Ritz-Carlton is reopening its Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico next month, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

The resort, the only Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Caribbean, is relaunching on July 1. 

The relaunch of what is Puerto Rico’s leading luxury resort comes ahead of Puerto Rico’s planned July 15 reopening for tourism. 

It is the second Ritz-Carlton-branded property to reopen in the Caribbean, following the relaunch of the Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas, which began welcoming back visitors to the US Virgin Islands this week. 

The 115-room-and-suite resort has reopened with parent company Marriott International’s new cleanliness practices. 

The resort’s signature golf course has been open for several weeks already.

“We are thrilled to once again welcome our beloved guests to Dorado Beach,” said George Sotelo, General Manager. “Our team of dedicated Ladies and Gentlemen have been hard at work preparing for our reopening and are excited to introduce guests to new handcrafted, memorable experiences while maintaining the sense of barefoot elegance and personalized service for which we are known.”

In the age of COVID-19, the resort is emphasizing that each of the rooms and suites is accessible from the outdoors; many of the units have their own private plunge pools, and all of them have direct beach access, “allowing ample space for physical distancing.”

Puerto Rico officials say the destination is implementing major health and safety protocols island-wide ahead of the tourism reopening. 

“We mean it when we say we want to aim for a gold standard in health and safety. All tourism-related businesses must comply and practice the guidelines included in this comprehensive program,” said Carla Campos, executive director of the Puert The PRTC will also inspect and certify over 350 hotels and operators over the next four months that must comply with these standards. We are certain that the assurances and security these measures provide, coupled with the experiences that make Puerto Rico such an attractive destination, will play a vital role in the short-term recovery of the travel industry of the island.”  

For more, visit Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

— CJ

The post Ritz-Carlton Reserve Reopening in Puerto Rico appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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St Barth’s Hotel Manapany is reopening in July, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

The eco-boutique in the Anse des Cayes area of St Barth is reopening its doors on July 11. 

The announcement comes as St Barth prepares to officially welcome back visitors on June 22, subject to COVID-19 testing protocols. 

Parent company B Signature said the hotel had launched a series of health and safety measures. 

“We remain vigilant about the health and safety of our guests and colleagues, without compromising the guest experience,” said Anne Jousse, CEO of B Signature Hotels and Resorts. “In addition, B Signature is committed to providing our guests travel planning flexibility as the situation continues to evolve.”

For more, visit the Manapany. 

— CJ

The post St Barth’s Hotel Manapany Is Reopening in July appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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This new age of travel means visitors have new questions as they plan their trips. 

What is the flying experience like? How have hotels changed? How can I ensure that I feel safe? How is the on-island experience different?

To answer some of the questions, Caribbean Journal has launched a new CJ Webinar series with Marriott International focused on Caribbean destinations and the protocols and practices of their reopening plans. 

The first Caribbean destination to reopen was the US Virgin Islands, which officially reopened to tourists on June 1. 

The latest CJ Webinar, presented in partnership with Mariott International, brought together top tourism industry leaders from the USVI to explain how the experience has changed — and why travelers can feel confident. 

The panel included Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism; Dale McKinney, Regional Manager for the Caribbean at Delta Air Lines; Cliff Brutus, Director of Sales and Marketing at The Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas; and Lisa Hamilton, President of the US Virgin Islands Hotel and Tourism Association.

“The new realities of travel mean that destinations, airlines, hotels need to explain what’s expected from travelers, and what travelers can expect from them,” said Alexander Britell, editor-in-chief of Caribbean Journal, who moderated the webinar. “Our new webinar series is all about facilitating that conversation.”

And don’t miss this special report on what to expect in the reopened US Virgin Islands.

You can watch the full Webinar below:

The post Traveling to the US Virgin Islands, Explained appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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