Southwest Airlines is continuing its rapid expansion push in the Caribbean with a trio of new Caribbean routes.

The company, which is rolling out a wave of new flights on June 4, has announced plans to launch new daily nonstop flights from Fort Lauderdale to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, beginning in November.

Southwest is also launching new weekly Saturday flights to Cancun, Mexico out of both Nashville and St. Louis, with the new service set to launch on Nov. 11.

Cancun.

Southwest’s Fort Lauderdale expansion, which will also include new daily service to San Jose, Costa Rica, will mean the carrier will fly to a tlta of 10 destinations out of that hub.

Starting rates on the Punta Cana flights start at $129 one way, with introductory rates for the Cancun flights at $149 one way.

Southwest is also expected to launch flights from Fort Lauderdale to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, beginning on Nov. 5.

“Our position as hometown carrier both here in Nashville and in St. Louis with more than a 100 flights a day this summer from both airports makes this weekly shortcut to Cancun a natural addition for our loyal Customers to hit another popular beach destination,” said Dave Harvey, who oversees International Planning as Southwest Airlines’ Managing Director of Business Development. “At the same time, we’re adding daily service in our established gateway in Fort Lauderdale as part of a larger effort to bring meaningful international service to Customers coast-to-coast who have made us America’s largest carrier.”

Heading to these destinations? Check out the top all inclusive Punta Cana resorts and the best Cancun hotels.

— Alexander Britell

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InterContinental Hotels Group has named a new CEO, following the retirement of Richard Solomons.

Solomons has been succeeded by Keith Barr, a member of IHG’s executive committee who has spent nearly 17 years with the company.

Barr will take up the position and become a member of IHG’s board on July 1.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Richard, and on behalf of the Board and our colleagues I want to thank him for his successful leadership of IHG. Richard has been an outstanding CEO and a driving force behind IHG becoming the leading global organization it is today,” said Patrick Cescau, chairman of IHG. “He has created exceptional shareholder value and as CFO successfully steered the group through the financial crisis.  He has executed our winning strategy with a sharp focus on developing our brands, guest experience and loyalty proposition, as well as the digital transformation of the business. Although we are sorry to see him go, we respect and understand his decision to retire and wish him all the very best for the future.”

The company said Barr’s appointment came as the result of a “rigorous process.”

“I am honored to be appointed CEO of one of the world’s leading hotel companies and to have the opportunity to lead IHG. Building on Richard’s leadership and IHG’s strong performance track record, we will continue to focus on developing our portfolio of brands, delivering consistent, high-quality growth and creating value,” Barr said in a statement.

— Caribbean Journal Staff

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Cayman’s Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa has appointed Virgil M. Napier to its team in the role of Director of Sales & Marketing.

Napier comes to the Grand Cayman resort from the Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, CA, bringing with him more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry.

With specialties in revenue management, group sales and luxury leisure sales, Napier will lead all sales and marketing initiatives for Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa’s growth.

Kimpton Seafire was named Caribbean Hotel of the Year in 2016 by Caribbean Journal.

Napier’s experience includes time as Director of Sales & Marketing at upscale properties such as Rosewood at Baha Mar, W Retreat & Spa Vieques Island and Viceroy Anguilla, along with his years as Director within the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co.

“Virgil’s track record with well-respected luxury properties speaks for itself,” said Steven André, General Manager of Seafire. “His passion and sales and marketing expertise are a perfect fit for Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa as we move forward this year.”

— Dana Niland, CJ Contributor

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Paradise Island was originally the private estate of a Swedish millionaire and called Hog Island. But today Paradise Island, the one-square-mile oasis just offshore from Nassau, Bahamas, lives up to its current name, offering sun-seeking vacationers miles of idyllic white-sand beaches; the Caribbean’s largest casino; world-class restaurants; and a wealth of resorts to make your island base. So which one should you choose? You can’t go wrong at any of these, which we consider the five Paradise Island hotels.

One & Only Ocean Club For more than half a century this classic Caribbean cloister has welcomed well-heeled guests to what was once the estate of A&P heir Huntington Hartford. Recently given a contemporary overhaul complete with a new oceanview infinity pool and Ocean Pool Grill as well as rebuilt Hartford Wing rooms that now feature Japanese toilets, the retreat, famous for its formal gardens featuring 12^th-century French statuary, is the finest on the island, the crown jewel among Paradise Island hotels. (The hotel’s Dune restaurant, a Jean-Georges outpost, is also a major highlight).

Atlantis The biggest game in town, 3,400-room Atlantis is to the Bahamas what Disney is to Orlando: the place every little (and big) kid wants to visit, with a vast waterscape of lagoons, aquariums and waterfalls; a 141-acre water park, Aquaventure; and the the top casino in the region. There are also a range of options, from the luxe The Cove to the signature Royal Towers. But the 20-year-old isn’t resting on its laurels: It recently launched a new movement to “nurture the Bahamian creative and entrepreneurial community, preserve the oral and visual history of the country and create a platform for Bahamian makers to share their works with the world” with its “Come to Life” cultural initiative.

Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas Less than a year old, this adults-only all-inclusive resort is the first new resort on Paradise Island since 2007. Facing Nassau Harbour, the 250-room playground boasts three restaurants, a poolside pizzeria and grille, a beach bar and a lobby bar, and it’s only a 10-minute walk from the sands of Cabbage Beach. The pool deck is stunning, and the food is a standout, too.

Comfort Suites Paradise Island This little island’s biggest secret has to be the value proposition at this 223-room hotel, where rates include complimentary access to all the amenities of neighboring Atlantis resort plus free WI-FI and daily hot breakfast. Families won’t find a better deal.

Riu Palace Paradise Island On the spectacular Cabbage Beach, this Atlantis neighbor offers great value for the budget-conscious visitor, with reasonable everything-included rates and 379 modern rooms.

The post The Top 5 Paradise Island Hotels appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Locale, a new “limited service” hotel brand, is coming to the Cayman Islands.

Howard Hospitality Group has announced the launch of Locale, a new kind of hotel concept that will consist of “live and work” guestrooms and lofts catering to the business travel set.

Locale “appeals to the millennial mindset while creating an open inclusive concept for savvy travelers from all walks of life,” the company said in a release.

The hotel will feature food and beverage concepts including Bonfire, an “urban Italian kitchen,” and Swirl, an artisanal Colombian gelato shop.

Locale Grand Cayman will occupy a spot on West Bay Road along the Seven Mile Beach corridor, with a projected opening date in September.

“We are thrilled to officially announce the launch of our new brand, Locale, which lets us continue growing our footprint in Grand Cayman while introducing something truly fresh and new to the market here,” said Howard Sitzer, Chief Executive Officer for HHG. “Grand Cayman is a hotbed of international tourists today, especially millennial business travelers frequenting the island for combined ‘bleisure’ trips.  We have begun crafting a uniquely modern hotel brand we feel will be groundbreaking and inspirational.”

Locale Grand Cayman is the first of what’s expected to be a larger portfolio, with each future property boasting its own distinctive personality.

“We believe there is a definite appetite amongst frequent travelers today, especially those seeking unique out-of-the-box experiences, to be part of a cultural shift – a movement, really – creating the hotel brand of the future,” Sitzer said. “Based on the feedback we’ve already received from core target groups, we believe the future is incredibly bright for a model like Locale and we are excited to see where this takes us, as we eye additional destinations.”

The company, which is also behind the island’s Margaritaville resort, said it would announce more details on Locale Grand Cayman’s on-site amenities and activities in the coming months.

Don’t miss our list of the top Grand Cayman hotels.

– CJ

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