News

Holiday Inn Resort® Montego Bay Sets 2017 Hurricane Guarantee

With hurricane season fast-approaching, the all-inclusive Holiday Inn Resort® Montego Bay is moving quickly to minimize any negative impact potential storms might have on guests by reinstating its Hurricane Guarantee. Valid on bookings for resort stays enjoyed throughout the entire 2017 Atlantic hurricane season (May 1 to November 30, 2017), the program provides consumer purchase protection against disruptions due to hurricanes as follows:Pre-VacationGuests holding confirmed reservations with nonrefundable deposits who are unable to travel due to the closure of Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport caused by a Category One or higher hurricane can rebook their reservations for a future resort stay without penalty. A one-category room upgrade will also be provided based on space availability (excludes suites). Mid-VacationShould a Category One or higher hurricane interrupt resort operations for more than 24 hours, guests already on property will receive a certificate valid for a free future stay. Certificates will be valid for resort stays equal to the number of days that hotel operations are interrupted as determined by the resort. Certificates must be redeemed within one (1) calendar year from the date of issuance. Free future stays will be awarded subject to space availability and certain blackout dates may apply.Nicola Madden-Greig, Group Director of Marketing and Sales, commented on the Hurricane Guarantee, saying: "A relaxed vibe on the beach and at area attractions combines with our ever-present great weather and uniquely Jamaican vibes to make summer and fall ideal periods to escape to MoBay. Our Hurricane Guarantee ensures that travelers choosing Holiday Inn can vacation in Jamaica throughout Hurricane Season with confidence."The Holiday Inn Resort® Montego Bay Hurricane Guarantee is valid exclusively on U.S. bookings. Group bookings are excluded and the program is subject to change at any time.For reservations, please visit www.caribbeanhi.com, or call 1-888-288-6006.

IHG

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Cuba Tourism Officials Look Forward to SAHIC in Havana May 15 - 16, 2017

During a press conference held yesterday, President and Founder of SAHIC Arturo Garcia Rosa and Cuba Vice Minister of Tourism Luis Miguel Diaz Sanchez officially announced May 15-16, 2017 as the dates for the first SAHIC which will be held in Havana. This one-of-a-kind conference will bring nearly 150 senior hospitality and development executives from more than 25 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia who are interested in conducting business in the island nation. Representatives from major international hotel chains, investors, developers, consultants, architects, designers and other members of the regional and international investment community are looking to Cuba as a region offering marked growth.

SAHIC - Latin American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conferences

Cuba

Ariana Rockefeller Announces the Dorado Beach Limited Edition Handbag Collection

DORADO BEACH -- Today, fashion designer and esteemed member of the Rockefeller family, Ariana Rockefeller, unveils a new limited edition handbag capsule inspired by Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

Marriott

Dorado, Puerto Rico

Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa prepares to welcome World Travel Awards

World Travel Awards has revealed that Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa will host the Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony 2017.

Situated on 12 miles of crystal white sand on Grace Bay, Beaches Turks & Caicos will welcome leaders from across the region on Saturday 16th September as they gather to see who among them has been voted the pinnacle of the travel industry.

World Travel Awards

Turks and Caicos Islands

Airbnb and the Caribbean Tourism Organization sign cooperation agreement

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the region's tourism development agency, and Airbnb, whose community marketplace provides access to millions of unique accommodations, today signed a landmark agreement to develop a set of policy principles and recommendations on the sharing economy for Caribbean governments and other stakeholders.

CHTA

Barbados

SAHIC Announces WTTC CEO David Scowsill as Keynote Speaker at SAHIC Cuba

The premier edition of SAHIC Cuba 2017 (http://www.sahiccuba.com) to be held in Havana, Cuba May 15- 16, 2016, has confirmed that CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Conference David Scowsill will be featured as the Conference's keynote speaker. During what will be a highly-anticipated conference session and before an audience of an expected 250 hospitality executives and investors interested in Cuba, Scowsill will speak about his vision for future development of projects and his view on challenges faced by the island nation. "David Scowsill's presence at our Conference brings such enormous value to our informative and educational two-day event," states Arturo Garcia Rosa, President & Founder of SAHIC Cuba. "Scowsill's prestigious experience and insights to our industry on a global scale and his very personal reflections will bring us such integral insight and a personable quality to this important address." Scowsill has been Chairman PrivateFly, Chairman Yuuguu, Director On the Beach Holidays, Director i-level Digital, Vice Chairman at Worldhotels; Director Venere Net SpA; Group Marketing Director at Manchester Airports Group, Sales and Marketing Director at easyJet airlines and CEO for Opodo, the pan-European online travel company. He has built an extensive network in Private Equity and Venture Capital, while working on specific deals in the travel and technology sectors.Previously, Scowsill served as the Managing Director of the Consumer Division for Orange; CEO for the global retail services business Minit Group; SVP Sales, Marketing, and IT on the Board of Hilton Hotels, Director of Hilton.com, and Hilton Reservations Worldwide. He has 19 years of extensive sales, marketing, and operational experience worldwide in aviation, with British Airways as Director of Europe and Middle East, and Regional General Manager of Asia Pacific; and as Managing Director of European Sales at American Airlines.He graduated from the University of Southampton in the UK, where he received an Honors Degree in Spanish, Italian, Catalan, and Latin American studies. Mr. Scowsill said: "I am delighted to be speaking at SAHIC this year, hosted in the beautiful travel destination Cuba. Latin America is an important tourism region showing great growth opportunities. According to WTTC figures, Travel & Tourism generates 9% of the region's GDP. Additionally, recent UNWTO data showed that international arrivals in South America and Central America both grew by 6% over 2016. I am looking forward to discuss how the region's Travel & Tourism sector can further develop in a sustainable manner during the course of the event." WTTC is the only global body that brings together all major players in the Travel & Tourism sector (airlines, hotels, cruise, car rental, travel agencies, tour operators, GDS, and technology), enabling them to speak with One Voice to governments and international bodies. It is important that WTTC has the broadest geographical representation and includes all aspects of the sector, including organizations that provide vital services to Travel & Tourism. http://www.wttc.org For more information about SAHIC Cuba and to register with Early Bird Rates (by March 31, 2016) visit www.sahic.com.

SAHIC - Latin American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conferences

Cuba

Nor1’s CheckIn Merchandising™ Solution Deployed at Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas to Enhance Guest Experience and Optimize Revenue from Premium Inventory

The adoption of Nor1's Merchandising Platform has been expanded to include CheckIn Merchandising™ at Atlantis, the Bahamas based 3,500 room mega-resort to enable their front-desk agents to merchandise their premium inventory and enhance their guests' stay upon arrival.

Nor1

Paradise Island, Bahamas

Restel, first hotel reservation center to begin integration with a Cuban hotel chain

Restel, the hotel reservation center belonging to Grupo Hotusa, has incorporated the 50 establishments of the Cubanacan chain. The agreement marks a milestone as it is the first direct integration agreement made by an international operator with a Cuban hotel chain. Restel currently markets more than 200,000 hotels around the world on its platform.

Hotusa Hotels S.A.

Cuba

UNWTO HEAD TO MAKE FIRST EVER APPEARANCE AT CTO STATE OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY CONFERENCE

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- The head of the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable tourism will make his first ever appearance at a Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) event when he presents at the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) next month.

Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)

Barbados

A fresh start for U.S. hotel brands in Cuba?

Behind the colonial facades of Havana's historic hotels, times are changing as Cuba and the United States start to rebuild their fractured relationship.

JLL

Cuba

Want Better Reviews? Forget your building, its all about your people!

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.

By Joshua Evans, Founder & CEO, Enthusiastic You!

Turks and Caicos Islands

Caribbean Maverick Adam Stewart to keynote State of the Industry Conference

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).

Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)

Barbados

Increasing Hotel Sales, Reducing Operational Costs, Innovation And Sustainability Key Themes At This Year's Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF)

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:

CHTA

Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Sustainable Development and Smart Partnerships Key To Growing Caribbean Brand" Assert Cuban and CHTA Officials

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.

CHTA

Cuba

Caribbean Hoteliers Up Their Game Through Chief; Registration Now Open For Fall Forum Slated Sept. 30 - Oct. 2 In Puerto Rico

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.

CHTA

Puerto Rico

Engage Cuba Welcomes American Hotel & Lodging Association To Coalition

Today, Engage Cuba, the leading coalition of private companies and organizations working to end the travel and trade embargo on Cuba, announced a partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the only national association representing the full breadth of the U.S. lodging industry.

AH&LA

Cuba

Sheraton in Puerto Rico to Offer Battery Butler for Charging Devices | frequentbusinesstraveler.com

With possible apologies to the Energizer Bunny, a Sheraton in Puerto Rico recently introduced a new service, namely a member of the hotel staff whose job it is to help guests whose electronic devices have run out of juice.

FrequentBusinessTraveler.com

Puerto Rico

Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2016 Expands Outreach To Latin America, Emerging Destinations & Niche Markets

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is raising the global profile of Caribbean Travel Marketplace providing opportunities for hoteliers attending the event to find new contacts and sources of business. CHTA is targeting wholesalers in Latin America and emerging destinations as well as tour operators specializing in niche markets. Caribbean Travel Marketplace is scheduled Jan. 21-23, 2016 at the Atlantis, Paradise Island in The Bahamas. Building upon the existing and longstanding portfolio of global operators conducting business in the Caribbean, CHTA is focusing on securing the participation of Latin American tour operators in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Peru and Venezuela and emerging destinations Russia, India, Scandinavia, Ukraine and the Middle East. With the growth and importance of the niche travel segments to its membership, CHTA is inviting niche tour operators to attend Caribbean Travel Marketplace. CHTA is working with National Hotel and Tourism Associations across the Caribbean to identify and attract tour operator representatives from top niche markets for the region. "We look forward to bringing Caribbean Travel Marketplace back to The Bahamas in 2016 as an event that will expand the Caribbean brand globally with the introduction of new tour operators to our region's diverse hospitality product," said Emil Lee, President of CHTA.

CHTA

Paradise Island, Bahamas

Cuba Getting U.S. Visitors Continues To Be Focus At Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum

Cuba: Opportunity or Threat? was the final General Session at the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) in Puerto Rico over the weekend and the general consensus appeared to be cautious optimism based on expectations of diversion of visitors from other countries, but overall a chance to highlight the diversity of the culture of the region. There was also concurrence that the entire Caribbean can shine as the spotlight falls on Cuba, exposing more potential travelers to the rich diversity and culture of the region.

CHTA

Cuba

Chta's 'chief' To Explore Cuba Impact On Caribbean Tourism; Taps Industry Experts For Insight

One of the most highly anticipated panels of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association's (CHTA) upcoming Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) is "Cuba: Opportunity or Threat?" which will take place on the closing day of the conference (Sunday, Oct. 4) from 3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m."Cuba: Opportunity or Threat?" will delve into how the US-Cuba normalization affects Caribbean business and how hotels can minimize any potential downside impact. Additionally, it will explore the positive opportunities Cuba may present to stimulate the region's growth as a whole.This highly-anticipated session - expected to be standing-room only - will be moderated by Anton Edmunds, Principal, The Edmunds Group International, and will feature the following panelists:

CHTA

Puerto Rico