Wimco Announces Sponsorship of Dec. 1-3 2006 Fashion Extravaganza

NEWPORT, RI, October 2006 – Wimco, the Newport, RI, villa rental and hotel reservations company, announced today that it will sponsor the "Mode in St. Barth," fashion extravaganza, on its signature island, St. Barts. The event runs from Dec 1 to Dec 3, 2006.

"This stylish event orchestrated by Nikki Beach of Miami Beach, Fl., is in the spirit of Dubai's extravagant shopping festivals and the fashion stock sales you find in Saint-Tropez," says Stiles Bennet, Wimco’s Director of Marketing.

Informal fashion shows will be held afternoons, followed by high-fashion evening events at various hotels and at the marina. Top luxury brands and designers such as Dior and Roberto Cavalli will be featured. An evening fashion show will run daily around 6:30 p.m. along with cocktails in La Baie de St. Jean near Gustavia Harbor in St Barts.

Sponsors include, in addition to Wimco villas, it's local partner, Sibarth-Villas, restaurants, hotels and, of course retailers, all offering exceptional reductions during this period. Shops will feature sales on in-stock merchandise; hotels will offer special rates and packages; and bars and restaurants will stage happy hours and other promotions.

"This is a natural for Wimco villas," says Bennet, "St Barts is a very fashionable destination, and our villas are the ultimate symbol of fashion on the island. It's also a great time to travel to the island because this time of year our villa inventory on St. Barts and throughout the Caribbean is on average priced 20 percent lower than in peak winter high season."

Nikki Beach models will be staying at two of Wimco's/Sibarth's most fashionable villas during the event. The first is Villa SIB MGO, a three bedroom villa located high in Colombier , descending down the hillside on three levels. The pool area offers spectacular views over the ocean and to the neighboring islands. The second is Villa ANA near Gouveneur Beach, a luxurious three bedroom villa which has both a French and Mediterranean touch. The villa has a spectacular view and winter sunsets. The neighboring islands can be seen clearly (Saba, Statia, St. Kitts &p; Nevis).

Through its local partner Sibarth-Villas, villa guests can enjoy a wide range of concierge services while on St Barts, everything from private chefs, provisioning the villas, babysitters, French lessons, massages and more. In addition to air and car reservation services, guests can also enjoy a new inter-island service that whisks them direct on private jet from the gateway San Juan Airport to St. Barts, bypassing time-consuming transfers.

About Wimco Villas

Wimco is the leading marketer of exclusive and sophisticated villa rentals in the Caribbean and Europe. For over 23 years, the Company has been sending clients to its portfolio of private villas and distinctive hotels in St Barts, St Martin, Barbados, Italy, France, Mykonos, and many other desirable vacation destinations.

Fortune Magazine rated Wimco amongst the top five villa specialists in the world as the result of its strict selection standards for high-quality properties, the largest exclusive portfolio of properties in the Caribbean and Europe and its award-winning client service.Forbes Magazine recently rated Wimco's online villa rental service "Best of the Web".

View Wimco's villa rental portfolio at www.wimco.com or call toll-free 1-800-932-3222 (US) or 44-0870-850-1144 (UK).

PRESS CONTACTS:

US --Sara@WidnessPR.com

UK –-Sarah.Hurley@mangopr.co.uk

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