By the Caribbean Journal staff

Dallas-based Aimbridge Hospitality, the largest independent hotel management firm in the United States, is merging with multinational hotel firm Interstate Hotels and Resorts.

It’s a major move for Aimbridge, which just announced a significant expansion in the Caribbean with six new resorts in its regional portfolio.

The combined company will manage a total of 1,400 branded and independent hotel properties around the world.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Aimbridge co-founder and CEO Dave Johnson will become the new CEO of the combined business, while Interstate President Michael Deitemeyer will become the company’s global president.

“Aimbridge is thrilled about the opportunity to join forces with Interstate to enable us to bring even more value to our hotel owners,” Johnson said. “Our combined scale will ensure access to more robust data and the best talent to further differentiate us as leading hospitality managers. Personally, I am excited to work with Mike Deitemeyer, a good friend and well-respected industry leader.”

The deal, which is still subject to regulatory approval, is slated for completion by the end of this year.

— CJ

The post Aimbridge Hospitality Is Merging with Interstate Hotels appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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… widespread damage. It appears Puerto Rico missed the worst of … .
When Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico two years ago, it … moved further away from Puerto Rico which left many relieved. … of emergency declaration for Puerto Rico. The concern regarding Dorian …

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The newly-renamed Hurricane Dorian has exited the Caribbean Sea, heading into the Atlantic, leaving a trail of heavy rain.

While parts of The Bahamas could remain in the crosshairs of the storm, the region emerged from Dorian largely unscathed and without major incidents, damage or injuries, although there were periodic power outages in the region, according to the most recent reports.

Indeed, Puerto Rico, the only Caribbean territory that faced something of a “direct” hit from the storm, fared rather well, with Governor Wanda Vazquez Garced announcing that public schools and government offices would reopen on Thursday for normal business.

The storm did mean massive amounts of rain in the southeastern Caribbean and, most recently, heavy wind and rain in the USVI, Puerto Rico, the BVI, Vieques and Culebra.

On Wednesday night, the storm was about 60 miles northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, moving away from Puerto Rico and the USVI into the Atlantic.

While the path of the storm in the Atlantic was slated to keep it well east of the southeastern and central Bahamas later this week, parts of the northern Bahamas like Abaco and Grand Bahama, remained in the projected path of the storm later this weekend.

Much can change over the next few days, however, as the storm is currently projected to make landfall on the east coast of Florida.

All hurricane warnings and watches have been discontinued in the wider Caribbean region.

It was a strong message of the Caribbean’s renewed focus on storm resilience and readiness in the wake of the crippling storms of 2017.

“The system allowed us to mobilize and focus on some areas,” said Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley. “The work done made a significant difference in our state of readiness.”

— CJ

The post Hurricane Dorian Leaves the Caribbean, Heads for the Atlantic appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Fort Lauderdale-based Silver Airways has continued streamlining its Caribbean operations following last year’s acquisition of leading regional carrier Seaborne.

The company has announced that bookings for San Juan, Puerto Rico-based Seaborne’s current flight network in the Caribbean will now all be hosted on Silver’s reservation system, according to a statement.

The change applies to all Seaborne flights in the Caribbean with the exception of its seaplane operations between St Croix and St Thomas, along with Vieques Air Link routes to Culebra and Vieques.

The change applies to all flights beginning Sept. 1, according to the company.

— CJ

The post Silver Airways Streamlines Caribbean Operations appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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… Hannas contributed to this report.Puerto Rico, which is still struggling to … passes over western and central Puerto Rico.Puerto Rican Governor Wanda Vazquez has declared …

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