The next stop: Austin, Texas to the Caribbean?

With Caribbean destinations fully open for business now that the peak of COVID-19 is in the rear view, looking to the future, including exploring new markets, is key. Among the low-hanging fruit is the state of Texas, which tends to buck national economic and resiliency trends and has traditionally delivered strong…

November 29, 2022

Cruise Industry

Barbados tourism minister cruises into action

Barbados’ newly installed Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill has hit the ground running. After participating in World Travel Market 2022 in London last week, Gooding-Edghill engaged with cruise industry partners as he and other Barbados stakeholders met with representatives from Royal Caribbean Group and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) in Miami and had much to share about the island’s plans and…

November 28, 2022

Tourism Insights

Life needs the Caribbean

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Caribbean tourism industry stakeholders were often reminded of the resilience of the sector and were encouraged of the value of a Caribbean tourism vacation. Frank Comito, then-CEO and Director General of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), rallied the region with the reassurance that “as the world looks…

November 28, 2022

Women in Leadership

Nelson Mandela’s widow encourages Barbados PM to lead Global South

Dame Graça Machel, the widow of President Nelson Mandela of South Africa, hailed Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley as a leader of the Global South following her stirring speech at the Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture on Saturday in Durban, South Africa. Delivering the 20th annual speech under the theme, “Social Bonding and Decolonization in the Context…

November 28, 2022

Women in Leadership

South Africans eagerly anticipate Barbados Prime Minister’s visit for Nelson Mandela Lecture

On the heels of delivering a powerful address at the opening of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt where she called on the global community to act now to curb the impact of the climate crisis, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley is heading to the city of Durban where South Africans are waiting with…

November 17, 2022

Hotels & Resorts

New Park Hyatt St. Kitts GM focuses on human and cultural capital

While Park Hyatt St. Kitts’ new General Manager Richard Elliott routinely manages budgets and monitors revenue reports, oversees hotel operations and activities, and ensures that the five-star property consistently meets or exceeds the brand’s highest standards, he views building positive relationships with his team and being a culture bearer as two of his most important…

November 17, 2022

Destinations

Cayman Islands welcomes new LA flights, sets sights on South America

While Cayman Airways prepares to launch new flights between Los Angeles and Grand Cayman this weekend, officials in the British overseas territory are looking towards the next frontier: tapping the robust South American travel market. Speaking this week on ‘The Resh Hour’ (Cayman Compass’ talk show), Minister of Tourism and Transport Kenneth Bryan revealed that Panama…

November 9, 2022

Education

Sandals Resorts leader urges young grads to focus on “main event”

The Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International called on the young people of the Caribbean to tap into their creative genius, never to settle for mediocrity, and to keep betting on the future of Jamaica and the Caribbean. Delivering remarks after being conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree at the 2022 graduation ceremony…

November 9, 2022

Destinations

New JHTA president aims to address staff shortages

The new president of the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA) is laser focused on addressing human resource issues, including worrying staff shortages, across the tourism sector. Recognizing that post-pandemic staff availability is a worldwide problem, Robin Russell said, “We're going to have to look at new and innovative ways of getting persons energized again to…

November 9, 2022

Tourism Development

Jamaica tourism minister: Plug leakages, promote linkages

As the region takes on recovery challenges, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett wants to see a repurposed Caribbean tourism architecture that increases benefits for locals. Speaking over the weekend on 92.9 FM VOB’s “Down to Brasstacks” in Barbados, Minister Bartlett opined that despite strong performances across the sector, with the continuing war in Ukraine, its…

November 9, 2022

NewsLetter