By the Caribbean Journal staff

Virgin Atlantic is adding new flights to one of the Caribbean’s buzziest hotspots, Antigua and Barbuda.

The transatlantic carrier will be expanding its Antigua service from three weekly flights to four weekly flights.

That change will come into effect beginning June 8, 2020, according to a statement released by Virgin Atlantic.

The flights will be operating from London Gatwick to Antigua.

“We’re evolving our Caribbean offering to make sure we continue to serve destinations most loved by our customers,”the company said.

Virgin also announced it would be moving its service from London to Havana, Cuba from London Gatwick to Heathrow.

— CJ

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… Parkway on Sunday for the Puerto Rican Day Parade.
The parade kicked … and largest outdoor event celebrating Puerto Rican and Latino heritage.
The parade …

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Hyatt Hotels is launching a new brand in its global portfolio: Caption by Hyatt.

The new “lifestyle” brand aims to “bring people closer together, allowing them to work, eat or socialize in comfortable, flexible, communal spaces that encourage meaningful conversations and connections,” according to a statement from the company.

Most notably, Union Square Hospitality Group, Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer’s company, consulted on the design and curation of the brand’s food and beverage concepts.

“At Hyatt, we believe in the power of personal connection,” said Heather Geisler, vice president of global brands at Hyatt. “By listening to our guests, we know that whether they are traveling alone or with a friend, they are looking to connect with others in an environment that is authentic and approachable. The Caption by Hyatt brand will invite guests and locals alike to hang out, enjoy a cocktail and catch up with a friend, new or old, in a space that is intended for them.”

While Hyatt has not yet announced the first destinations for the brand, Jim Chu, global head of development for Hyatt, said the brand was meant to be a “global growth driver” in “dense urban markets, emerging neighborhoods and high-foot-traffic areas.”

In the Caribbean, bustling urban centers like San Juan, Santo Domingo or Cartagena would seem like potential fits at first glance; indeed, San Juan and the rest of Puerto Rico boast the most diverse Hyatt portfolio of any Caribbean destination. 

“We believe the brand is primed for strong growth as it can flex and adapt to suit the needs of different locations and markets and can offer a more sustainable approach to design and operations,” Chu said.

— CJ

The post Hyatt Is Launching a New Hotel Brand appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Alexander Britell

Hilton is adding a new Dominican Republic resort to its growing portfolio of all-inclusive properties in the wider Caribbean region.

The dual-resort Hilton La Romana will be opening its new family-friendly section on Dec. 1, according to Playa Hotels and Resorts, which is managing the property.

The property already opened its adults-only resort last month in a setting on the beach in Bayahibe.

The newest Hilton will include five eateries, a 24-hour coffee house, a fitness center, four pools, a casino and a 21,000-square-foot spa.

That will be complemented by 8,000 square feet of meeting space.

It’s the second resort in what will be a broad all-inclusive expansion in the Caribbean for Hilton, as part of the company’s strategic alliance with all-inclusive giant Playa.

The adults-only section debuted last month in the Dominican Republic.

Last year, Hilton rebranded the former The Royal resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico as the Hilton Playa del Carmen, the first fruit of the Hilton-Playa alliance.

That agreement, signed in September 2018, will ultimately result in a total of 10 new all-inclusive resorts in the wider Caribbean-Mexico region, all of which are slated to debut by 2025.

And it’s part of what is a larger all-inclusive development push by Playa, which is set to open another two all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic in November with the debut of the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana and the Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana resorts in greater Punta Cana.

The beach in Bayahibe.

It’s all part of what is a booming all-inclusive industry in the Caribbean, as hospitality brands continue to acknowledge the demand for all-inclusive options.

Indeed, that’s why Marriott, the world’s largest hotel company, announced this summer its own plans to launch a major foray into all-inclusive vacations.

Unsurprisingly, that will include a 650-room Autograph Collection resort in the Dominican Republic, set to open its doors in 2022.

The Dominican Republic continues to pace the rest of the region in its hotel development, with a significant focus on all-inclusive resorts.

For more, visit the Hilton La Romana.

The post Hilton Is Opening a New Dominican Republic All-Inclusive appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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… board with oversight over Puerto Rico’s finances proposed a … only made worse when Puerto Rico was struck by deadly … to $12 billion.
Puerto Rico declared bankruptcy in May 2017 … The move was opposed by Puerto Rico’s previous governor, Ricardo …

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