A four-month activation from Bacardi that celebrates BACARDI heritage in pioneering classic rum cocktails is currently running with Dufry at Puerto Rico’s San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport. Bacardi is mainly produced and aged in Puerto Rico, using lightly charred American white oak barrels. Featuring the full range of Bacardi aged rums, the activation is running from June 1 until September 30, 2017. […]
Caribbean
Three cruise ships reportedly pulling out of Jamaica’s Falmouth Port
At least three cruise ships will no longer stop in Falmouth, Jamaica for the upcoming cruise season the Jamaica Gleaner reported on July 7. In a story that has been picked up by all the specialized cruise media, Falmouth’s mayor, Colin Gager, told the Jamaica Gleaner that the ships are leaving due to visitor harassment, conduct of tour bus operators […]
Cuba – US airlift takes a knock after early promise
The rapid development in seat capacity between the US and Cuba following an Obama-led revival in relations has gone into reverse according to travel retail analyst, research and category expert Counter Intelligence Retail – and Donald Trump’s latest policy intervention is not going to help. High hopes of US duty free and travel retailers expecting […]
Top Brands International acquires Bright Star Duty Free in Asuncion
Since acquiring Miami-based Image Duty Free last October, Panamanian company Top Brands International continues to power ahead with its expansion strategy. Earlier this year, Top Brands acquired the duty free operations of Paraguayan travel retailer Bright Star. The acquisition further strengthens the company’s presence in the airport travel retail channel in the region. Bright Star […]
Carnival signs deal to develop major cruise port on Grand Bahama Island
Officials from Carnival Cruise Line and the government of the Bahamas signed an agreement on May 3, 2017, for the construction of a major new cruise port facility on Grand Bahama Island. The $100 million project is expected to be completed in two years, once the necessary agreements are in place. The project includes a […]
Actium/Saint-Honoré partnership acquire Cartier Boutiques on St. Maarten and St. Barts
Miami-based Actium and its joint venture partner Panama-based Saint-Honoré announced that they have acquired the Cartier Boutiques on the duty-free islands of Saint Barth (Saint Barthelemy) and Sint Maarten and simultaneously signed a new long term agreement with Cartier to operate them. “These boutiques complement our retail portfolio of exceptional luxury brands (Hermès and […]
Caribbean tourism records 7th consecutive year of record growth with 29.3 million arrivals
Announcing that 2017 is the Year of Adventure for the CTO, the Caribbean Tourism Organization revealed that Caribbean tourism surpassed 29 million arrivals for the first time, with its record-breaking performance once again growing faster than the global average. The Caribbean continues to break new ground, said Hugh Riley, CTO Secretary General, during the annual […]
Hong Kong’s Chow Tai Fook Enterprises buys bankrupt Baha Mar Resort; phased opening planned for April 2017
After nearly two years of being stalled by bankruptcy proceedings, the $3.5 billion Baha Mar Resort project in the Bahamas has finally been sold and can proceed with its development. Hong Kong-based conglomerate Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited, or CTFE, has signed an agreement to own and operate the resort, which had initially been scheduled […]
Norwegian Cruises and Royal Caribbean get permission to sail to Cuba from the US
Norwegian and Royal Caribbean Cruises have received approval from the Cuban government to start sailing from the US to Cuba. Carnival Corp. has been sailing to Cuba under its Fathom brand since May. Switzerland-based MSC Cruises also sails to and from Havana with its MSC Opera, but does not market to Americans. Norwegian’s Marina, part of its […]
WEBB and Banks Channel merging as WEBB Banks to focus on domestic Caribbean and Central business
Andy Consuegra’s World Equity Brand Builders (WEBB) continues to expand. Miami’s WEBB and Winston Salem’s Banks Channel have announced plans to merge their respective companies, with a mission to aggressively expand their spirits and wines distribution and marketing activities throughout the Caribbean, North Atlantic Islands and Central America. This merger of equals will be effective […]
Private firm offers Business-to-Business Free Zone in Grenada
Urbaniza, a Miami- Brazil group of real estate companies, is developing a masterplan for a Free Zone in the Caribbean island of Grenada. The Government of Grenada granted Urbaniza a 60-year Concession (with a 60 year extension option) to create a privately owned and operated Duty Free Zone. The Duty Free Zone concession in Grenada […]
Rouge Carib expands in Grenada with airport, mall and port stores
Since Buenos Aires-based Perfumerias Rouge announced it was expanding into the Caribbean and launched its first stores in Grand Cayman in July of last year, it has opened new stores on four islands and is on track to deliver 15 stores within the first two years. And these are not just any stores. Rouge is […]
Tourists ignore Puerto Rico’s economic woes and flock to the island
Story and photos by Larry Luxner As politicians gear up for a gubernatorial election dominated by Puerto Rico’s fiscal crisis and Washington’s approval of a control board to supervise the island’s finances, tourism offers a rare glimmer of hope for the troubled commonwealth, even as it chafes under the weight of the island’s $68 […]
The 20 year saga of Carnival’s quest to cruise to Cuba
Carnival Corporation & plc made history on March 21, 2016 when it announced that the Cuban government had granted approval for the company to begin travel to Cuba. On May 1, Carnival’s newest cruise brand, Fathom, began seven-day cruises every other week from Miami to Cuba onboard the 704-passenger MV Adonia, visiting the historic […]
Santa Clara, first Cuba destination for U.S. jet service, relatively untouched by tourism
Story and photos by Larry Luxner SANTA CLARA, Cuba — On Aug. 31, JetBlue became the first airline to offer direct commercial jet service between the United States and Cuba, when its Flight 387 from Fort Lauderdale touched down at Santa Clara’s Abel Santamaría International Airport. The flight, marked with melodramatic speeches, water-cannon salutes, ribbon […]
