This Week’s Caribbean Travel Updates and Offers

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News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Feb. 22 2024: Here are the top Caribbean travel news and deals this week in 60 seconds.

Canada is warning nationals to exercise a high degree of caution if travelling to or in Belize due to high levels of violent crime throughout the country. They also warn to avoid non-essential travel to Southside Belize City, south of the Haulover Creek River, due to gang and drug-related violence.

Trinidad and Tobago is set to welcome an influx of visitors with the expansion of flight services to the destination by Copa Airlines. Starting June 5, Copa Airlines will increase the number of airline frequencies to and from Port of Spain from 7 times weekly to 10 times weekly, with additional frequencies operating on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

And beginning Nov. 5, American Airlines will be operating daily nonstop flights from New York to Barbados, with service on Boeing 737 aircraft with 172 seats. Later, on Nov. 9, American will kick off a once-weekly flight between Philadelphia and Barbados, with service operating on Saturdays.

Get ready for Restaurant Week in Antigua & Barbuda. The schedule includes Prix Fixe menus and discounted dining packages from $25USD – $75USD – inclusive of lunch, dinner, wine, and cocktails from more than 20 restaurants.

Now you can fly on the French airline La Compagnie from Newark Liberty International Airport to Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten.

And this week’s deal is for the All Inclusive Grand Palladium Colonial Resort & Spa in Cancun. Fly from Washington’s Dulles Airport from April 21-24th for USD 700 per person. Book now on Apple Vacations.

Countdown On To ICC Cricket Season In Greater Fort Lauderdale

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News Americas, FORT LAUDERDALE, Fl, Thurs. Feb. 223, 2024: With 99 days to the prestigious ICC T20 Men’s World Cup, Greater Fort Lauderdale is wasting no time as it counts down to the world class matches at the Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, FL.

Broward County will host 4 ICC 2024 Cricket Matches.

To mark the countdown, a massive 400-pound, 8-foot tall ICC T20 World Cup cricket ball replica will be showcased at Las Olas Oceanside Park, Fort Lauderdale, tomorrow, Friday, February 23, 2024, from 2 to 3 p.m. Fans will have the opportunity to meet USA Cricket Vice Captain Aaron Jones and Broward County Commissioner Hazelle Rogers, and even interact with the oversized cricket ball, before it moves to the Broward County Stadium, the venue for the June matches.

This June marks the first time World Cup matches for the world’s second most-watched sport will be played in the United States, and Fort Lauderdale and Broward is anticipating over 45,000 visitors to the area.

“Hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a significant honor, especially since Broward County Stadium is the first ICC-sanctioned stadium in the U.S. We’re excited to showcase it as a premier venue for international cricket,” stated Stacy Ritter, president and CEO of Visit Lauderdale.

The ICC T20 World Cup will feature 55 matches, including 16 in the U.S. and four at the Broward County Stadium as follows:

June 11, 2024: Sri Lanka vs. Nepal
June 14, 2024: USA vs. Ireland
June 15, 2024: India vs. Canada
June 16, 2024: Pakistan vs. Ireland

For more details on the ICC Cricket T20 Men’s World Cup and ticket information visit VisitLauderdale.com.

Blue Diamond Resorts Unveils “Diamond Jetsetter Experience” The Ultimate All-Inclusive Adventure

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2024 Diamond Jetsetter Experience: The Ultimate All-Inclusive Adventure

News Americas, ST. MICHAEL, Barbados, Thurs. Feb. 22, 2024: Blue Diamond Resorts, the most innovative and fastest growing resort chain in the Caribbean, is flying high with the unveiling of its new Diamond Jetsetter Experience: The Ultimate All-Inclusive Adventure with upscale offerings to delight the most discerning travelers at beachfront Royalton Luxury Resorts and Planet Hollywood Beach Resorts in Antigua, Cancun, Montego Bay, Punta Cana and Saint Lucia, and transportation via the brand’s new luxury private aviation service Blue Diamond Jets to get them there and back in style. Together, the inspired offerings reveal just how far over the top the Blue Diamond Resorts is ready to go to tailor remarkable hospitality experiences, amenities and services for guests to make memories amid the tropical beauty and inviting spirit of the Caribbean.

Blue Diamond Jets offers private jet service from Toronto or New York. This ensures a soaring start to the Ultimate All-Inclusive Package getaways, featuring personalized air transportation for six guests (additional guests quoted separately). Guests are headed for a once-in-a-lifetime, 5- or 7-night escape in Chairman and Producers Luxury Suites, two-bedroom swim-out, and oceanfront suites. These luxurious accommodations span over 3000 square feet, including spacious living room and dining room areas, a kitchen, pool table, indoor and outdoor jacuzzis, as well as king-size and queen-size bedrooms.

Guests can look forward to pick up at their home by a Personal Butler in a private SUV, with assistance available for packing. Complete flight check-in and the delivery of personalized resort bracelets enable them to access their suite at the destination. Additionally, a host of luxury services and amenities await them upon arrival at the resort. Personal Butler services continue in-flight with amenities including aromatherapy with essential oils from The Royal Spa and a dining menu crafted by a signature Royalton or Planet Hollywood Beach Resorts Restaurant highlighted by bottomless mimosas.

Upon arrival in the Caribbean, the Ultimate All-Inclusive Package will kick into high gear with refreshments and personal greeting by hotel executive staff and direct access for guests via their special bracelets to their Chairman or Producers Suite, as top-of-the-line accommodations at Royalton and Planet Hollywood addresses are known, arrayed with distinctive amenities including monogrammed slippers and robes, top-shelf spirits, an aromatherapy menu, and nightly turndown service with pastries.

Guests hungry for more will get it – and then some – with package inclusions such as private dinner experiences at restaurants and on the beach. Additionally, they will enjoy a spirited Mixology Class and a Wine Tasting Session poured under the light of noon. Lunch will be prepared in their suite by a resort chef, and daily breakfast service will be provided on their private terrace. Additional complimentary offerings include daily access to a private beach or pool cabana with a personal catering of lunch from the resort restaurants, a beach photoshoot to frame memories as pretty as they can be, and much more. All spa treatments are included for guests booking this package, along with unlimited hydrotherapy sessions at The Royal Spa or PH Spa. Package guests will also be treated to a Private Catamaran Sunset Excursion tracing beautiful coastlines lapped by the crystal-blue sea, as well as a Cultural Experience in keeping with the destination.

Blue Diamond Resorts’ new Ultimate All-Inclusive Package starts at $139,999 USD for 6 guests traveling as a group, with pricing covering all package inclusions: Private flights by Blue Diamond Jets from New York City or Toronto; stay at Royalton Luxury Resorts and/or Planet Hollywood Beach Resorts in top suites from the Diamond Club and Star Class room categories; luxury roundtrip airport-to-hotel land transportation; exclusive resort experiences and amenities; deluxe destination excursions.

To learn more or to request a booking for this exclusive getaway with the Ultimate All-Inclusive Package please visit Blue Diamond Resorts’ package website.

About Blue Diamond Resorts  

Blue Diamond Resorts encompasses over 60 properties, exceeding 18,000 rooms in eight countries located in the most popular holiday destinations in the Caribbean. Its nine leading hotel brands include the Award-winning, All-In Luxury® Royalton Luxury Resorts, where Everyone is Family. Whether guests come as friends, parents, kids, couples, weddings, corporate or incentive retreats, or solo travelers everyone is family in these properties that feature personalized services and signature amenities including All-In Connectivity, DreamBed, and the Sports Event Guarantee.  To refocus on valued relationships and friendships, Hideaway at Royalton offers an adults-only experience with exclusive dining and preferred accommodations to enhance Togetherness among their guests. Party Your Way at Royalton CHIC Resorts, an adults-only vibrant and effervescent all-inclusive brand to revel in the unexpected. Mystique by Royalton is Miles from Ordinary, offering their visitors the chance to connect with their surroundings in a boutique-style resort collection full of endless beauty and hip vibes. In Jamaica, Grand Lido Negril offers guests over the age of 21, a unique and all-inclusive Au Naturel vacation along with a secluded shore for the utmost privacy. Memories Resorts & Spa offers a vacation designed whether you´re planning a family vacation, reuniting with friends, or just have a relaxing moment with your significant other, while Starfish Resorts provides amazing value, breathtaking surroundings, and rich culture and heritage. Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts invites guests to Vacation Like A Star with an engaging and interactive experience, plus famous pop culture items from iconic movies, music, and sports while you will Dodge the Paparazzi at Planet Hollywood Adult Scene  where your adults-only vacation will be the center of fascination and attention with glam and exclusivity.  

To learn more about Blue Diamond Resorts, please visit www.bluediamondresorts.com   

In Haiti, Communities Help Themselves with Bio-Sand Filters

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By Kate Schecter

News Americas, PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Weds. Feb. 21, 2024: Haiti continues to be challenged by government instability and gang violence.  Basic services such as municipal electricity, clean water and sanitation are not available to communities in rural areas.  The breakdown of water and sanitation can result in disease outbreaks, like the cholera infections that swept the island several times over the past decade.

As a result, communities often need to step in and provide their own clean water.

The good news is clean water can be obtained using inexpensive and easy-to-build innovations like bio-sand filters.

A bio-sand filter is a container the size of an office water cooler or larger.    It has an inset plastic pipe and is filled with layers of sand and gravel. Dirty water is poured into the top of a filter, where a diffuser plate evenly distributes the water over the sand bed layer. The water travels down through the sand bed, passes through multiple layers of gravel, and collects in the plastic pipe at the bottom of the filter. The clean water then exits through the plastic piping for a family to collect. 

Savius Sinclair attended a workshop held by World Neighbors and its local partners on how to build a bio-sand filter.   Due to a lack of reliable clean water, his wife suffered frequently from diarrhea, vomiting and stomach aches.   While less threatening than cholera, these “normal” gastrointestinal illnesses transmitted through unsafe water cause immense personal suffering.   The constant illness prevented Savius’s wife and other members of his village from earning money by farming vegetables and selling them in local markets.  Ill health causes people to be unable to work and in turn can perpetuate poverty.

With their bio-sand filter, Savius wife is much healthier.  He and his wife now drink clean water and can engage in regular work and other normal activities. Savius can monitor and clean the filter on a regular basis to insure a sustainable supply of clean water. Their income is stable.  They and other farmers in their community are also learning simple organic farming techniques to increase output and quality and cut input costs. All 17,000 people in Savius’s farming community have expressed a desire for bio-sand filters.  

Haiti has many needs.   Even with its current challenges, providing access to clean water to reduce illness and facilitate economic activity is entirely possible.   Inexpensive innovations like bio-sand filters are one way to do it. 

EDITOR’S NOTE: Kate Shecter is President and CEO of World Neighbors.

The Bahamas Partners With SpaceX

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News Americas, NASSAU, Bahamas, Weds. Feb. 21, 2024: The Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation of The Bahamas has made a historic move by partnering with SpaceX, the renowned space exploration company by billionaire Elon Musk, to usher the nation into the age of space technology and tourism.

This collaboration, encapsulated in a Letter of Agreement, aims to make The Bahamas a prime location for observing the awe-inspiring spectacle of SpaceX booster landings. SpaceX is in the process of designing missions that will utilize an autonomous droneship positioned east of The Exumas as a landing pad for its Falcon 9 rockets.

This initiative promises to make The Bahamas the only place in the world where such an event can be witnessed, offering tourists and residents alike an unprecedented view of space technology in action. The agreement not only signifies a leap into space tourism but also supports SpaceX’s Starlink mission, which seeks to provide high-speed internet globally, including enhancing connectivity and response capabilities during disasters in The Bahamas.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, Chester Cooper, expressed excitement over this partnership, highlighting its potential to foster economic growth, create jobs, and improve educational opportunities through access to high-speed internet via Starlink.

This venture is expected to have a transformative impact on The Bahamas, positioning it as a leader in space tourism and technology. Additionally, SpaceX has pledged to establish a space-themed installation in The Bahamas, showcasing space hardware and a SpaceX spacesuit, marking it as a unique attraction outside the United States. This installation is anticipated to draw attention from around the globe, further cementing The Bahamas’ place in the world of space exploration and education.

The partnership also includes commitments to enhance STEM education in The Bahamas through regular space-focused presentations, aiming to inspire the next generation of Bahamian scientists, engineers, and astronauts. Aisha Bowe, a former NASA rocket scientist and the first Bahamian set to travel to space, has played a pivotal role in realizing this partnership, symbolizing the potential for Bahamians in the global space industry.

The initiative is part of The Bahamas’ broader vision to diversify its economy and embrace innovative technologies, as outlined in its Blueprint for Change and Innovate242 initiative, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s journey towards becoming a hub for space tourism and technological advancement.

Strategic Capital Raising Guidance For Caribbean Developers

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News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Feb. 20, 2024: As US and global financiers recalibrate their investment strategies, moving away from the Caribbean’s once-favored sectors, local project developers find themselves at a critical juncture. The shift has placed a premium on innovation and distinctiveness in project proposals, pushing Caribbean entrepreneurs to refine their approaches to secure vital capital.

The current investment climate underscores the need for projects not just to appeal but to resonate with potential financiers through a combination of strategic planning and storytelling. Here are the pivotal strategies that experts believe can make the difference:

1. A Story Worth Telling: Successful projects hinge on a compelling narrative. An engaging pitch deck that succinctly tells a project’s story, its impact, and potential return on investment stands out in a crowded marketplace.

2. A Plan That Shines: A robust, detailed business plan with an attractive design ensures that key information catches an investor’s eye. Clarity and aesthetics go hand in hand in making a project memorable.

3. The Right Team for the Job: Demonstrating a project’s credibility through the expertise and track record of its team is non-negotiable. Investors invest in people as much as in ideas.

4. Commitment Is Key: A tangible investment from project developers—commonly expected to be around 10% of the total sought capital—signals commitment and confidence in a project’s success.

5. Equity Before Debt: Securing equity partners before approaching debt financing provides a solid foundation, reducing perceived risk and enhancing project attractiveness.

6. Strategic Funding Phases: Articulating a clear, phased approach to funding not only helps in managing resources but also in building investor trust through demonstrated milestones.

7. Transparent Costs: Including broker fees and other costs upfront in financial projections eliminates surprises and fosters trust between developers and financiers.

The consensus is clear: the path to securing investment in the Caribbean’s evolving landscape is paved with transparency, preparation, and strategic partnerships. As the region adapts to these changing dynamics, the role of specialized agencies like Invest Caribbean becomes increasingly crucial. Offering expertise in crafting pitch decks, financial modeling, and investor matchmaking, Invest Caribbean positions Caribbean projects for success on the global stage.

For project developers looking to navigate this challenging environment, the message is to adapt, innovate, and partner strategically. With the right approach, the Caribbean’s rich potential can be fully realized, attracting the investment needed to drive sustainable development and economic growth.

As ICN’s Mastering the Art of Raising Capital podcast guest Jay Dickieson says, a project developer’s job is to chip away at the 100 percent risk factor for any investor by giving them confidence in what you are doing and the more ammunition you can assemble through your team, traction etc.

For further assistance and to explore how Invest Caribbean can help bring your project to fruition, contact us today.

USVI Population Numbers Revealed: Key Demographic Insights

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News Americas, Washington, D.C., Thurs. Feb. 15, 2024: The latest U.S. Census Bureau data today unveiled that the population of the US Virgin Islands, (USVI), stands at 87,146, marking a significant demographic snapshot from the 2020 Census.

Here’s a breakdown of the key findings:

Median Age and Gender Distribution: The median age of the total population is reported at 45.9 years, with males comprising 48.6% and females 51.4%.

Ethnic Composition: The majority of the population, accounting for 71.4%, identifies as Black, while the White alone population stands at 13.3%. Additionally, the Hispanic or Latino population accounts for 18.4%.

Household Dynamics: A notable statistic reveals that over two-thirds of grandparents (68.5%) live with grandchildren under the age of 18 in households predominantly led by women.

Educational Attainment: Approximately 22.3% of individuals aged 25 and over hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, indicating varying levels of educational achievement within the population.

Language Demographics: English remains the primary language, with 69.8% of those aged 5 and over speaking English only.

Poverty Rates: The data highlights that 22.8% of all people in households are below the poverty line, indicating socio-economic challenges within the community.

Unemployment: Within the civilian labor force, the unemployment rate stands at 9.7%, with a slightly higher rate among women at 10.1%.

Housing Landscape: Nearly 70% of all housing units are occupied, with 47.8% by owners and 52.2% by renters, providing insights into housing dynamics and occupancy rates.

Experience ‘Jamaica’s Vibe Getaway’ With Blue Diamond Resorts: Honoring the King of Reggae

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CARIBPR WIRE, MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Feb. 15, 2024: In tribute to Jamaica’s Reggae legend, Blue Diamond Resorts presents its latest offering: the ‘Jamaica’s Vibe Getaway,’ a six-night immersive experience designed for guests staying at select all-inclusive resorts in this destination. This sensory journey seamlessly weaves together luxury, music, and the vibrant cultural tapestry of the island. The experience is available in February at their Negril resorts, including Royalton Negril and Hideaway at Royalton Negril, as well as in Montego Bay, encompassing Royalton Blue Waters and the newly opened Hideaway at Royalton Blue Waters.

Starting with private transportation from the Montego Bay International Airport to the resort to check in at the lavish Luxury Chairman Ocean Front Suite Diamond Club at either Montego Bay or Negril. These opulent sanctuaries offer a haven of comfort, personalized butler service, and private balconies with panoramic ocean views to soak in the natural beauty that inspired the king of reggae’s timeless melodies.

As the sun sets over the Jamaican horizon, a private concert awaits guests on the beach where talented musicians strum the chords of classic reggae hits, creating an intimate ambiance under the starlit Caribbean sky.

Travelers will also experience a unique culinary journey which includes a private dinner in the Chairman Suite, masterfully curated by the Executive Chef with the flavors of Jamaica’s diverse gastronomy. To accentuate the palate, a rum-tasting odyssey hosted by Appleton Estate will give vacationers a glimpse of the rich history and flavors of this world-renowned rum.

Exclusive entertainment options will also be available in the Chairman Suite, featuring a curated playlist to unwind to the rhythm of reggae in the intimate luxury of its accommodations, fully embracing the culture of the destination.

Bookings for the “Jamaica’s Vibe Getaway” at Royalton Luxury Resorts and Hideaway at Royalton Resorts in Jamaica are available until February 29, 2024, with a starting price of $2,625 USD per person per night. Travelers embarking on this journey will be able to travel from February 29 – December 23, 2024.

For more information or to book your stay, contact me***@bl****************.com.

“Jamaica’s Vibe Getaway” Package
Available for booking from February 14th to February 29th, 2024*
Travel from February 29th to December 23rd, 2024.
Starting rate at $2,625 USD per person, per night**

*Package is subject to availability. Blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.
**Prices are quoted per person, per night, in USD and are subject to change without prior notice. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotion or discount.

About Blue Diamond Resorts  

Blue Diamond Resorts encompasses over 60 properties, exceeding 18,000 rooms in eight countries located in the most popular holiday destinations in the Caribbean. Its nine leading hotel brands include the Award-winning, All-In Luxury® Royalton Luxury Resorts, where Everyone is Family. Whether guests come as friends, parents, kids, couples, weddings, corporate or incentive retreats, or solo travelers everyone is family in these properties that feature personalized services and signature amenities including All-In Connectivity, DreamBed, and the Sports Event Guarantee.  To refocus on valued relationships and friendships, Hideaway at Royalton offers an adults-only experience with exclusive dining and preferred accommodations to enhance Togetherness among their guests. Party Your Way at Royalton CHIC Resorts, an adults-only vibrant and effervescent all-inclusive brand to revel in the unexpected. Mystique by Royalton is Miles from Ordinary, offering their visitors the chance to connect with their surroundings in a boutique-style resort collection full of endless beauty and hip vibes. In Jamaica, Grand Lido Negril offers guests over the age of 21, a unique and all-inclusive Au Naturel vacation along with a secluded shore for the utmost privacy. Memories Resorts & Spa offers a vacation designed whether you’re planning a family vacation, reuniting with friends, or just have a relaxing moment with your significant other, while Starfish Resorts provides amazing value, breathtaking surroundings, and rich culture and heritage. Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts invites guests to Vacation Like A Star with an engaging and interactive experience, plus famous pop culture items from iconic movies, music, and sports while you will Dodge the Paparazzi at Planet Hollywood Adult Scene where your adults-only vacation will be the center of fascination and attention with glam and exclusivity.  

To learn more about Blue Diamond Resorts, please visit www.bluediamondresorts.com   

Former BVI Premier Faces Life In Prison Sentence

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News Americas, MIAMI, FL, Weds. Feb. 14, 2024: Former Premier of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Andrew Fahie has been convicted in Miami Federal Court for his involvement in a conspiracy to facilitate the transportation of large quantities of cocaine through the archipelago in 2022.

Andrew Fahie, from premier to US federal inmate.

After more than four hours of deliberation, a jury unanimously found Fahie guilty on four counts related to conspiracy and money laundering. He now faces a potential life sentence in prison and a $10 million fine specifically for the cocaine conspiracy charge.

Fahie was found to have collaborated with undercover U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents who posed as drug dealers, intending to traffic a significant cocaine shipment through territorial waters.

Previously serving as both the BVI’s premier and tourism minister, Fahie was convicted after a week-long trial. His alleged co-conspirator, Oleanvine Maynard, who held the position of managing director of the British Virgin Islands’ port authority at the time, was arrested alongside Fahie. Maynard provided extensive testimony against Fahie during the trial.

Court documents indicate that Fahie anticipated receiving an initial payment of $500,000 in cash, along with future proceeds from drug sales, in exchange for facilitating the shipment. Fahie, who had been free on bail, was subsequently handcuffed and taken into custody.

Maynard, who pleaded guilty last June to participating in the conspiracy, is set to be sentenced on February 22 by Judge Williams. Reports suggest she is seeking leniency for her cooperation. Fahie has consistently denied all charges against him.

The incident unfolded when Fahie and Maynard, attending the Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami in April 2022, decided to investigate a purported $700,000 shipment aboard an airplane they believed was destined for the BVI.

Jamaican Singer Sean Paul Drops New Reggae Track

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News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Feb. 9, 2024: Jamaican Grammy winning singer, Sean Paul, has dropped a new single. Paul dropped “No Evil” today. The track delves into life’s struggles, frustrations, and the determination to stand strong. He reminds fans that in the face of adversity, there’s no evil that can break their spirit. Listen below.