The Courtyard by Marriott Bonaire has unveiled a 3200 square-foot retail dive center at the hotel near the Flamingo International Airport. The new facility was designed and created in conjunction with Dive Friends Bonaire, the largest provider of scuba diving and related services on the island. A gala unveiling ceremony to celebrate the opening was held at the facility last Friday evening.

According to Director of Hotel Sales Mingli Chung, the new facility was designed with scuba diving guests in mind. “The Courtyard Bonaire provides guests with all the amenities, benefits and comfort expected from a Marriott property. Our new dive center provides the added convenience, service and expert knowledge that guests who dive also demand. We are pleased to offer this added benefit for our hotel guests and are honored to be opening our Dive Center together with Dive Friends Bonaire.”

The 140-room Courtyard Bonaire represents two significant “firsts” in the local Bonaire market. The new hotel, which opened in December, is the first US-branded hotel to open on Bonaire. In addition, the property is the first Courtyard by Marriott in the world to open an on-site scuba diving center.

Dive Friends Bonaire, a PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Center, will provide full-time staff, equipment, training and technical expertise at the Courtyard Bonaire property. Dive Friends Bonaire, which has six different dive facilities (soon to be seven) and four retail shops strategically placed across the island of Bonaire, can handle virtually any diving-related request, equipment or training need with its team of dedicated professionals.

“This facility allows Dive Friends Bonaire to provide even better service to visitors coming to Bonaire,” said Pascal De Meyer, General Manager. “We are proud of what Dive Friends offers our diving guests and this new facility is an extension of that commitment. We look forward to building on our partnership with Courtyard by Marriott with this new facility.”

The new retail facility offers a complete selection of equipment, diving accessories, training materials, accessories and much more. In addition, there is an on-site classroom, secure locker facilities for gear storage and the capacity for two convenient “drive-up” stations for air and nitrox tanks.

Courtyard Bonaire offers diving guests the unique opportunity to use Marriott Rewards points for their stay AND the unique opportunity to earn bonus points when booking nights at the hotel. There are multiple package programs available for all levels of scuba divers.

Source: www.divenewswire.com