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PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (January 27, 2012) – Lisa Hamilton, president of the United States Virgin Islands Hotel and Tourism Association, has been elected the new head of the Caribbean Society of Hotel Association Executives (CSHAE). Hamilton will serve a two year term succeeding Frank Comito, executive vice president of the Bahamas Hotel Association, who has …

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (January 27, 2012) – A little known gem on the island of Saint Lucia has beaten out the much more well-known properties for the prize as the best all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean. The East Winds Inn resort topped the category in the 2012 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards and was also named …

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (January 27, 2012) – Saint Lucia’s first lady of tourism, Berthia Parle, General Manager of the Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa, recently appointed by the Governor General to serve as an independent Senator, has been elected by her peers to serve as Deputy President of the Senate. Senator Parle has been …

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (January 27, 2012) – Ever tasted a “Cookie Pizza”? Well, you can sate your interest and your appetite in the lobby of Quality Inn El Portal in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The innovative restaurant, “La Competencia XLP,” fuses traditional Latin favorites with exciting modern renditions. Food afficionados Xiomara Marquez, Luis Cueto …

BAHAMAS (January 27, 2012) – Jamaica’s new minister of tourism and entertainment Dr. Wykeham McNeil has earmarked the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival – The Art of Music as a key fixture on the annual travel and tourism calendar. “A lot of time (when) you go and talk to travel agents and tour operators, they …

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (January 25, 2012) – Tourism Minister Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, positing “Bahamas is a region”, announced a plan to divide the archipelago into 16 discrete tourism regions. The minister asserted “islands foment subcultures” and told reporters he wanted to highlight the discrete charms of the different sub-regions all of which attracted a diverse array …

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (January 25, 2012) – Hitching to the seemingly recession-proof bridal market links resorts and destinations to a constant flow of new opportunities, vows Caribbean weddings expert Jacqueline Johnson, president and CEO of MarryCaribbean.com. “It is a year-round business … and with the steady increase of destination weddings and the close proximity of …

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (January 25, 2012) – The leadership of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) called on the media to maintain pressure on the British government to repeal its controversial Airline Passenger Duty (APD) which was damaging the economies of the region’s countries. Joseph Forstmayr of Jamaica, the association’s president, contended the tax …

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (January 25, 2012) – The prime minister of the Bahamas sees signs of “recovery and return to sustained growth for tourism in our region.” Speaking to more than a thousand attendees of the Caribbean Marketplace, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham saw “early signs of improvement are evident” with “a robust uptick in arrivals …

22 JANUARY 2012 Mr. Alec Sanguinetti, Director General & CEO of CHTA; Mr. Josef Forstmayr, CHTA President; Mr. Richard Doumeng, CHTA President Elect; Ministers of Tourism from throughout the region; Sen. Hon. Richard Skerritt, Chairman of Caribbean Tourism Organization; Mr. Hugh Riley, Secretary General of Caribbean Tourism Organization; Esteemed Delegates; Members of the Press; Ladies …

January 22, 2012 Honorable Prime Minister, and with your permission I will adopt the protocol that has been established. It is my pleasure to welcome all of you to Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2012. This marks the 30th consecutive year that CHTA has held the event. It remains the region’s most important and largest marketing convention …

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (January 22 2012) – Despite the region spending millions of dollars to secure airline flights to the Caribbean, ticket prices are still too high and remain insufficient to sustain the industry, according to a tourism leader. Josef Forstmayr, president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), addressing the opening of the …

SAINT BARTHELEMY (January 20, 2012) – Hotel Christopher St. Barth moves closer to five star status with the completion of phase three of a US$9 million renovation. The swanky hotel features two remodeled restaurants, newly renovated rooms and one of the largest pools on the island, overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Hotel Christopher, on the secluded …

MARYLAND (January 21, 2012) – Global lodging company Choice Hotels International sees the Caribbean performing well in 2012 based on the interest it registered for franchise affiliations in 2011. Last year was one of the busiest for Choice Hotels in the Caribbean in terms of inquiries received and the number of potential franchise contracts currently …

SAINT LUCIA (January 21, 2012) – The first official meeting between Saint Lucia’s Tourism Minister and American Airlines was described as positive and will be followed by further sessions to iron out future relations between the major carrier and the new administration. The new Saint Lucia minister of tourism, Lorne Theophilus met in Miami with …

GRAND CAYMAN (January 21, 2012) – Stingers restaurant at Comfort Suites Grand Cayman is now under the direction of a dynamic new owner from the food-friendly Calabria region of southern Italy. Located right at the back door of the hotel, the new Stingers will tempt diners not only with Chef Annelo’s signature pasta dishes, but …

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (January 19, 2012) – Participants headed to Caribbean Marketplace always anticipate hearing of new tourism products, but an extra buzz has been created by the imminent arrival of two new ministers of tourism following government changes in the important destinations of Saint Lucia and Jamaica. Saint Lucia’s new Minister of Tourism, Heritage …

SAINT LUCIA (January 19, 2012) – The luxurious Discovery at Marigot Bay Hotel in Saint Lucia is offering a big winter sale. Vacationers will be warmed by discounts which go as deep as 40 percent for guests staying 7 nights. However, discounts start at 30 percent off for five night stays. The booking window ends …

SOUFRIERE, Saint Lucia (January 19, 2012) – One of the world’s best plantation resort hotels will be accessible this winter when it lops 25 percent off its room rates for the chilly season. Saint Lucia’s award-winning Fond Doux Holiday Plantation, ranked the second best plantation resort in the world, is offering the deep discounts off …

NEW JERSEY (January 19, 2012) – Getting Caribbean people to come home is the aim of a partnership between the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) and a television network run by a native son. With the recent TEMPO Networks launch in the United States, the USVI Department of Tourism encourages Caribbean nationals to sample their …

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (January 18, 2012) – Partnering with Travel Agent University, St. Kitts has launched the St. Kitts Agent Destination Specialist program. The dedicated online training program will give travel agents a thorough understanding of St. Kitts as well as its top selling features and booking basics. Graduating agents will also enjoy exclusive benefits, …

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (January 18, 2012) – One of America’s most highly watched TV shows will feature the Bahamas next month. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism secured two broadcasts of the popular fourth hour of NBC’s “TODAY” show. With about three million viewers, the show is hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb. The …

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis (January 18, 2012) – The only Four Seasons in the Caribbean, on the island of Nevis, is elevating its five-star status to offer an even higher standard of luxury. Upgrade highlights include tastefully renovated accommodations enhancing the traditional luxury which is now combined with the best of modern amenities expected by discerning high-end …

NEW JERSEY (January 18, 2012) – Those on the move, but not in the Bahamas over the weekend, can keep up with headlines from Caribbean Marketplace through tweets from the Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx). CMEx, in addition to the condensed tweets, will also broadcast, through its website, catchy update briefs from Caribbean Marketplace slated for …