce de résistance” of Lise’s birthday. We were going to have dinner in the Zing Zing Restaurant of Secret Bay. What a delicious and relaxing experience.
We were treated by executive chef Grant Lynott and his team to culinary trip around the world with start and finish in Dominican ingredients and flavors that we did not discover in the 12 years we are here on island. Paired with the welcome cocktail, via the excellent wines, to the after dinner drink the taste combinations of food and drinks were heavenly.

So beloved guests staying at Hotel The Champs here is some good news for you: the Zing Zing Restaurant is now open to the public, but be aware, you cannot just walk in. If you’re staying at The Champs and you have something special to celebrate and would like to have dinner or lunch at the Zing Zing, then we can try to make a reservation for you. If they have an opening then you will receive two forms to fill in: one for your credit card and one to inform the kitchen about your food preferences, allergies, dietary requirements etc. Chef Grant wants to be well prepared because this is what he wants to give you: “Indulge in nutrient-rich, colorful and succulent island fare with a personalised dinner program designed by our executive chef himself and delivered fresh in the comfortable surroundings of the beautiful Zing Zing Restaurant.“
Dinner or lunch at Secret Bay is not just eating; it’s a culinary feast for your all your senses and especially for your taste buds.

And the party for Lise’s birthday wasn’t over yet. For Sunday afternoon Lise had invited her island friends to come over for a pot luck pool party. While Lise provided a good start for the drinks and snacks the other guests came with their own favorites to share with all. We cooled in the pool, were lazy at the sun beds, sat in the shade of the big umbrella, and chatted with each other. A great relax until after sunset and time the switch the colorful pool lights on. Our Dominican StayCation guests joined the fun and had a good time like all the others.
Now that our extended pool deck is (almost) ready with small service area, a changing room and toilet and room to move all around at the pool a new facility opens up at The Champs. Dominicans can now come and enjoy our special StayCation offers and see with Lise how to combine that with time at the pool with their friends and family. Hotel guests of course have free access to the pool and get complimentary use of pool towels. Friends can be invited using our new Pool & Restaurant Combo and you can all have a great afternoon at the pool and enjoy the colorful cocktails and savory snacks of The Champs. Life in Dominica keeps getting better and better with Hotel The Champs.

Are you already seeing yourself enjoying a dinner at Secret Bay, a spa treatment at Kempinski, or an afternoon at the pool of Hotel The Champs Check out the links, book a StayCation and allow yourself to live life to the fullest right here in Dominica.

Life Long Memories; What a Treat at the Champs

Life Long Memories; What a Treat at the Champs

by | Jul 2, 2019 | Guest review, Hotel, Sunsets, Yoga

Life Long Memories; What a Treat at the Champs

Not every slogan that is proposed by our marketing team makes it to our website or a brochure. Here’s and example of one that we haven’t used (yet): “Make Life Long Memories; Our Treat”
But although we haven’t used that slogan, this week we got another nice proof that Lise and her team at The Champs do make life long memories and that guests that walk in as strangers leave us as friends for many years to come.
Have a look at this short email that Lise received this week as a reply to our emailing in which we were offering our summer specials.
Hotel The Champs - Yoga Class
Hotel The Champs - Sunset
Dear Lise,
 
Today I saw another email coming through from Hotel The Champs.
My husband and I visited you a few years ago.
What a wonderful experience this was, beautiful location – nature and how hospitable you were.
Delicious food, beautiful boat trip, everything was great.
 
I really enjoyed all the days I’ve been there and every time I see the emails I think back to it with a lot of pleasure.
I wanted to let you know that when your guest(s) are gone, the memories will remain in full force.
 
Thank you for that.
Love and a big kiss,
 
J.
Now, that’s a nice email to receive, isn’t it? It makes your day.
Thank you very much “J.” for your very nice email. It makes us feel very good. Not only because we’re happy that we have been able to give you a life long memory but we know for sure that you represent a lot of other happy guests who have stayed at Hotel The Champs and who are aware that they received our special treat that we love to give:
Life Long Memories.
Cheers!

Hike to and Picknick at Syndicate (Milton) Falls:

Hike to and Picknick at Syndicate (Milton) Falls:

by | Jan 16, 2019 | Environs, Hiking, Syndicate, Waterfall

Hike to and Picknick at Syndicate (Milton) Falls:

You walk about 10 minutes before you reach the river, there you have to cross the river 4 times.  Hans crossing the river to be able to follow the path that leads to the waterfall. 

Here you can sit and relax, enjoy your pick-nick or and take a swim in the pool. You can stay as long as you want.
You take the same route back to your car or taxi.

The best sleep on the islands most comfy beds

The best sleep on the islands most comfy beds

by | Nov 19, 2018 | Hotel, Rooms

The best sleep on the islands most comfy beds

Behold the rise of Dominica’s largest and most comfortable King and Queen beds, at Hotel The Champs. The proprietors were inspired to get these new beds after traveling to Barcelona earlier in 2018. A king-size bed is always the ideal option for lots of different reasons. Our entire point of filling our rooms with brand new XL king and queen-size beds and mattresses is for luxury and relaxation. Visitors will be surprised by how much comfort can be derived from those extra inches of beds being the biggest and most comfortable outshining all other hotels across the island.
The sizes of these king-size mattress will be great for couples and persons with children, as it provides enough room for family snuggle sessions. King-size beds are ideal for starfish sleepers and we intend to give the best sleep and rest on the entire island. We always prioritize our guests when we shop. More room to sleep means that our clients will enjoy some restful sleep moments. Our new beds will lessen tossing, turning and night waking.
Bigger is always better and hotel the champs always intends to give the best. Book Direct now to enjoy the most comfortable sleep in Dominica’s top hotel. Think high quality and book a Superior Room today to get the most comfort, where you’ll get support in all the right places on a King Bed.