There were 15,781 hotel rooms in the Caribbean and Mexico region in construction last month, according to the latest data from analytics firm STR.

That total came across 86 projects, representing a 23.2 percent increase compared to April 2016.

Overall, there were 40,657 rooms in 222 hotel projects under contract in the wider region last month, a 41.6 percent increase compared to April 2016.

Under Contract data includes projects in the In Construction, Final Planning and Planning stages but does not include projects in the Unconfirmed stage.

The Dominican Republic led the Caribbean with 1,025 rooms in construction across four projects, the only Caribbean market to top 1,000 rooms in construction last month.

— Caribbean Journal staff

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One of the Caribbean’s greenest resorts is now doing its part for the blue, too.

The Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort in Aruba has officially put lionfish on the menu, in an effort to help with the fight against the invasive species.

The property’s Elements Restaurant is now serving lionfish ceviche, made with lemon juice, avocado, shallots, tomato, virgin olive oil and herbs, paired with fresh tortilla chips.

The Elements restaurant at Bucuti & Tara.

Bucuti is sourcing the lionfish from a local fishery that works with the Aruba Reef Care foundation to catch the threatening species.

In recent years, lionfish, which has few natural predators, has proliferated around the Caribbean, breeding quickly and often evading capture.

Thankfully, it’s also delicious, and the hope is that more restaurants can put lionfish on the menu to help raise awareness and mitigate the scourge of the fish in the region.

The post This Hotel Is Now Serving Lionfish Ceviche appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The historic Condado Plaza Hilton in San Juan has been listed for sale, Caribbean Journal has learned.

The 572-room property, which first opened in 1964, is set in the heart of the increasingly hip Condado neighborhood of Puerto Rico’s capital.

It includes 54,000 square feet of flexible meeting space (the largest of all hotels in San Juan), along with eight food and beverage outlets, four outdoor swimming pools, a fitness center and a naturally-protected swimmable beach.

JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group’s Andrew Dickey is the listing partner on the property, which is also available unencumbered of brand and management.

“The Condado Plaza Hilton represents a rare opportunity to acquire a premier beachfront property with value enhancement optionality,” Dickey said. “The recent sale of the nearby San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino demonstrates that institutional capital is returning to this market, which has no new supply, exceptional airlift and the best tax incentives in the United States.”

The two-bedroom property is being sold via auction, with a participation deposit of $250,000; Tuesday, June 27 is the indicative bid due date.

See the full listing here.

— Alexander Britell

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By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

We’ve heard of hotel pets (Ziggy, the dog at Montpelier Plantation & Beach on Nevis springs to mind) but we’ve never heard of hotels with an entire collection on hand for guests’ enjoyment.

Until now.

At the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, guests can pet, pose with or simply stare in awe at the family of 13 parrots, cockatoos and macaws that live within the hotel’s lush beachfront property. Housed in a clutch of cages beneath the shade of a broad-leafed tree, the plumed pets are cared for by “bird whisperer” Victor Hernandez, who also leads a complimentary interaction session every day (except Wednesday) at 11:00am sharp.

Victor Hernandez

Hernandez says he’s always loved birds, and has worked with them now for 30 years. He started at a neighboring Palm Beach hotel but for the past 17 he’s been at the Hilton, where raising a second family of 13 green-winged, blue and gold macaws; silver-crested and umbrella cockatoos; Amazon parrots; and a red-billed toucan is literally his full-time job.

The birds all come from various South American countries and have been raised entirely in captivity. They’re fed commercially produced pellets, fruit, vegetables and mixed seeds during Hernandez’ half-hour-long sessions, a man-meets-birds-meets-guests love fest that involves letting them fly free from their cages to sit on guest’s shoulders or pose on their forearms for gleeful Instagram photos and “OMG, look at me!” Snapchats.

Clearly a photography buff as well as a birding expert, Hernandez knows exactly how to pose you and your new feathered friends for maximum impact. With the bird on your arm and your arm held high, walk into the breeze and the bird will likely unfurl his wings, displaying its impressive span (and your impressed face) for the camera and all your Facebook fans. Alternatively, Hernandez will pose you meticulously on the rocks by a lagoon-style pool, placing a bird each on your shoulder and on one calf for a photo you (or your twitter followers) won’t soon forget.

CJ Travel Editor Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon meets some new friends.

It’s all in a day’s work for Hernandez, whose charges follow him around like children, constantly demanding his attention along with their lunch. But since the lifespan of a macaw can be as long as 70 years, many of the birds will still be around long after their human caretaker has left this earth. But one gets the feeling that it doesn’t bother Hernandez. Because, like any parent, he fully expects his “children” – feathered or not – to outlive him.

The post The Bird Whisperer of Aruba appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Air France has debuted new long-haul travel cabins on its flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Cancun, Mexico.

The new cabins on the carrier’s Boeing 777s include 28 seats in business, 24 seats in premium economy and 260 seats in economy for the summer season.

Air France offers three weekly flights to Cancun.

In business, the new cabin’s seats adapt to the shape of each individual, from seating position to a true two-meter long bed, including a soft duvet and XXL-sized feather down pillows. Other amenities include a 16-inch HD touch screen.

Premium economy travelers get more comfortable seat cushions and a multi-position footrest, while economy travelers now have a fully revised seat with more legroom, a new seat cushion, more comfortable headrests and a wider tray table.

— Caribbean Journal staff

The post Air France Adds New Cabins to Cancun Flights appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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