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 […]
Caribbean
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 […]
Dufry renews and expands concession at Guadeloupe Pôle Caraïbes airport
Dufry has won the tender for the duty free retail operations at Guadeloupe Pôle Caraïbes Airport and will be extending its existing concession contract until 2026 for duty free activities and until 2021 for two convenience stores. Under the new contract, Dufry will develop 5 new shops and almost double its retail space for a […]
Mercedes-Benz Man launched in the Caribbean Travel Retail with Penha Duty Free
French fragrance manufacturer INCC Group has successfully launched its latest fragrance, Mercedes-Benz Man, in the Caribbean duty free market with Penha Duty Free. The launch took place in Curaçao and Aruba, with VIP customers invited to discover the new fragrance of Mercedes-Benz Parfums. Developed by the French Master Perfumer Olivier Cresp, the fragrance, has been […]
Actium to manage Americas business for select Emperador spirits brands
Miami-based Actium Group has announced that it will manage the Americas business for the portfolio of brands recently purchased by Emperador Inc. from Beam Suntory, which includes Fundador, the Philippines’ best-selling premium imported brandy, Terry Centenario, Spain’s #1 selling brandy; Tres Cepas, the #1 brandy in Equatorial Guinea, and Harveys Sherry, including Bristol Cream. Beginning […]
