By the Caribbean Journal staff

St Maarten and home sharing giant Airbnb have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at promoting tourism to the island, the two sides announced on Monday.

The MOU establishes a “framework of mutual collaboration and cooperation on areas of common interest, including marketing promotion and good faith engagement,” the two sides said.

“As a government, we are pleased to work with Airbnb to take advantage of the opportunity to create a realistic and balanced approach to improving the destination’s room inventory,” said St Maarten Tourism Minister Stuart Johnson. “Signing the MOU with Airbnb also puts the government on the path to generating increased revenue from our tourism product. It also allows us to further explore and capitalize on the benefits of destination marketing from a major platform such as Airbnb.”

St Maarten saw more than 6,200 Airbnb guest arrivals in 2018, according to company data.

The agreement is the 17th of its kind that Airbnb has signed with a Caribbean destination.

“St. Maarten is an important and growing destination for Airbnb. Today’s announcement brings new opportunities to generate sustainable growth of the local tourism industry through our collaborative efforts. Our people-to-people platform aligns with St. Maarten’s reputation as the friendly island, economically empowering locals while they showcase all that makes St. Maarten unforgettable.” said Carlos Munoz, Airbnb Campaign Manager for Public Policy and Communications in the Caribbean and Central America.

— CJ

The post St Maarten, Airbnb Sign Memorandum of Understanding appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Delta Air Lines is launching a pair of new nonstop routes to the Caribbean.

Beginning Dec. 21, the carrier will launch expand its weekly Saturday service to daily service from Detroit to both Montego Bay, Jamaica and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

That will mean two new daily nonstop flights to two of the most popular destinations in the entire Caribbean region.

Punta Cana is the most popular destination in the Dominican Republic, the most-visited country in the Caribbean region.

“We are very excited to be able to connect our Detroit customers with the Dominican Republic and Jamaica,” said Rodrigo Bertola, Delta’s director for Hispanic South America, Central America and the Caribbean.

Half Moon in Montego Bay, Jamaica, the leading resort in greater Montego Bay.

The move comes as Delta already announced plans to expand its Caribbean network out of Detroit, with a planned launch of weekly Saturday flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico, also beginning Dec. 21.

The moves continues a growing trend of carriers expanding their Caribbean service out of the Midwest, one that has largely featured expansions by low-cost carriers like Allegiant and Sun Country, among others.

And Delta clearly sees what’s happening.

“Delta wants to capitalize on the growing demand in this important market and become the number one choice for travelers from the Midwest region of the United States when they’re traveling to key places in the Caribbean,” Bertola said.

Delta will be operating both routes on Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 180 seats, including 20 in first class and 21 in the company’s Comfort+ class.

A secluded beach in Montego Bay.

“Detroit has become an important bridge to connect the United States with the Caribbean,” Bertola said.

Delta operates nonstop flights to both Jamaica and the Dominican Republic from five cities across the continental United States.

— CJ

The post Delta Launching Two New Daily Caribbean Routes appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

One of the Caribbean’s legends of hospitality will soon be celebrated with a lifetime achievement award.

Grenada’s Sir Royston Hopkin, the chairman and Managing Director of the island’s Spice Island Beach Resort, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit this month.

The award is presented to an individual who “has made significant contributions to the hospitality industry over his or her lifetime through their actions, deeds and accomplishments.”

Hopkin has had a distinguished career in the hospitality and tourism industry in Grenada and the Caribbean with over 55 years of service. 

Hopkin has served the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association since 1970 as; Director, Vice President, President, and Chairman of the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism.

In December 1994, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed upon him the “Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George” for his contributions to Grenada and Caribbean tourism. 

CHRIS will be held in Miami, Florida on May 21-23, 2019, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. 

— CJ

The post This Grenada Hotelier Is Getting a Lifetime Achievement Award appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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