As the U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to enforce its Conditional Sail Order which has prevented cruising in U.S. waters, another offshore option has been announced by luxury line Crystal Cruises, whose Crystal Symphony will sail a series of 15 10-night Luxury Caribbean Escapes round-trip from St. John’s from a homeport in Antigua. Crystal Symphony will […]
Caribbean
Harding wins expanded retail contract for P&O Cruises and Cunard
Global cruise retail specialist Harding has signed a new expanded contract with P&O Cruises and Cunard to operate the retail concessions for all ships across the two fleets through 2027. The contract will span a five year period and follows a 20-year working relationship between the three companies. The award of this contract makes Harding […]
US. Senators battling CDC for cruise restart
A group of U.S. congressmen, supported by members of the cruise and tourism industries, are fighting back against the ongoing restrictions against cruising issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On Tuesday, April 13, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Rick Scott (R-FL) introduced the Careful Resumption Under Improved Safety Enhancements (CRUISE) […]
Bermuda opens its first cruise home port as part of its strategic tourism recovery
Yet another island near the U.S. is grabbing its place in the cruising roster with Bermuda announcing that it would host Royal Caribbean International’s Vision of the Seas from June through August at its first ever home port. Sailing with vaccinated crew, the cruises – at this time – will be available to adult guests […]
Global Ports Holding provides critical partnership in developing Nassau as a home port
The cruise industry made positive waves in mid-March when luxury cruise brand Crystal Cruises announced it was launching a series of seven-night round-trip “Bahamas Escapes” voyages from Nassau. The line’s Crystal Serenity ship would homeport in Nassau, and visit Bimini and four other Bahama Islands, avoiding any U.S. ports. The response from the pubic was […]
Rouge Duty Free enters St. Croix with luxury store and confirms optimism for future rebound
International retail chain Rouge inaugurated its first post COVID Rouge Duty Free store in St. Croix on Friday, March 26, 2021. With 1,400 square feet of retail space, the store is located in Orange Grove Plaza in Christiansted, and reflects the company’s confidence in a strong future in the region. Rouge Duty Free St. Croix […]
Essence Corp celebrates the Year of the Ox with Penha Duty Free & Shiseido Skincare in Curaçao
In one of the most memorable and colorful events of the past months, Penha Duty Free teamed up with Essence Corp, the Shiseido distributor for the Caribbean, to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Ox with blessings from Shiseido Skincare on Feb. 11-14. Penha, the largest duty free retailer in the Caribbean with store […]
Relationships times three lead WEBB Banks to powerful new brands and growing business
With tourism essentially shut down, WEBB Banks’ focus on the Caribbean local markets during the coronavirus pandemic has helped propel the leading wine and spirits distribution company to a stronger position than it was in a year ago, says WEBB Banks CEO Andy Consuegra. TMI met recently with Consuegra; Phillip Jarrell, Vice President, Marketing & […]
MONARQ Group reaches customers with digital innovations
As international tourism dried up MONARQ Group shifted its focus to digital marketing, social media and e-commerce, Managing Director Robert de Monchy tells TMI. To promote its brands on social media, the independent premium wine and spirits distributor launched MONARQ’s Social Club early on during the pandemic with overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants. The company […]
Juan Gentile creates Distribution Spirits Company to build premium brands in the Caribbean
Respected spirits executive Juan Gentile has created his own wine and spirits distribution company based in Miami with a focus on the Caribbean and duty free markets. Gentile, who worked for Edrington for almost 20 years most recently as Senior Vice President, Managing Director Americas Travel Retail at Edrington Americas, tells TMI he will use […]
Porsche Design holds exclusive Rouge Duty Free event for Grenada launch
Lifestyle brand Porsche Design has launched its stylish collection of sunglasses at Rouge Duty Free on the island of Grenada. The launch was kicked off with an exclusive event for invited guests at Rouge’s popular luxury store located in Port Louis, Grenada’s renowned marina for mega-yachts. The Porsche Design sunglasses collections showcase the brand’s combination […]
Dufry wins new retail contracts at Jamaica’s Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay
Global travel retailer Dufry has been awarded a new concession license at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where it has held a contract since 2012. The airport operator, MBJ Airports Limited (“MBJ”), is currently expanding and redeveloping the retail space as it expands and modernizes the facility. Montego Bay is one of the […]
WEBB Banks to distribute Infinium Spirits portfolio
WEBB Banks has signed an agreement with California-based distributor Infinium Spirits to distribute its spirits portfolio in travel retail in the Americas, cruise lines, the Caribbean basin and select Central American markets, effective immediately. Under the agreement, WEBB Banks will exclusively distribute and represent Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, Templeton Rye American Whiskey, Zaya Rum as […]
CHTA asks Canadian Government to reverse harmful COVID-19 travel requirement
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has asked the Government of Canada to reconsider new pandemic testing rules that will strain already stressed Caribbean public health systems and cause further damage to the region’s economy. “This policy is creating challenges and places even greater economic hardship on the people and governments of the Caribbean […]
CHTA president predicts rapid return of Caribbean tourism
Pablo Torres, the president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), is predicting that the Caribbean will see a return of tourism to the region, “faster than many parts of the world.” He says the rapid return of tourism will be due to the protocols and partnerships implemented throughout the region to help lessen […]
