By the Caribbean Journal staff

There’s a new craft brewery in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Leatherback Brewery Company has opened its doors in St Croix, offering a range of craft beverages brewed with local ingredients.

The brewery’s flagship beers include the Leatherback Lager and the Leatherback IPA, both of which are already on offer (on tap) in local bars and restaurants in St Croix.

The brewery offers tours and tastings, offering the chance to try tap beers like Island Life, Sweet Bottom Ale and Reef Life — and to take home a souvenir.

Leatherback Brewing Company is set in the William Roebuck Industrial Park, open from 11 AM to 7 PM seven days a week.

— CJ

The post A New Craft Brewery in St Croix appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Jamaica’s green push is continuing with plans for another new solar energy park in the country.

Eight Rivers Energy Company Limited has commenced work on a new 37-megawatt solar energy plant, slated for completion by late 2018 or early 2019, according to Jamaica Energy Minister Andrew Wheatley.

The Jamaica Public Service Company had signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Eight Rivers in 2017 to supply electricity generated from the park to the national grid.

The project is also notably run by an all-female leadership team.

“This project represents the first Jamaican female-led major Renewable Energy Infrastructure Development. We are very pleased to see that the women are taking charge and they are providing the energy to drive real growth and prosperity,” Wheatley said.

It’s the latest solar project on an island that has moved to the forefront of the Caribbean green energy movement, both in wind and solar production.

The post Jamaica Launches Major New Solar Project appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By Alexander Britell and Guy Britton

MIAMI – One of the region’s leading travel conferences began Wednesday in the heart of downtown Miami.

Northstar Travel Group’s Caribbean Hotel and Resort Investment Summit is the Caribbean’s leading hospitality investment conference, bringing together destinations, developers, lawyers, bankers, owners and investors from around the region and the world.

Some noteworthy names on the speaking agenda ranged from Javier Coll, executive vice president and chief strategy officer at Apple Leisure Group; Ian Carter, president for global development, architecture, design and construction for Hilton; Wendy Chan, vice president at Jones Lang LaSalle’s hotel and hospitality group and Aimbridge Hospitality’s Rich Cortese, among others.

This year’s event, held at the JW Marriott Marquis, runs through Friday, which will include an appearance by the Clinton Global Initiative.

— CJ

The post CHRIS Conference Launches in Miami appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Cruise line Holland America Line is set to launch its newest ship in December.

The ms Nieuw Statendam, due for delivery in December 2018, follows the 2016 launch of the brand’s ms Koningsdam ship.

The ship, which is currently under construction at Ficantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy, has interiors by designer Adam D. Tihany and designer and architect Bjorn Storbraaten.

The new ship will have eight more staterooms than its sister ship, Koningsdam, with capacity for 2,666 guests and dining options includng Sel de Mer, a French seafood brasserie, and Tamarind, an Asian fusion concept, in addition to the Grand Dutch Café.

The ship’s inaugural season will see it sailing from Fort Lauderdale on three, four, seven and 10-day Caribbean cruises.

The post Holland America’s Newest Ship Coming in December appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By Alexander Britell

There’s a new Caribbean beach resort on the scene — and it’s instantly one of the region’s hippest places to stay.

This is the Skylark Negril, a Caribbean beach resort that is the sister property to the well-known Rockhouse boutique hotel on the cliffs of Negril.

Skylark, which already launched in soft opening, is planning a grand opening in June that will include the first-ever Caribbean outpost of New York institution Miss Lily’s.

Skylark is a collection of beachfront studios set on 220 feet of beachfront on Negril’s famous Seven Mile Beach.

The aesthetic aims to take travelers back to the jet-set days, with a retro glamour and a bohemian-style beach scene that hearkens back to the Negril of the 60s and 70s.

“We have always wanted to complement the cliffside experience our guests enjoy at Rockhouse with a prime beachfront property,” said Paul Salmon, who is the chairman of both Rockhouse and Skylark. “It was only a matter of time before we found the perfect spot, and when this location presented itself we knew the time was now.”

There are 28 rooms in all (two of which are ocean-view and on the beach), with the remainder of the rooms featuring furnished balconies overlooking Skylark’s interior garden.

Every room has a four-post king bed, a work desk, a minibar, bluetooth speakers and bath essentials.

There’s a signature Skylark Spa led by Linda Hall, along with a dedicated sound program that will feature a rotating selection of iconic Jamaican music.

And yes, there’s Miss Lily’s, which features the culinary team led by Adam Schop and Kingston’s Andre Fowles, with a wide selection of rums from around the Caribbean and nighttime DJ sessions focusing on the latest reggae and dancehall music.

“We can’t wait to offer our guests another way to experience Jamaica’s natural beauty and culture, and deepen our commitment to our local community,” Salmon said. “It is also only fitting that we are bringing Miss Lily’s home and celebrating the island’s beautiful people and rich culture, which have always been a constant inspiration to me.”

It all adds up to what is a very exciting new Caribbean beach resort.

For more, visit Skylark.

— CJ

The post A New Caribbean Beach Resort to Try: Skylark Negril appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico