… mediation, a first for Puerto Rico. All decisions reached during … the Insurance Commissioner of Puerto Rico, said in a phone … 20, 2017, destroying Puerto Rico’s power grid and forcing … Pernas, executive director of Puerto Rico’s Association of Insurance …
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By Caribbean News Now contributor ST JOHN’S, Antigua –Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has advised the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) that his government will not be issuing a vesting order to facilitate the Bank of Nova Scotia’s divestment of its Antigua holdings about which there was no consultation. The prime minister on […]
The post Antigua-Barbuda warns that it will not issue vesting order for Scotiabank sale appeared first on Caribbean News Now.
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By Ray Chickrie Caribbean News Now contributor PARAMARIBO, Suriname — The government of Suriname led by President Desi Bouterse is seeking permission from Parliament to borrow US$205 million from the Exim Bank of China to expand and modernize the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (JAP) because the constitution of Suriname sets a limit on how […]
The post Suriname seeks US$205 million for airport expansion and modernisation appeared first on Caribbean News Now.
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By the Caribbean Journal staff
Virgin Voyages has more big plans in Miami.
Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson and Miami officials have announced plans to build a dedicated Virgin Voyages cruise terminal at PortMiami, slated for completion in November 2021.
“Miami is an incredible city and one of my favorite places to work and play,” Branson said. “From our headquarters for Virgin Hotels, Virgin Voyages and now Virgin Trains USA, South Florida has quickly become another home for Virgin brands in the leisure travel sector.”
A rendering of the new terminal.
Virgin Voyages’ as-yet-unnamed second ship will homeport at the new Miami terminal in the fall-winter cruise season of 2021-22, while the company’s first ship, the Scarlet Lady, will continue to sail from Miami throughout 2021.
“South Florida is our home, and with our fleet now growing to four ships, we’re humbled and thankful to soon have a gorgeous new terminal overlooking the Miami skyline, an incredible view that will set the stage for the alluring journey that we will take our sailors on,” said Virgin Voyages President and CEO Tom McAlpin.
The Scarlet Lady is set to debut in 2020 in Miami.
The new 100,000-square-foot terminal is slated to begin construction next year, with completion set for November 2021, pending final Miami-Dade County Commission approval.
It will be located on the northwest side of PortMiami, set in a “palm grove” style design concept developed by Miami-based design firm Arquitectonica.
A rendering of the Scarlet Lady ship.
It will include two stories, with a plaza-like feel and designated areas for ride-sharing, provisioning and VIP drop-offs.
It will also feature a rooftop designed to resemble a palm tree grove, with lighting at night that will shine brightly across from the downtown Miami skyline.
“It’s gratifying to see Virgin Voyages expand its presence in Miami-Dade County,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. “By constructing a new cruise terminal at PortMiami, Virgin Voyages is signaling its confidence in our thriving community, which is not only the Cruise Capital of the World but also the Gateway to the Americas.”
Virgin’s strikingly-designed ships will carry more than 2,770 “sailors” and 1,160 crew, according to the company.
Virgin Voyages cruise line also announced that it would launch bookings at the beginning of next year.
Bookings for the inaugural season, which will include calls to Cuba, will open Feb. 14 for the general public.
— CJ
The post Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages to Build Cruise Terminal in Miami appeared first on Caribbean Journal.
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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor
It’s time for the region to make a greater investment in Caribbean people, according to Patricia Affonso-Dass, the new president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.
Affonso-Dass, who will address this week’s 9th Tourism Human Resources Conference hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, applauded the work of CTO, CHTA and many companies and destinations in the region which are developing and recognizing tourism industry talent.
“In spite of our small size, we have produced some of the most creative and talented people in the worlds of music, sports, arts, business and education,” said Affonso-Dass, who grew up in Dominica, Trinidad, Antigua and Guyana, before moving to Barbados where she has worked for the past 20 years.
Speaking ahead of this week’s conference, she challenged regional leaders to build on this foundation with a greater commitment to investing in education and training, sharing and recognizing best practices, and shaping meaningful partnerships between business, education, training institutions, labor unions and governments.
“A new level of commitment and engagement towards the development of our people must be commensurate with our recognition that our people are our greatest resource and we must challenge ourselves, our businesses, and institutions to recognize and develop not just our general workforce but most especially our young leaders,” she said.
Affonso-Dass, who is the Group General Manager of Ocean Hotels in Barbados, said Caribbean people must “believe in one another and invest in each other so that we can elevate our delivery of world-class experiences for those who invest their hard-earned dollars in a vacation experience in the region.”
During the conference, themed “Building a Resilient, High-performing and Sustainable Caribbean Tourism Workforce for Global Competitiveness,” the veteran hotelier will address the importance of harnessing the energy and passion of the region’s tourism workforce to innovate.
“Now is not the time to be complacent on this issue, but to reflect on the accomplishments of our people and build on them,” she said. “We are a world-class region with a rich heritage and legacy — so we must continue to embed excellence and innovation within our culture and across our industry to stay ahead of our competition.”
The post CHTA President: It’s Time for Investment in Caribbean People appeared first on Caribbean Journal.
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