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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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.

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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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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

The post Southwest Airlines Launching New Nonstop Flights to Punta Cana, Cancun appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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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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