Under an ICC CWC 2007 initiative called "Operation Media Welcome", the nine host venues have been working with their governments and hotel associations to develop favourable accommodation arrangements for media personnel working at the event.
 
This programme is now bearing fruit with St Lucia Prime Minister, Dr Kenny Anthony announcing that taxes on hotel accommodation will be waived for all accredited media in that country.
 
In a letter to the Chairman of ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc., Kenneth Gordon, Anthony stressed the island's interest in assisting accredited media. The waiver will result in an overall reduction of eight per cent in St Lucia's hotel rates for accredited media.
 
In addition, Antigua & Barbuda's local organising committee, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, has secured a block of rooms in the capital, St John's, at very reasonable rates and with flexible booking conditions for media.
 
"The media is a very important stakeholder in the Cricket World Cup and we are pleased that, through these initiatives, Antigua & Barbuda and St Lucia have demonstrated their respective appreciation of that," said ICC CWC 2007 Managing Director & CEO, Chris Dehring.
 
"It's great to see these countries reaching out to the media who will hopefully reciprocate with positive stories and coverage. We hope other countries within the nine host venues are also able to develop media-targeted programmes which will enhance their return on investment from hosting the event."
 
Further information on hotels, rates, booking conditions etc for accredited media can be obtained from Cricket Logistics 2007 (www.cricketlogistics.com or hayley@cricketlogistics.com).