Pineapple Beach Club Antigua, the laidback tropical hideaway represented byElite Island Resorts, is planning a grand reopening on October 1, 2016, following a closure for renovations that will take place from August 25 to September 30. The refurbishment project will include a variety of upgrades to the resort's guest rooms, ground, facilities, equipment and overall operations.
Behind the colonial facades of Havana's historic hotels, times are changing as Cuba and the United States start to rebuild their fractured relationship.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with Vision Developments Inc. for a Hyatt Centric hotel in Carlisle Bay, Barbados. Hyatt Centric Carlisle Bay, Barbados is expected to open in 2019, and will mark the first Hyatt-branded hotel on the island of Barbados. The project will be led by celebrated international firm SB Architects and the hotel's interiors will be designed by DAS Concepts.
After modest industry growth in the years following the Worldwide Financial Crisis, in recent years visitor arrival numbers in the Dominican Republic increased significantly, reaching a growth of nearly 10% for two consecutive years, thus solidifying its position as the most visited destination in the Caribbean. With a GDP growth of around 7% in both 2014 and 2015, the country ranks among the fastest growing economies in Latin America. In 2015, tourism was the biggest FDI recipient of all economic sectors.
The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC)’s fourth annual Summer is Easy promotion is outpacing last summer’s bookings. The campaign generated a 6 percent rise in participating partner room night sales in May and a seven percent rise in June —versus the same months in 2015. Comparatively, bookings through Summer is Easy partner Expedia are currently 9.7 percent above 2015 bookings.
Our plane touched down on a beautiful little island in the Caribbean. Having never been to this country before, our excitement and anticipation swelled as we taxied toward the terminal. After a quick run through customs and short taxi ride we arrived at a sleepy little resort on one of the world's most beautiful beaches.
The leader of one of the world's leading resort companies will outline a vision for Caribbean tourism as he sets the tone for the region's most important tourism gatherings, the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC).The chief executive officer of Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart, will deliver the keynote address at the Sept. 14-16 event in Barbados, chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Barbados' minister of tourism and international transport Richard Sealy announced this morning (watch the press briefing).
Starwood Hotels & Resorts this year became the first U.S. hotelier to ink a deal in Cuba in nearly six decades. Marriott International quickly announced plans to do the same, and a number of big-name competitors have since expressed interest in expanding to the island nation. But as U.S. hotels look to move into Cuba, they face a massive number of unknowns related to the country's business policies, infrastructure capabilities and economic embargoes, as well as another formidable rival: Airbnb.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the first AC Hotel by Marriott in San Juan, took place today at 1369 Ashford Avenue, a privileged location within the active and progressive Condado Area. Ashford 1369 Hospitality, LLC, an affiliate of Interlink, acquired the former Radisson Ambassador Plaza & Casino. A comprehensive renovation of the property will take place to convert it into the sophisticated and contemporary Marriott International brand.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced a historic milestone with the opening of Four Points Havana—the company's first hotel in Cuba—representing a watershed moment for the fast-growing Four Points brand. The opening comes on the heels of the groundbreaking deals signed by Starwood in Cuba earlier this year, which established Starwood as the first U.S. based hospitality company to enter the market in nearly 60 years. Four Points Havana, owned by Grupo Hotelero Gaviotaand managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, caters to the global traveler with an emphasis on approachable design and stylish comfort.
Caribbean hotel owners and managers, along with leading providers of goods and services to the hotel industry, will gather early this fall for the highly successful Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum, being conducted by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA). Owners and seniors managers from the region's hotels will have the opportunity to network and share best practices through a series of roundtables, workshops, professional development sessions, and social networking opportunities throughout the regional gathering.CHIEF is scheduled for Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, 2016 at El Conquistador Resort, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Puerto Rico."CHIEF is all about learning from one another and improving our bottom lines. In a competitive global tourism landscape, we need to leverage our resources and our thinking. We want to build upon the incredibly positive feedback we received from last year's event and bring even greater value through CHIEF to the region's hotels as well as those allied members who provide hotels with goods and services." says Karolin Troubetzkoy, president of CHTA.CHTA canvased last year's attendees and its members to identify those session topics which are of greatest interest to its members. Among the general sessions being offered are:
SAN PEDRO, Belize & MCLEAN, Va. -- Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of the new Resort at Mahogany Bay Village to Curio - A Collection by HiltonTM. When open, The Resort at Mahogany Bay Village, Curio Collection by Hilton will be the first Hilton Worldwide property in Belize, as well as the first luxury resort from a global brand in the country.The rustic-chic resort destination is located in San Pedro, Belize on Ambergris Caye, about 15 miles from the mainland and 10 minutes from the San Pedro Airport. With 205 cottage and villa-style rooms, the resort sits on a 60-acre property featuring private residences, bay and beach clubs, a spa, meeting space and "The Village," a vibrant public space.
In July 2016 Elegant Hotels Group will unveil the newest addition to the family with a distinctive new All Inclusive concept for Barbados. With a focus on wellness and mindfulness, the redesigned Waves Hotel & Spa will go beyond the expectations of guests, with complimentary spa treatments included on top of the luxury accommodation and exquisite dining options.
RIU Hotels & Resorts opened the HotelRiu Republica on Saturday, June 4th. This new establishment, with its 5-star rating and all-inclusive 24-hour a day service, overlooks Arena Gorda Beach in Punta Cana and entailed an investment of $140 million. The stunning premises offer all guests the amenities and facilities of the RIU Classic Hotels, but with the added value of the exclusive service for which the adults-only resorts are known which, until now, in the Americas was reserved for RIU Palace hotels.
Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Resorts World Bimini today announced that Hilton at Resorts World Bimini has completed its second phase opening, introducing major enhancements to the hotel's accommodation, food & beverage, meetings & events and wellness offerings. Hilton at Resorts World Bimini first opened in 2015 and is now in full swing with more than 300 guest rooms, including 18 luxury suites, six dining options, a first-class spa and a rooftop pool offering panoramic views of the island. The hotel is owned and operated by Resorts World Bimini under a franchise license agreement with Hilton Worldwide(NYSE: HLT), and celebrated the completion of these upgrades with a ribbon cutting ceremony this past weekend.
The President of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), Karolin Troubetzkoy, joined by several members of CHTA's executive committee and prominent regional hoteliers, visited Cuba for meetings with Cuban and international officials during the UNWTO and FITCuba events held in Havana between May 2-6.
Following the success of the inauguralCaribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) in October 2015, the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) has scheduled CHIEF to return to El Conquistador Resort, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Puerto Rico, Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, 2016. Registration opens May 19, 2016.CHIEF brings together owners and senior managers from Caribbean hotels with top experts from companies which work with hoteliers to exchange ideas and share best practices.This year's program will expand its educational offerings by incorporating a Technology track in addition to sessions in Operations, Environmental Sustainability and Sales & Marketing. The educational tracks, led by experts in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry, provide CHTA's membership with tactics that generate revenue and increase efficiency. Another program highlight is the professional development opportunities offered on Friday, Sept. 30 similar to the sessions offered in 2015 by Florida International University (FIU). "CHIEF provides a platform for Caribbean hoteliers and employees to develop strategies that will enhance their business model and result in a more efficient and profitable operation," said Karolin Troubetzkoy, president of CHTA. "We are developing a comprehensive program that will reflect core elements that our membership need in order to stay ahead of the curve with the goal of providing tools which employees at all levels in the tourism industry can implement when they return home to their property," Troubetzkoy added. "We're incorporating peer-to-peer opportunities for our members and their employees to consider, share and adapt successful business models that drive incremental business and revenue," said Troubetzkoy. Registration for CHIEF opened on May 19, 2016 and includes access to the event, all educational sessions, conference materials, two lunches, coffee breaks and two receptions. Visit www.chtachief.com to learn more about CHIEF and take advantage of early registration and discounted hotel rates. Companies which conduct business with hoteliers can also exhibit at the event with complete details available on the website. CHIEF is staged by CHTA in conjunction with host sponsors Interval International and JetBlue Getaways, platinum sponsor Travelzoo, and gold sponsorsAskMe Inc., Clear Channel Airport Division, OBM International and SiteMinder.Companies interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities should contact Matt Cooper, chief marketing officer, via [email protected] call (305) 443-3040.Contact CHTA by email at [email protected] or via telephone at 786-476-8623 for more information.
'Ground Zero?' 'Pandemic?' 'Hundreds of thousands of cases of Zika virus in Puerto Rico this year?' 'Puerto Rico is not prepared!'. None of the s 'tatements above reflect the situation on the ground in Puerto Rico. So why doesn't the CDC stick to just facts? That's all we are asking. The CDC has an obligation to report factual, relevant information to "protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the US." As the CDC states in its mission, it saves lives and protects people from health threats. Nowhere in its mission, however, does it state that its objective is to be accomplished through fear.
Royalton Luxury Resorts is proud to announce four brand new modern and luxurious all-inclusive resorts in two of the Caribbean's most sought-after vacation destinations. Royalton Luxury Resorts for discerning travelers of all ages and Hideaway at Royalton, an adults-only oasis within a resort, will open on the world-famous Seven Mile Beach in Negril, Jamaica and in a private cove on the coast of Cap Cana, Saint Lucia, as of February 1, 2017.
Warwick International Hotels (WIH) has invested US$28 million to create the four-starWarwick Paradise Island Bahamas, which is set to welcome guests this summer as The Bahamas' premier adults-only, all-inclusive resort.