… Parkway on Sunday for the Puerto Rican Day Parade.
The parade kicked … and largest outdoor event celebrating Puerto Rican and Latino heritage.
The parade …
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Monthly Archives: September 2019
Hilton Is Opening a New Dominican Republic All-Inclusive
By Alexander Britell
Hilton is adding a new Dominican Republic resort to its growing portfolio of all-inclusive properties in the wider Caribbean region.
The dual-resort Hilton La Romana will be opening its new family-friendly section on Dec. 1, according to Playa Hotels and Resorts, which is managing the property.
The property already opened its adults-only resort last month in a setting on the beach in Bayahibe.
The newest Hilton will include five eateries, a 24-hour coffee house, a fitness center, four pools, a casino and a 21,000-square-foot spa.
That will be complemented by 8,000 square feet of meeting space.
It’s the second resort in what will be a broad all-inclusive expansion in the Caribbean for Hilton, as part of the company’s strategic alliance with all-inclusive giant Playa.
The adults-only section debuted last month in the Dominican Republic.
Last year, Hilton rebranded the former The Royal resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico as the Hilton Playa del Carmen, the first fruit of the Hilton-Playa alliance.
That agreement, signed in September 2018, will ultimately result in a total of 10 new all-inclusive resorts in the wider Caribbean-Mexico region, all of which are slated to debut by 2025.
And it’s part of what is a larger all-inclusive development push by Playa, which is set to open another two all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic in November with the debut of the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana and the Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana resorts in greater Punta Cana.
The beach in Bayahibe.
It’s all part of what is a booming all-inclusive industry in the Caribbean, as hospitality brands continue to acknowledge the demand for all-inclusive options.
Indeed, that’s why Marriott, the world’s largest hotel company, announced this summer its own plans to launch a major foray into all-inclusive vacations.
Unsurprisingly, that will include a 650-room Autograph Collection resort in the Dominican Republic, set to open its doors in 2022.
The Dominican Republic continues to pace the rest of the region in its hotel development, with a significant focus on all-inclusive resorts.
For more, visit the Hilton La Romana.
The post Hilton Is Opening a New Dominican Republic All-Inclusive appeared first on Caribbean Journal.
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Hyatt Is Launching a New Hotel Brand
By the Caribbean Journal staff
Hyatt Hotels is launching a new brand in its global portfolio: Caption by Hyatt.
The new “lifestyle” brand aims to “bring people closer together, allowing them to work, eat or socialize in comfortable, flexible, communal spaces that encourage meaningful conversations and connections,” according to a statement from the company.
Most notably, Union Square Hospitality Group, Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer’s company, consulted on the design and curation of the brand’s food and beverage concepts.
“At Hyatt, we believe in the power of personal connection,” said Heather Geisler, vice president of global brands at Hyatt. “By listening to our guests, we know that whether they are traveling alone or with a friend, they are looking to connect with others in an environment that is authentic and approachable. The Caption by Hyatt brand will invite guests and locals alike to hang out, enjoy a cocktail and catch up with a friend, new or old, in a space that is intended for them.”
While Hyatt has not yet announced the first destinations for the brand, Jim Chu, global head of development for Hyatt, said the brand was meant to be a “global growth driver” in “dense urban markets, emerging neighborhoods and high-foot-traffic areas.”
In the Caribbean, bustling urban centers like San Juan, Santo Domingo or Cartagena would seem like potential fits at first glance; indeed, San Juan and the rest of Puerto Rico boast the most diverse Hyatt portfolio of any Caribbean destination.
“We believe the brand is primed for strong growth as it can flex and adapt to suit the needs of different locations and markets and can offer a more sustainable approach to design and operations,” Chu said.
— CJ
The post Hyatt Is Launching a New Hotel Brand appeared first on Caribbean Journal.
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Puerto Rico proposes plan to reduce its debt by 65 percent
… board with oversight over Puerto Rico’s finances proposed a … only made worse when Puerto Rico was struck by deadly … to $12 billion.
Puerto Rico declared bankruptcy in May 2017 … The move was opposed by Puerto Rico’s previous governor, Ricardo …
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The Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas Is Opening in November
By Alexander Britell
What is almost certainly the most anticipated reopening of 2019 will be happening earlier than expected.
The long-awaited return of The Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas is set for Nov. 22, Caribbean Journal has learned.
The reinvigorated resort’s debut is actually earlier than had been announced; the leading USVI resort had been slated to debut Dec. 1, 2019.
That means the property will be open for Thanksgiving, which will come with a full-fledged celebration of the national holiday, from Thanksgiving Sorrel welcome cocktails to Thanksgiving-inspired dinner cruises.
The new-look pool.
The resort, which shuttered in the wake of Hurricane Irma in 2017, had long been the leading luxury hotel in St Thomas and among the most renowned resorts in the United States Virgin Islands.
The property has undergone what parent company Marriott is calling an “extensive renovation” to the entire property — to the tune of $100 million.
What a room will look like at the new-look Ritz-Carlton St Thomas.
The changes reveal “a refined, island-inspired experience” with a “new era of refinement,” according to a company description.
The reimagined resort includes four eateries, including a new Sicilian restaurant called Alllro; a remodeled infinity pool along with a new family-friendly pool with a water slide; a new luxury catamaran for daily cruises and tours; and a transformed club lounge.
Inside a new bathroom at the resort.
Other amenities include daily rum tastings, daily use of non-motorized watersports, tennis courts and even “resort garden” tours.
Ritz-Carlton has now released the newest images of the resort’s upgraded rooms, featuring a bright, cool, modern-tropical aesthetic.
The resort’s return will be part of a busy month for the USVI’s hotel sector; in the first quarter of 2020, the venerable Renaissance St Croix resort will be opening its doors, too.
For more, visit the Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas.
— CJ
The post The Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas Is Opening in November appeared first on Caribbean Journal.
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