BIMINI -- The island of Bimini is a haven for rejuvenation and relaxation and Bimini Bay Resort and Marina is enhancing the experience with the summer opening of Spa Chakra®, operated by globally renowned luxury spa operator Spa Chakra, Inc. Exclusively offering Guerlain products and practicing the well-known Guerlain Méthode, Spa Chakra Bimini will be the first location to debut in the Caribbean; currently Spa Chakra, Inc. operates several luxury spa brands, including locations at The Waldorf=Astoria New York and Conrad Miami, among others.

The decision to expand Spa Chakra—the worldwide network’s signature brand—to the Caribbean market was a venture that CEO of Spa Chakra, Inc., Mike Canizales has been looking forward to. As part of Bimini Bay Resort’s multi-million-dollar retail marketplace investment, Spa Chakra will occupy an intimate space of 3,020 square feet within Fisherman’s Village, the resort’s new marketplace with upscale retail and dining outlets. "Spa Chakra Bimini extends our tradition of operating in the world's great cities and sublime resorts,” states Canizales. “We look forward to providing transformational health programs, spa treatments, and packages at this idyllic location.”

Spa Chakra’s design inspiration is derived from a combination of European and Indochinese influences. The cozy two-story oasis will feature six treatment rooms that include hydrotherapy and Vichy shower facilities, all adorned with mosaic and imported tiles and walnut wooden flooring plus a full-service salon providing luxury spa manicures and pedicures. Self-contained waterfalls and indirect lighting will provide a soothing environment and all treatments incorporate the exclusive skincare, beauty, and fragrance collections of Guerlain Paris.
While clients enjoy the amenities of the spa, they will undergo personalized, integrative well-being transformations that focus on delivering targeted results with the combination of more than 60 health and skin therapies. Clients can take advantage of the following special services and techniques offered by Spa Chakra Bimini:

• Upon arrival, each client makes his or her Guerlain aromatherapy selection to infuse the therapeutic experience

• Clients may take advantage of "In-Room Checkout" so that they need not return to reception to close their accounts

• Complimentary post-treatment makeup refreshers follow all treatments

• Thanks to an expansive global network, all guests can enjoy a therapeutic continuum, enabling transfers of their client history to any location

• Most treatment rooms are equipped with private bathrooms ensuite to conduct post-treatment refreshers, instead of a communal locker room environment.

• Spa Chakra does not use electronic equipment-—the entire approach is delivered via the exclusive Méthode and products

Along with its dedicated location, Spa Chakra will offer poolside, beachside and in-room massages for guests of Bimini Bay Resort. Travelers can look forward to visiting Bimini to experience ultimate relaxation while lodging in the resort’s upscale suites, providing all the comforts of home and 360-degree views of emerald clear Bimini waters. Rates begin at $250/night for a one-bedroom luxury suite. For more information and to book your Bimini spa getaway, visit www.biminibayresort.com or call (242) 347-2900.

The photographs for Saint Patrick's Day 2008 at Shenanigan's Irish Pub are now online.

BIMINI, Bahamas – March 25, 2008 – Bimini Bay Resort located on North Bimini, famous for being the gateway to the Bahamas, announces its brand new Mega Yacht Marina accommodating up to 200-ft. yachts and the addition of luxury suites and villas. From deep sea to bone fishing, Bimini has been producing record catches in big game tournaments and deep-sea charter adventures for decades, going back to the days that Ernest Hemingway made his home on the island. Because of our close proximity to South Florida, the resort continues to be a highly desirable destination, only an hour-and-a-half by boat.

Guests of Bimini Bay Resort may take advantage of two full-service marinas as well as shopping and dining at the resort’s retail marketplace Fisherman’s Village, opening summer 2008. The original marina features 136 floating boat slips and onsite Customs & Immigrations, making entry to the Bahamas seamless. Fisherman’s Village, adjacent to the marina, will provide a variety of retail options including John Bull Jewelers, Bristol Cellars, Amicci’s Pizzeria & gelateria, Splash resort apparel, the first Spa Chakra to debut in the Caribbean, and more.

To accommodate larger yachts, the Bahamian government recently completed an environmentally-friendly dredging of the Bimini Bay harbor resulting in a new channel that provides easy access for larger vessels. Bimini Bay Resort’s brand new Mega Yacht Marina features 92 slips accommodating vessels from 40 ft.-200 ft. Coming online in summer 2008 will be a Asian restaurant and Sushi bar and an oversized swimming pool with swim-up bar. Future plans call for wireless internet access, captains’ lounge, navigation center/chart room, access to marine supply and tackle, and golf cart access.

For those looking to unwind in style, Bimini Bay Resort offers 200 Caribbean-inspired suites painted in tropical hues of green, blue, peach, yellow, pink and turquoise. Suites range from one-three bedrooms with ocean or marina bay views and interiors feature contemporary beachy-chic décor accented with a unique variety of shell and coral accents and accessories. Resort amenities include an infinity-edge pool, poolside restaurant & bar, poolside and beachside massages, children’s playground, tennis and bocce ball courts and oceanside dining at the resort’s signature restaurant Casa Lyon. For reservation inquiries regarding Bimini Bay Resort, please visit www.biminibayresort.com. Rates begin at $250/night.

Lanelle Phillips is no stranger to the real estate business; her realty career began under the guidance of well-known real estate guru Harry Dann and continued with the H.G. Christie Real Estate company before she officially opened her own agency, Lanelle Phillips Real Estate, Tuesday evening.

Born and raised on Grand Bahama, Phillips left the island with her father and attended junior high school in Colorado and later attended a Vermont high school. She attended college at FAU in Boca Raton as well as Framingham State outside of Boston, where she started her career in sales at the youthful age of 19. She later moved to Chicago where she began a successful sales career on Nordstrom’s well-known shoe floor and quickly moved up into management under the associate buyers programme. Eventually, the call of her island home was stronger than that of her retail career and she returned to Grand Bahama in 1998.

Returning home and working with long time realtor, Harry Dann, gave her the guidance and knowledge she needed to begin her career in the Real Estate market. "Joining Harry Dann and Co. was a huge honor where his catch phrase ‘Dann’s the name, Land is the Game’ said it all. He was a man who could close a deal and that knowledge I have taken with me throughout my career. He fell ill soon after my return to home, and during this time I became actively involved in the management of the firm, but it was a bitter sweet time, as Harry lost his fight with cancer and I lost a mentor and a father figure.”

After transitioning the Harry Dann firm to his family, Phillips then successfully launched the well-respected H.G. Christie Real Estate franchise in Grand Bahama and ran their offices for seven years as District Manager and eventually was promoted to Regional Manager. During her time with Christie’s she and her agents were regarded as the leaders in the real estate market on the island. “It was exciting to grow a business from the ground up and see the successes of that work over the years. The company today still operates with a talented base of sales agents," she says.

Phillips’ decision to go out on her own is like that of any entrepreneur; she wanted to start her own company and return to a smaller and more personal service where her presence could be more beneficial to clients. “I want to get back to a more one-on-one intensive service. I was doing a lot of corporate work and missed my sales interaction. My agency will concentrate on working with our clients on a more personal level,” she said.

"I am thrilled about having the time to spend selling again and reconnecting with my clients that have remained loyal to me for almost 9 years - the network of people I have met over the years is the key to my success and it is so fulfilling receiving phone calls on a daily basis from them congratulating me on my own company and asking me to work with them. I owe so much of my success to my clients!"

Phillips is part of a growing trend, where female brokers and agents are becoming the leaders of their businesses. In fact, in the US, women run many of the leading companies who dominate the market. “Many are making their mark as pioneers of real estate business. They all have one thing in common that makes them shine - the power of knowledge gained through hands on experience,” according to sellsiusrealestate.com. The article went on to state that women agents tend to be very respected by their peers and cherished by their clients and customers.

Phillips officially opened her offices last year in the new Executive Office Centre, West Mall and Adventures Way, with a welcome party for her clients, friends and staff. Her two suites of offices are very island contemporary and have a welcoming feel to them, “I am sure any interested buyer or seller will enjoy coming to this island chic environment. I know Lanelle is up for this challenge and will be a great asset to our business community,” stated guest Sir Albert Miller.

Phillips is currently fine tuning her new interactive website and working along with her staff to create a database for her large catalog of homes and properties they have already begun to work with. “I am thrilled to now have an established office of my own in Grand Bahama,” Phillips said. “We have so many unique plans in the works that combine aggressive technology with good old fashioned customer service.”

“We have spent months working with US organizations and real estate associations gaining knowledge that we have brought back here to the Bahamas with hopes of creating a new benchmark for real estate on Grand Bahama. We are committed to continuing the education of all our agents, consultants and apprentices. We definitely have some surprises for Grand Bahama,” she concluded.