By the Caribbean Journal staff

In the biggest hotel transaction in the Caribbean so far in 2018, Playa Hotels and Resorts has acquired a substantial portfolio of resorts in Jamaica.

The company has acquired the Hilton Rose Hall, the Jewel Runaway Bay, the Jewel Dunn’s River, the Jewel Paradise Cove and an 88-room hotel tower and spa at the Jewel Grande Montego Bay.

Playa will manage all five properties, and will manage the entire Jewel Grande resort at closing, according to a release.

The deal also includes two developable land sites with a potential density of up to 700 rooms.

The Hilton Rose Hall.

Under the terms of the sale, Sagicor is receiving 20 million shares of Playa common stock and $100 million in cash. That represents a total of more than $300 million USD.

Playa is best known as the owner and operator of Hyatt’s Ziva and Zilara all-inclusive properties in the Caribbean, including in Montego Bay and Cancun.

“Playa’s development track record, management expertise, strong regional presence and deep customer relationships will contribute significantly to improving the Sagicor portfolio performance,” said Bruce Wardinski, Chairman and CEO of Playa Hotels & Resorts.  “Most importantly, this transaction provides Playa with multi-year built-in growth opportunities, which we expect will drive outstanding financial returns,” Wardinski continued.

Playa also recently launched resorts under the Panama Jack brand, and took over management of the Sanctuary Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic late last year.

The post Playa Acquires Five Hotel Properties in Jamaica appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Jamaica is reporting a big increase in visitor arrivals to the island for the first two months of the year.

The announcement came from Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett at a cocktail reception at the Terra Nova in Kingston this weekend.

“We ended January at 12 percent over last year, and February is still going ahead of last year,” Bartlett said.

The reception was hosted by the Jamaica Tourist Board in celebration of Minister Bartlett being named Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Year 2017 by Caribbean Journal.

Data from the JTB showed that a record 4.3 million tourists visited Jamaica in 2017, providing a revenue flow of $3 billion.

our partners, and they are understanding that what we are doing is to maintain Jamaica

Bartlett said that the tourism industry is a “significant driver” of Jamaica’s economy, noting that it has been the fastest growing sector, and the largest contributor to GDP, over the last 10 years.

He said the industry employs 10 percent of the global workforce, and accounts for more than 30 percent of trade in services.

“Tourism today has become a mammoth industry, that has been embraced by more than 79 countries,” he said.

The post Jamaica Tourism Surging So Far in 2018 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

One of Anguilla’s hottest new resorts is readying for a relaunch.

The Reef by CuisinArt, which first opened in late 2016 and has been closed in the wake of Hurricane Irma, is planning to reopen on April 1.

The resort, a modern, sleek property, has a total of 80 guest rooms set across five buildings, four of which are right on the beach.

The Reef’s sister, hotel, the landmark CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa, will not be opening until November 2018, according to the hotel’s Web site.

The Reef by CuisinArt.

Another top Anguilla hotel will make its debut in March, as the Four Seasons Anguilla is set to open March 23.

The island’s award-winning Zemi Beach House is already open, having relaunched Feb. 15.

The post Anguilla’s Reef By CuisinArt Set to Reopen appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba has named a new Minister of Tourism.

Danguillaume P. Oduber has been appointed as the island’s new Minister of Tourism, Public Health, and Sports.

“It is an honor to congratulate Mr. Danguillaume Oduber on his appointment of Minister of Tourism, Public Health, and Sports, and we welcome him to this prestigious position,” said Ronella Tijn Asjoe-Croes, CEO of the Aruba Tourism Authority. “With a commitment to excellence and growth of our country, we look forward to working with Mr. Danguillaume Oduber and continuing to elevate Aruba’s tourism industry.”

Oduber first entered parliament in 2013.

“The island of Aruba is my passion and I treasure its people. As the appointed Minster of Tourism, Public Health, and Sports for the island, I am humbled by the opportunity to lead and foster such a complex industry. It is a tremendous privilege that I am honored to fulfill,” Oduber said in a statement.

The post Aruba Names New Tourism Minister appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The best of Jamaican tourism was on display in Kingston this weekend as Caribbean Journal presented the Caribbean Travel Awards to Jamaica’s winning contingent, highlighted by Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett receiving the award for Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Year.

Last year’s fourth annual Caribbean Travel Awards awarded trophies to Jamaica’s Round Hill as Caribbean Hotel of the Year; the Spa at Jewel Grande Montego Bay as Caribbean Spa of the Year and Minister Edmund Bartlett as the Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Year, and the Caribbean Journal executive team traveled to Kingston to officially hand over the awards.

The gala event at the Terra Nova in Kingston was a who’s who of Jamaica, as many of the legends of Jamaican tourism came out to support Bartlett for his win.

Caribbean Journal Editor and Publisher Alexander Britell and Managing Editor Guy Britton presented the awards.

From left: Caribbean Journal’s Alexander Britell, Round Hill’s Lindaw Lawrence, Caribbean Journal’s Guy Britton.

Linda Lawrence, director of sales and marketing at Round Hill, was on hand to receive the award for the winning hotel; Charmaine Deane and Siena Creasy accepted the award on behalf of Jewel Grande.

“Jamaica sent a powerful message in the most recent Caribbean Travel Awards,” Britell said. “These victories are a sign of the strength of the Jamaican tourism industry today.”

But the biggest star was definintely Bartlett, one of the titans of Caribbean tourism and a passionate advocate for Jamaica and its tourism brand.

Accepting the award, Bartlett hailed the remarkable growth of Jamaican tourism over the decades, pointing to the importance and power of tourism to contribute to the economy.

“It was an honor to celebrate Jamaica and particularly the work of Minister Bartlett,” Britton said. “Jamaica has long set a standard for the Caribbean tourism industry, and that very much remains the case.”

Caribbean Journal is the world’s largest website covering Caribbean travel.

The post A Celebration of Tourism in Jamaica appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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