…
El Nuevo Día, a Puerto Rican newspaper, reported
the New … inclusive laws.
Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, 2017. … the LGBTI community and Puerto Ricans with HIV/AIDS … that continue to help LGBTI Puerto Ricans recover from Maria. ( …

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

There’s a reason the British Virgin Islands has long been the Caribbean capital of sailing.

And now the archipelago’s world-class sailing offering is on display again with the upcoming BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival.

The annual event is one of the Caribbean’s must-visit regattas, now in its 48th year of operation.

The weeklong festival begins with March 25 with two days of warmup racing at the new and improved Nanny Cay, followed by three days of some of the best racing in the Caribbean.

Sailors can participate in all five race days or the three-day Regatta, with a huge choice of shoreside accommodations and activities for those enjoying the race from land.

Race events range from the Round Tortola Race for the Nanny Cay Cup to the Scrub Island Invitational to the Spring Regatta itself.

It all adds up to a hard-to-match mix of “warm water, hot racing and cool parties,” as festival organizers describes things.

This year’s event, yet another sign of the BVI’s triumphant tourism recovery, will also include a new Mount Gay Race Day including more than 90 boats and sailors from 20 countries – all of whom will receive the coveted red Mount Gay cap.

“For me it’s a very cool part of the world and a great place to race sailboats,” said Jonathan McKee, a well-known US sailor and Olympian. “There’s a particular poignancy now after the hurricanes to see these communities recover and to be an active part of that recovery, spending our dollars.

For more, visit the BVI Spring Regatta.

— CJ

The post A Must-Visit Regatta in the BVI appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

One of Puerto Rico’s most iconic hotels is set to complete a significant transformation project.

San Juan’s legendary Caribe Hilton will debut a more than $100 million dollar makeover on May 15.

The hotel is among the most famous places to stay in San Juan, from its myriad appearances in major motion pictures to its legacy as one of the purported birthplaces of the Pina Colada cocktail.

The “top-to-bottom” project includes guest room and suite renovations, “reimagined” food and beverage concepts, a new fitness center, a spa and a modernization of the property’s 65,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

“The opening of Caribe Hilton in 1949 was a genesis of tourism that introduced travelers to the island of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean,” said Danny Hughes, Executive Vice President and President for the Americas at Hilton. “The revitalization of this emblematic property is a continuation of that genesis, inspiring much anticipation and pride among the Hilton family, locals, guests and all who have an enduring affinity for this cherished San Juan hotel.”  

Park Hotels and Resorts, which owns the Caribe Hilton, tapped Virginia-based P3 Design Collective to lead the redesign, with a look the company said was “influenced by the vibrant culture, lively colors and rich history of San Juan.”

“We are thrilled to re-introduce the iconic Caribe Hilton to guests and locals alike,” said Thomas J. Baltimore, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Park Hotels & Resorts. “We have worked tirelessly to restore, reimagine and enhance the hotel, and we are confident that the finished product is worthy of the hotel’s legendary history.”

When it completes the project, the Caribe Hilton will become the second historic San Juan hotel to complete a large-scale transformation project, following the recent relaunch of the iconic El San Juan.

That property is also a Hilton, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection.

The new-look Palmeras restaurant at the Caribe Hilton.

“We are as determined as ever to reimagine the guest experience at Caribe Hilton and are eager to introduce Puerto Rico’s new Icon of Hospitality,” said Pablo Torres, general manager, Caribe Hilton. “We have had the pleasure of creating milestone memories for our local and international guests for nearly 70 years, and now we are ready to welcome travelers and our island family to create new ones.”

For more, visit the Caribe Hilton.

— CJ

The post Puerto Rico’s Caribe Hilton Is Set to Debut a $100M Makeover appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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… billion-asset Banco Santander Puerto Rico. Representatives from Popular and … additional lending opportunities in Puerto Rico as federal aid money … auto loans held by Puerto Rican banks reached $4.9 … out those kinks, giving Puerto Ricans keener insight into how …

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

It has long been one of the Caribbean’s most celebrated culinary destinations, and now Anguilla is raising its game again.

The island has launched a new culinary celebration called Extraordinary Eats, a two-week festival highlighting food, culture and the culinary arts.

Extraordinary Eats, which begins April 14, will last through April 28.

“We are excited about this new event, which is grounded in our marketing strategy that identified cuisine as one of our brand pillars, and builds on our well-deserved reputation as an exceptional culinary destination,” said Donna Banks, Chairperson of the Anguilla Tourist Board. “Travelers today will often plan their vacations around culinary experiences, and we are ideally positioned to accommodate these foodie enthusiasts.”

The core of the festival is a large collection of eateries offering prix-fixe lunch and dinner menu for the two weeks, from the Four Seasons to the Malliouhana to popular spots like DaVida’s, Garvey’s and Blanchard’s, among others.

The two-week event will also include Festival del Mar, an annual celebration of “all things from the sea,” on April 20 and 21.

Extraordinary Eats will conclude with “Chefs Extraordinaires,” a grand finale which will include an “epicurean extravaganza with special appearances from Anguilla’s very own homegrown chefs.”

— CJ

The post Anguilla’s New Food Festival appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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