… dozen community organizations, including the Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago, the National … of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, the Puerto Rican Bar Association and the Puerto Rican Cultural … as a child and left Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. “And here …

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There’s no more discerning audience of frequent travelers than subscribers to Caribbean Journal, the world’s largest website covering Caribbean travel.

And with your help, we our proud to present the 2019 edition of the Caribbean Journal Travelers’ Choice Awards, celebrating the best in Caribbean travel as chosen by our loyal readers.

Thousands of Caribbean Journal subscribers voted in this year’s Awards, selecting from a highly competitive field of nominees chosen by CJ’s editorial staff.

“The Caribbean travel industry has never been more competitive, from its luxury hotels to its airlines, and the bar continues to rise,” said Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal. “The world’s largest community of travelers to the Caribbean has spoken, and spoken passionately, and we are proud to announce this year’s winners — in other words, the best of the Caribbean.”

See the full list of winners below.

Best Luxury Hotel: The Shore Club, Turks and Caicos

Best All-Inclusive Resort: Galley Bay, Antigua

Best Family Resort: The Sands at Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos

Best Adults-Only Resort: Serenity at Coconut Bay, Saint Lucia

Best Boutique Hotel: The Fred, St Croix, USVI

Best Beach: Grace Bay Beach, Turks and Caicos

Best Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

Best Small Cruise Line: Regent Seven Seas

Best Cruise Port: St Maarten

Best Honeymoon Destination: Saint Lucia

Best Wedding Destination: Aruba

Best Meetings Destination: Puerto Rico

Best Restaurant: Graycliff, The Bahamas

Best Golf Destination: Nassau/Paradise Island

Best Adventure Destination: The British Virgin Islands

Best Cultural Destination: Martinique

Best Airline: Cayman Airways

Best Villa Rental Company: St Barth Properties

Best Villa Destination: St Barth

Best Rum Distillery: Mount Gay, Barbados

The post The Caribbean Journal Travelers’ Choice Awards 2019 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The US Virgin Islands is making hotel development a strategic priority, according to Governor Albert Bryan, Jr.

With few new hotels built in the territory in the last few decades, Bryan said he wants to change that, pointing to the economic power of hotel development in the Caribbean.

“It’s the ability to house people who shop, eat, want to play, want to have different experiences in the Virgin Islands … and that’s where we derive great economic benefit as a government and a community,” Bryan said at the CHRIS conference in Miami this week.

Bryan said he would personally work to streamline official procedures so “hotel developers could get new hotels operational quickly.”

That includes promoting existing incentives for hotel investors.

 “To have a destination in the United States, where you can get 100 percent exemption from your state taxes and 90 percent exemption from your federal income taxes, is just incredible,” Bryan said.

It’s part of a wider tourism plan to present St Thomas as a “top-tier tourism product,” while developing “distinct identities” for St Croix and St John.

The post The USVI Is Making a New Hotel Development Push appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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… have hindered efforts to improve Puerto Rican infrastructure.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D … sufficient resources to ensure that Puerto Rico will receive nutritional assistance [and … assistance program that’ll feed Puerto Rican residents, the bill includes $5 …

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Continuing what has been a full-fledged airlift boom for Jamaica in 2019, the island got another new route this weekend with the launch of Sun Country Airlines’ new service to the island.

The fast-expanding carrier has officially launched its newest Caribbean route with nonstop flights from Dallas-Fort Worth to Montego Bay, Jamaica’s tourism hub.

The new service is operating twice weekly, with flights on Mondays and Fridays, according to the company.

It continues what has been a concerted push by Sun Country to grow its Caribbean footprint that began last year with new routes to Belize and St Kitts.

Jamaican tourism officials say the destination has secured more than 1.4 million seats for the upcoming winter season.

— CJ

The post Jamaica Gets Another New Nonstop Flight appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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