There’s a new place for holding your group meeting in the Caribbean: Nevis.

The Four Seasons Resort Nevis is offering groups the opportunity to combine privacy, scenery, service, and luxury amenities through its Exclusively Nevis resort buyout program.

Planners will have access to experienced Conferences Services Professional to help curate the resort’s options for an optimal meeting and incentives experience.

“Exclusively Nevis offers limitless customisations for a distinctive and standout incentive program on a paradise island,” said Director of Sales Jim Bishop. “Buyout groups enjoy the maximum flexibility, from completely branding the Resort and our amenities; having exclusive use of a pristine, half-mile long Caribbean beach for private activities and events; extending outdoor events to midnight or later; and enjoying many more benefits not possible when sharing the Resort with other guests. Throughout, our talented team will ensure the ultimate VIP experience for each of your guests.”

Groups can buy out the resort with as few as 150 of the resort’s 196 deluxe guestrooms for four-night and longer programs.

The resort also features 50 multi-bedroom, luxury villas, which groups can add in order to accommodate VIPs and create unique events in a different setting.

When in Nevis, meetings and incentives planners can take advantage of any location on the resort’s 350-acre property.

The half-mile stretch of Pinney’s Beach in front of the resort can be converted into a unique event venue for exclusive daytime activities as well as recognition dinners and late-night beach parties.

Additionally, Exclusively Nevis groups also can use more than 3,000 square feet of outdoor terrace as well as 5,000 square feet of indoor meetings space, which can be configured into five break outs.

Planners can choose from a wide range of services and amenities to make for a personalized and private experience, including welcoming greeters at the airport, to private speedboats that takes guests to the resort’s on-property pier, to custom-created culinary experiences that focus on individual preferences and fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Visitors will also enjoy the resort’s 12,000 square foot spa, a golf course, tennis courts, and more.

The post This is Where to Hold a Meeting in the Caribbean appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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MIAMI, USA — On Tuesday, Boatsetter, a leading international boat sharing service, announced the formation of a new partnership with Wally Castro Marine in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. The deal is the first of its kind in the Caribbean and adds Wally Castro Marine to Boatsetter’s industry-best…

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Virgin’s cruise endeavor has a new brand

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

Sir Richard Branson’s new Caribbean cruise line is moving forward, and it’s got a new name.

At a press conference in Miami on Tuesday, the new cruise line announced that it will now operate under the name Virgin Voyages.

“I was never interested in going on a cruise,” said Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson during the Broadway-style announcement at Miami Beach’s Faena Theater, “but I’m interested in a voyage. Thousands of future sailors and travel professionals shared their thoughts with us and tasked us with delivering the most irresistible vacation at sea and that our name alone should leave them dizzy with anticipation. I’m excited to reveal we are now Virgin Voyages, and while we have lots of work ahead to build our three ships, we can’t wait to welcome you aboard the ship of things to come.”

Sir Richard Branson (right) with Virgin Voyages CEO and president Tom McAlpin

Virgin Voyages’ CEO and president Tom McAlpin updated the audience on the progress of the new line, which will have three ships, at least one of them home-ported in Miami, Florida, by 2022.

McAlpin said that the contract between Virgin Voyages and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has been signed and that they are nearing the close of a financing deal.

“Our world class partners like Bain Capital Private Equity, Virgin Group and Fincantieri as well as financial powerhouses like Cdp, UniCredit, SACE and SIMEST, showcase Virgin Voyages’ strong backing and commitment to developing an incredible product,” McAlpin said. “This is anything but just another cruise or holiday, it will be a transformational experience delivering a very ‘Virgin style’ of adventure.”

Fincantieri will begin cutting steel on the first ship in February 2017, and there will be a keel-laying ceremony in Genoa toward the end of 2017, when, as the CEO put it, “ship gets real.”

Inspired by Branson’s leadership on environmental issues and desire to “do good in the world,” McAlpin also announced the line’s partnership with Swedish clean energy company Climeon.

In a first for the cruise industry, Virgin will install Climeon Ocean, a system that will transform low-grade energy into clean electricity on all three of its ships. The resulting environmental impact will be an estimated 5,400 tons of carbon dioxide savings annually per ship, the line says, — an amount that would take 180,000 trees 30 years to absorb.

Virgin Voyages’ first ship will arrive at PortMiami in 2020 with capacity for 2,700 “sailors” and 1,150 crew, and will sail a Caribbean itinerary to “ports that deliver unique and very social experiences,” the line said.

The post Richard Branson Launches Virgin Voyages appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Delta has officially unveiled its new uniforms designed by Zac Posen.

The company says the new line, which will be worn by more than 60,000 of the airline’s frontline employees, “fuses together bold color palettes and classic styles, while paying homage to the heritage and iconic design from decades past to elevate the look and brand of Delta employees.”

“We wanted Delta employees to look glamorous on the job without sacrificing functionality and style,” said Posen. “I worked alongside employees to understand how they interact with the clothes they wear and developed a look that empowers and excites, because we want Delta’s global workforce to exude the confidence and thoughtfulness that reflects the airline’s brand.”

Delta will begin by having 1,000 employees wear-test the uniforms in December and early 2017.

The full roll-out will begin worldwide in the first quarter of 2018.

“The world’s best employees deserve the best uniforms and this new collection is classically influenced, yet modern,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s CEO. “Zac and the Delta team worked closely with our people to create timeless and fashionable pieces that reflect the thoughtful and innovative spirit of Delta.”

The post Here Are Delta’s New Zac Posen-Designed Uniforms appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Antigua and Barbuda tourism is hot and getting hotter.

It’s been a strong year for the country’s tourism, and the numbers continue to improve.

The twin-island Caribbean country reported 200,185 visitors through the end of September, a 9.04 percent increase over the first three quarters of 2015.

More importantly, Antigua and Barbuda has become one of the fastest-growing destinations for visitors from the United States, with 18.71 percent growth through September, or a total of 84,500 visitors so far this year.

That makes the country one of the Caribbean’s hottest destinations, buoyed by new airlift from carriers like JetBlue, the region’s most advanced new airport, ramped up marketing and a series of high-profile investment deals that have raised the country’s image internationally (like, for example, the in-development Paradise Found project by Robert De Niro, who has been serving as one of the country’s special economic envoys).

That’s helped bring attention to what has long been one one of the Caribbean’s higher-end hotel stocks, from all-inclusive resorts like Galley Bay, St. James’s Club and Hermitage Bay to boutique hotels like Blue Waters.

“We are very excited by the incredible growth in US visitors to Antigua and Barbuda that is defying the overall trend of decreasing travelers to the Caribbean,” said Kim Jack Riley, Director of Tourism, USA, Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. “With over 365 beaches, attractive hotels, resorts and properties to meet every price point, and over 100 dining options to choose from, Antigua and Barbuda has something for everyone looking for their next getaway.”

“Through our strategic outreach and engagement with both consumer and trade, we have ensured that the twin-island nation is top of mind for Americans booking their next vacation and look forward to continuing our predicted trend in double-digit growth,” Jack Riley said.

Heading to Antigua soon? Check out some of our travel guides, from the best all-inclusives in Antigua to the island’s must-visit eatery to its newest adults-only resort.

The post Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Is Hot appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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