News

Sandals Just Opened an All-Inclusive Donut Shop

The Westin St John Resort Reopens

By the Caribbean Journal staff In a massive boost for the tourism fortunes of the island of St John, the Westin St John Resort Villas has officially reopened its doors. The reopening comes 16 months after Hurricanes Irma and Maria …

Cancun’s Live Aqua Beach Resort Completes Renovation

By the Caribbean Journal staff The 371-room Live Aqua Beach Resort in Cancun has completed a multimillion-dollar renovation project, Caribbean Journal has learned. The Mexican Caribbean property, which is part of the 13-hotel portfolio of La Collection Resorts by Fiesta …

Caribbean Photo of the Week: The North Coast of Aruba

By the Caribbean Journal staff The latest Caribbean Photo comes from Caribbean Journal reader Claire McAuliffe, who sent in this stunning shot of the northern coast of Aruba. Have you taken a great photo in the Caribbean? Send it to …

Rum Journal: Soggy Dollar Rum, a Journey to the BVI in a Bottle

By Alexander Britell One of the most beautiful — and perhaps most understated — things about rum is its power to transport. The romantic energy of rum can take you from wherever you’re indulging to a far-off Caribbean island somewhere, to …

St Maarten Is Seeing a Cruise Boom

By Dana NilandCJ Contributor As St Maarten’s tourism comeback, one sector is already performing better than ever: the cruise industry. Port St Maarten reported over 1.5 million cruise passengers in 2018, according to new data from the port. Over the …

A Bigger Cruise Pier in St Croix?

By the Caribbean Journal staff The US Virgin Islands Port Authority is exploring an opportunity to increase cruise passenger visits to the island of St Croix. The plan would be to modify the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility in Frederiksted …

St Maarten’s Oyster Bay Beach Resort Completes Reconstruction

By the Caribbean Journal staff St Maarten’s popular Oyster Bay Beach Resort has officially completed its extensive reconstruction project, Caribbean Journal has learned. The property, which partially reopened in June after shuttering in the wake of Hurricane Irma, has now …

The Cayman Islands Has the Caribbean’s Hottest Hotel Sector

By Rico Louw Is the Cayman Islands the hottest hotel market in the Caribbean? The Cayman Islands experienced the largest rises in the Caribbean in each of the three key performance metrics in 2018, according to data from islands where …

Montserrat Taps New Director of Tourism

By Dana NilandCJ Contributor Montserrat is looking to change its tourism fortunes, and the island has tapped a veteran of Trinidad and Tobago’s tourism sector to lead the charge. Montserrat has appointed Warren Solomon to the post of Director of …

10 Under-the-Radar Beach Hotels in the Caribbean

You didn’t want to spend 20 minutes walking from your room to get to the beach. That’s not why you’re here. You made the long journey so you could spend your vacation lazing on the sand, rum punch (or just …

Caribbean “Upbeat” About Tourism in 2019

By Dana NilandCJ Contributor Caribbean tourism officials are “upbeat” about prospects for 2019, and expect another year of positive growth bolstered by increased airlift, improved sales, ongoing investments in hotel upgrades and refurbishments, and new properties coming on stream. Speaking …

In Jamaica, a New Global Center for Tourism Resilience

By Dana NilandCJ Contributor World leaders, legislators and academics from around the world convened in Montego Bay, Jamaica last week to commemorate the opening of The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Center. The GTRCM is a first-of-its-kind tourism resource …

Miami-Based HES Group Buys Embassy Suites in Santo Domingo

By the Caribbean Journal staff Miami-based HES Group has purchased the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. HES Group, which is behind a number of hotel projects in Miami, has major plans for the property; the purchase …

Carnival Plans “Mega” Cruise Port in Grand Bahama

By the Caribbean Journal staff Carnival Cruise Line is planning what officials are calling a “mega” cruise port in Freeport, Grand Bahama. The “Grand Port” project is slated for completion in late 2021. according to a statement from the government …

Margaritaville Is Opening a New Hotel in Belize

By the Caribbean Journal staff Jimmy Buffett’s fast-growing Margaritaville Holdings is planning another Caribbean hotel, this time on Belize’s popular Ambergris Caye. The new Margaritaville Resort Belize will be a condominium resort, with 71 waterfront residences in its first phase …

Spirit Continuing Jamaica Expansion

By the Caribbean Journal staff Spirit has its sights set on Jamaica — and the low-cost carrier is showing now signs of slowing down. The Fort Lauderdale-based airline is set to launch yet another high-profile expansion to Jamaica this month …

Mexico’s Interjet, Air Canada Sign Interline Agreement

By the Caribbean Journal staff Air Canada and Mexico’s Interjet have signed an interline agreement, the two sides announced this week. That means travelers can purchase a single ticket for flights on either airline; the agreement will cover travel from …

Grenada’s Leading Marina Is Expanding

By the Caribbean Journal staff One of the Caribbean’s leading luxury marinas is getting bigger. The Camper & NIcholson Port Louis Marina in Grenada is expanding, according to the Grenada Tourism Authority. The marina, which is set outside of Grenada’s …