The chief executive officer of the Bermuda Tourism Authority has resigned, the BTA said in a statement. 

Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO Kevin Dallas’ departure takes effect Feb. 26. 

In a statement, the BTA said its senior executive team would carry out interim leadership duties, with plans to launch a “robust executive search” for a new CEO. 

“We wish to thank Kevin for his leadership, and we wish him the very best in his future endeavours,” said BTA Board Chair Paul Telford. “Kevin has been a strong asset and we are extremely grateful for his significant contribution. During his tenure, he was responsible for notable milestones, including development and implementation of the new National Tourism Plan, the arrival of Disney Cruises, and executing host venue partnerships for Bermuda with the America’s Cup, World Triathlon Series, United States Tennis Association, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and the PGA TOUR.”

Dallas had served as CEO of the BTA for three years. 

Over that period, Bermuda saw record numbers for total leisure visitors, with the second-highest number of leisure air arrivals in the island’s history last year. 

“It has been a true privilege to serve as the BTA’s CEO,” said Dallas. “I am incredibly proud of what our team and industry stakeholders have accomplished collaboratively and in a relatively short period, and I remain very positive about the growth potential of Bermuda tourism with the investment we have stimulated. Personally, I’m now looking forward to new opportunities and challenges and am confident this is the right decision. The BTA is in a strong position with a superb team of hard-working people dedicated to the industry’s future. I wish all my colleagues and our stakeholders continued success.”

— CJ

The post Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO Steps Down appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

In a significant achievement for a destination hit hard by the storms of 2017, St Maarten was the fastest-growing tourism destination in the Caribbean last year. 

The destination’s growth rate of 80 percent was the biggest improvement of any destination in the region, according to data released Wednesday by the Caribbean Tourism Organization. 

The British Virgin Islands was the next-fastest-growing destination, with 57.3 percent growth, followed by Dominica at 51.7 percent — all three destinations marking strong recoveries since Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. 

In all, St Maarten reported 319,696 stayover visitors in 2019, along with a total of 1.63 million cruise passengers. 

The latter represented 2.2 percent year-over-year growth for what is one of the most-visited cruise stops in the wider Caribbean region. 

St Maarten’s growth was driven by the all-important United States market — which accounted for 165,743 visitors, representing an improvement of a whopping 145 percent compared to 2018. 

The Canadian market sent 27,736 visitors to St Maarten, a jump of 202.7 percent, while Europe sent 91,814 visitors, a 22.4 percent increase. 

While the increase is of course tied to the lull in visitation in the months following the storms of 2017, St Maarten’s chart-topping increase is a major sign for one of the destination, more impressive given that St Maarten has been working with a provisional version of the Princess Juliana International Airport. 

On that front, airport officials say the rebuilding of the permanent terminal will begin this year, following the signing of a $72 grant reconstruction agreement with the World Bank at the end of 2019. 

St Maarten is positioned to continue strong growth in 2020, with major European carriers returning strong airlift for the season, and a bustling hotel pipeline. 

That includes the transformed Sonesta Maho and Sonesta Ocean Point resorts, both of which have been open again for some time, and newer properties like the highly-anticipated 124-room Morgan resort in Simpson Bay, set to open in the second half of 2020. 

Another new property, the Adonis hotel in Cupecoy, just opened its doors at the beginning of this year. 

Next month, the French side of the island will get a huge injection of energy with the debut of AMResorts’ first-ever property in the French Caribbean, the new Secrets St Martin on Anse Marcel, one that will add to a reinvigorated hotel product led by the sparkling rebuild of the Grand Case Beach Club.

– CJ

The post St Maarten Is the Caribbean’s Fastest-Growing Destination Right Now appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

Another new residential resort is coming to the booming tourism investment market of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos.

It’s called South Bank, a combination residential resort and marina development set on 2,200 feet of edge of Long Bay Beach, on the southern coastline of Providenciales.

The project will consist of a series of “neighborhoods,” all of which will either be beachfront, waterfront or marinafront properties.

The first phase will focus on three neighborhoods: Ocean Estate, with eight planned properties; Lagoon 1, with 12 lagoon villas. along with The Launch, with a collection of boathouses.

South Bank will be managed by Grace Bay Resorts, perhaps best known for the Grace Bay Club, and the company behind another highly-anticipated project, Rock House. which broke ground last summer.

Construction began this week on the first home at South Bank, a five-bedroom villa in the Ocean Estate neighborhood.

The project has made no secret of its desire to target boaters, and that’s where The Launch comes in, a collection of “boathouses,” all of which will include their own dedicated boat docks, along with a central common area with a lap and relaxation pool, sun loungers and hammocks, among other amenities.

South Bank has also sold its first villa in The Lagoon, which include outdoor decks on a beachfront swimming lagoon.

Another five sales are already in process, according to Turks and Caicos Sotheby’s International Realty.

It’s another new project on Long Bay Beach, once a sleepy coastline in Provo that was vaulted to the forefront of the Caribbean’s luxury sector when the Shore Club Turks and Caicos made its debut in 2017.

South Bank is set at the far opposite end of Long Bay towards the south.

More importantly, it’s yet another residential resort in what has arguably become the Caribbean capital of residential resorts – real estate projects with rental programs and hotel amenities that, for many travelers, combine the best of both worlds, with livable floorplans and hotel service.

Turks and Caicos is quietly in the midst of a development boom, from the new Ritz-Carlton Residences on the way to the Andaz Turks and Caicos.

For more, visit South Bank.

— CJ

The post Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Is Getting a New Residential Resort appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico