One of the Caribbean’s top resorts has named a new general manager.

The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Puerto Rico has appointed Ian-Robert Ciappara as its new GM, coming to the property after serving most recently as general manager of the W Bogota in Colombia.

“I am delighted to join the amazing team at The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, a special and beloved property offering the very best service and amenities unlike any other in Puerto Rico,” Ciappara said in a statement. “I look forward to fostering and elevating the resort’s reputation with my expertise in developing unique guest experiences that will raise the benchmark for luxury travel in the Caribbean.”

The 139-room St. Regis Bahia Beach is located on 483 acres in an Audubuon Signature Sanctuary in Puerto Rico.

– Caribbean Journal Staff

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A major new hotel is coming to Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Excellence Group Luxury Hotels and Resorts has announced a new venture in Montego Bay: Excellence Oyster Bay.

The company plans to break ground on the resort in the next few months, with a planned debut in the first half of 2018.

Excellence Oyster Bay will include 325 suites, ranging from 800-square-foot junior suites to 2,000-square-foot upper suites with direct beach access and panoramic ocean views.

“Excellence Oyster Bay will be the first resort of the Excellence Group in Jamaica, and will set a new standard in the all inclusive luxury segment, with its location, facilities and the renowned quality service that guests have come to expect from any Excellence Resort,” said Domingo Aznar, Excellence Group’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Excellence operates adults-only resorts in Cancun, the Riviera Maya and Punta Cana under the Excellence, Beloved and Finest brands.

It most recently opened the Excellence El Carmen resort in Playa del Carmen (above).

— Caribbean Journal staff

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Aruba’s Brickell Bay Beach Club & Spa is an adults-only resort that encourages guests to enjoy the island’s tropical scenery at their own pace.

The hotel is committed to easing the stress of travel for guests and starting their vacation on the right note.

The front desk is available to guests 24 hours a day, and the staff is always ready to answer questions and assist guests to enjoy their optimum island experience.

Business and leisure travelers will appreciate the 24-hour business center, free high-speed internet and free unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada via the APP.

Brickell Bay’s rooms offer plentiful amenities, and are set directly across the road from the white sand beach where guests can relax on complimentary chaise lounges and indulge in food and beverage service.

The resort also features a pool with a swim-up bar, adjacent to The Orchid Spa, where guests can enjoy a massage, skin treatment, manicure or pedicure.

At the epicenter of the island’s top tourist spots, the hotel is located within walking distance to 30+ restaurants, shopping malls, vibrant casinos and numerous choices for live entertainment.

Joe Giuseppe’s Italian Steakhouse, located on the property, is the newest addition to the resort.

With architecture and style that blends Caribbean charm with modern chic, Brickell Bay Beach Club & Spa features two room categories with a choice of Superior or Deluxe rooms and two Deluxe Honeymoon Suites.

To book a stay at Brickell Bay Beach Club, click here.

— Dana Niland, CJ Contributor

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JetBlue had a very strong 2016, according to the company’s year-end numbers.

The carrier, which has continued to expand quickly in the Caribbean, reported 45.6 billion revenue passenger miles overall in 2016, a 9.4 percent improvement over 2015.

Available seat miles rose 8.9 percent in 2016 to 53.6 billion, while load factor rose 0.4 percentage points to 85.1 percent.

JetBlue had 337,302 departures in 2016, up 6.6 percent from the previous year, with average stage lengths around 1,093 miles.

— Caribbean Journal Staff

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Carnival Cruise Line is changing its Caribbean fleet.

The company is repositioning three of its newest ships to new homeports in 2018, the company said this week.

In September 2018, Carnival Vista will move to Galveston, Tex.; Carnival Breeze will reposition to Port Canaveral, Fla. and Carnival Magic will shift to Miami.

Carnival Vista will then begin two-week-long itineraries to the Caribbean from Galveston, with one itinerary featuring stops in Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel and the other featuring visits to Mahogany Bay in Honduras, Belize and Cozumel.

Carnival Breeze will sail seven-day cruises year-round to the Caribbean from Port Canaveral, with year-round Eastern Caribbean voyages calling at Amber Cove, St. Thomas, San Juan, and Grand Turk, while Western Caribbean voyages will stop at Cozumel, Belize, Mahogany Bay and Costa Maya.

Finally, Carnival Magic will launch year-round Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from PortMiami: Eastern itineraries will stop at Amber Cove, St. Thomas, San Juan and Grand Turk, while Western trips will feature Grand Cayman, Mahogany Bay, Belize and Cozumel.

The post Carnival Repositioning Ships in Three Ports for 2018 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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