Ibiza-February 2, 2004

NEWS and VIEWS from IBIZA-HOTELS February 2, 2004

IN THIS ISSUE:

Santa Inés
The cathedral bell tower
Real Time Rental Cars
FITUR

Next issue-
February 15 ,2004
"..Winter on Ibiza"

Santa Inés explodes in almond blossoms...

Santa Inés at this time of year crowns herself with
blooming almond trees and the entire vally looks almost as though it were covered in snow.

Although this isn´t exactly news.....it happens every year,
and attracts hundreds of photographers, but we thought we ought to remind our readers (and ourselves), how good it is for us to
stop and smell the flowers...every once in a while.

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS?
Workman are putting the final touches on the Bell Tower of the Cathedral of Ibiza, in readiness for the return of the famous ' Cristo' bell, which because of cracks has been sent to Germany for repairs.

Turns out that the Germans are the only ones in the world who have the equipment and experience to repair the old 600 kilo bell, and to do it with a guarantee of the original sound.

The most unbelieveable part of the story is that the
orginal IBICENCAN Sabina Pine and Olive wood mountings-hand crafted in the Middle Ages a still useable..and did not need replacement.

The Cristo bell was cast on Ibiza in 1585, and will now be powered (together with its 4 sister bells by electrical motors that are computer configured toplay up to 50 different melodies.

IBIZA-HOTELS NEWS this MONTH:

Ibiza-HOTELS announces the successful adaptation of our famous REALTIME HOTEL RESERVATIONS ENGINE to the RENT-A-CAR industry, and in partnership with MOTO LUIS Rent-a-Car

and FOR THE FIRST TIME on IBIZA....you can now rent a car in REAL TIME directly from our website, and at the BEST PRICES on the island.

NEWS FROM FITUR, MADRID.....
(FITUR is the big TRAVEL MARKET FAIR in Madrid-15,000 exhibitors)

The consensus is this:
Ibiza is going to suffer another DESCENT (15%) in bookings from Great Britain and Germany.
The reason:
The high value of the Euro makes destinations in the Far East , South America and the Caribbean extremely attractive to citizens of the Common Market.
The strategy:
Heavy investments in promotion of the Balearic Islands and Ibiza in local Spanish markets.