The Radisson Blu resort brand is coming to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. 

Radisson Hotel Group has announced the signing of what will be the new Radisson Blu Resort and Residences Punta Cana, slated to open its doors in the fourth quarter of this year. 

It would be the second Radisson-branded hotel in the country, along with the existing Radisson Santo Domingo in the capital.

The property will be set on Punta Cana’s Cabeza de Toro beach, with 164 suites across 12 different buildings. 

The property will include an on-site spa, a fitness center, an outdoor pool and jacuzzi and five different eateries. 

Other amenities will feature in-room dining, airport transfers and butler service. 

“While our world looks a little different today, we know travel will return, and we are working diligently to provide the best hotels, in top destinations, with in-depth cleanliness and disinfection procedures for our guests as soon as they feel safe to travel again,” said Jim Alderman, Chief Executive Officer for the Americas at  Radisson Hotel Group.

The property is the second new Radisson Blu in the pipeline in the Caribbean, with a new Radisson Blu slated to make its debut in Aruba as well. 

“Radisson Blu is showing incredible growth in the Caribbean with upcoming locations in Aruba, Grenada and now the Dominican Republic, which demonstrates our momentum as we move forward in executing our strategic growth strategy,” Alderman said.

The aforementioned Grenada resort is a planned transformation of the existing Radisson Grenada resort on Grand Anse Beach.

For more, visit Radisson.

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We’ve written often in these pages of the transportive power of rum, about how it can take you to the Caribbean even when you’re far, far away. 

There’s something about rum that’s romantic, and much of that has to do with its provenance in the region.

Because there’s just something about the Caribbean: there’s a siren call that has drawn so many for so long, a list that includes the world-famous musician Kenny Chesney. 

Chesney has made no secret of his love affair with the Caribbean, particularly with the “Saints.” as he calls them, that intoxicating corner of the Virgin Islands where British and American green hills come to meet. 

From his love letter to Jost Van Dyke in “Adios to Jost” to “Old Blue Chair,” the latter of which mentions St John’s iconic Cinnamon Bay, he’s made the Caribbean a major part of his repertoire. 

Chesney is part of that small pantheon of artists who, while not from the Caribbean (like the region’s longtime friend Jimmy), have become part of it through their advocacy and passion. (That includes his efforts to help the Virgin Islands in the wake of the storms of 2017.)

And that passion also includes the creation of a Caribbean rum company, “Blue Chair Bay,” which gets its name from the aforementioned blue chair. (Chesney is the sole owner and chief creative officer).

Blue Chair Bay is a portfolio of 10 rums and rum creams, almost exclusively of the flavored variety, all made with “natural ingredients” and spices. 

The company says the component rums are aged “up to 15 months in bourbon barrels.”

So what’s it like?

Rum Journal tasted the brand’s 10 rums and rum creams, which include everything from an assortment of flavored and spiced rums to a collection of rum creams. 

Of the rums, our favorite was the Coconut Rum (92 points), a well balanced, extremely tasty expression that didn’t have any of the synthetic notes one typically finds with many coconut rums. That was followed by the very good Banana Rum (90 points), a subtle, well-rounded rum with a robust finish.

Of the rum creams, the clear star was the Key Lime Rum Cream (93 points), which is about as delicious as it sounds (put it on the rocks and you have an instant cocktail).

This is a collection of very fun rums. They’re breezy, they’re tasty and, most importantly, they can take you instantly to a beach somewhere in the Caribbean — just as they’re meant to.

And you don’t even need to bring a chair. 

For more, visit Blue Chair Bay. 

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The United States government has extended its restriction on travel to Mexico, Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf said. 

The move limits non-essential travel to Mexico — including tourism. and will remain in effect until at least June 22. 

“Non-essential travel will not be permitted until this administration is convinced that doing so is safe and secure,” Wolf said.

The move included a similar restriction on travel to Canada, part of the continued fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We appreciate our partnership with Mexico and Canada in ensuring that North America is working together to combat the ongoing global pandemic,” he said. 

Mexico tourism officials, particularly in the Mexican Caribbean hub of Quintana Roo, had signaled a desire to begin reopening their destinations to tourists as soon as next month. Indeed, several resorts in Mexico, including Palace Resorts’ portfolio of all-inclusive hotels, have been planning to reopen June 1.

— CJ

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Aruba has signaled its intent to reopen its borders for tourism as early as June 15, and now the destination has unveiled a stringent new health and safety program called the “Aruba Health and Happiness Code.”

The cleaning and hygiene program will be mandatory for all tourism-related businesses across the country, according to a statement from the Aruba Tourism Authority. 

“As we prepare to reopen our borders, it is critical to evolve and innovate as a tourism destination to protect our local community and future travelers once they reach our shores,” said Danguillaume Oduber, Aruba’s Minister of Tourism, Public Health and Sport. “We want all visitors to feel reassured in traveling to our One happy island, knowing we worked together as a nation to implement the highest health and safety protocols through every step of their journey.”

The certification will include a seal of approval “displayed prominently on all tourism-related businesses.”

The program will begin at the airport, where the Aruba Airport Authority has been working to adapt its own practices for the return of tourists. 

That will include new measures like screening, temperature checks, on-site medical professionals, social distance markers, mandatory PPE training for staff and other safeguards at the airport. 

It’s not yet clear what specific requirements Aruba will have for inbound travelers; the first Caribbean destination to announce such a plan was Saint Lucia, which will require, among other conditions, a certificate of a negative COVID-19 test prior to entry. 

The Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association has launched a “Best Practices Guide” for hotels, which will have to change a number of their protocols, from adding plexiglass barriers at desks to using “digital” keys to contactless check-in. 

One top Aruba resort, the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, has already announced a wave of new measures for health and safety, likely setting the standard for what we can expect on the island. 

Aruba officials said the protocols would also extend to Aruba’s national parks and attractions; that will include a permanent ban of ATVs from protected areas. 

For now, Aruba has said its reopening for inbound travel is scheduled between June 15 and July 1. 

Delta has announced it planned to resume flights from Atlanta to Aruba in the second half of June.

“A formal announcement will be made in the coming weeks with the official reopen date,” the Aruba Tourism Authority said. 

For more, visit Aruba. 

— CJ

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