By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Is this the beginning of a major partnership?

The Chairman of Caribbean Airlines, Ronnie Mohammed, visited China this week to meet with officials from the NHA Group and Air China.

The delegation, which is led by Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, met with the Chairman of the HNA Group, Chen Feng.

The HNA Group owns over 1,200 aircraft, and is a major shareholder in international hotel chains.

It is also the largest tour operating company in China.

The HNA Group has been invited to establish code sharing and interline agreements with Caribbean Airlines, through its international airline and tourism industry affiliates, according to a statement from the company.

Mohammed also met with senior officials from Air China, the Vice Chairman, of the Commercial Committee, Rao Xinyu and the Deputy Director Bilateral and Government Affairs, International Affairs and Cooperation, Zhang Baoru.

The meeting explored the possibility of code sharing and interlining opportunities between the two air carriers.

Air China is China’s sole flag carrier and a member of the world’s largest airline alliance, the Star Alliance.

On its own, Air China serves 185 destinations in 40 countries and regions, of which 66 are international destinations, including Havana, Cuba and John F. Kennedy, New York, which are destinations serviced by Caribbean Airlines.

Through its partnership with the Star Alliance, Air China’s reach extends to 1,330 destinations in 192 countries.

China represents a potentially huge new source market for Caribbean tourism, but whether the region can secure regular flight service will be a major factor.

In a statement, Caribbean Airlines said it was “optimistic that these preliminary discussions will develop into a productive partnership between the two airlines.”

The post Air China, Caribbean Airlines Hold Talks appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Copa Airlines has confirmed its plans to launch new flights from Panama to Barbados.

The new flights, which will launch July 17, will operate twice weekly between the two destinations.

“Copa Airlines is proud to begin flights to Barbados and be the only airline connecting this beautiful and dynamic Caribbean island with Latin America. With this new destination, we uphold our leadership and presence in the Caribbean region, where we serve 16 destinations,” said Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines.

The Copa flight will leave Panama on Tuesdays and Fridays, departing Panama at 9:30 AM and arriving in Barbados at 2 PM, with the return flights departing Barbados at 3 PM and arriving at 5:30 PM in Panama.

“This new route is very important for us and our industry service providers, as it provides the opportunity to show all of Latin America our culture, our incredible beaches, our range of hotels, our culinary identity and the many activities we have to offer,” said William “Billy” Griffith, CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. “This undoubtedly is beneficial for both countries and strengthens the economy and tourism sector, as well as elevates the recognition of the island in Latin America.”

Copa will be operating the route on Boeing 737-800 aircraft with capacity for 16 passengers in business class and 138 in the main cabin.

The new service will be a boost for Barbados as its seeks to draw more travelers from Latin America; Copa’s Tocumen International Airport base has long been an important gateway for travelers heading from South America and Central America to the Caribbean.

“The connectivity between Panama and this new destination will generate important opportunities for the development and strengthening of tourism and commercial activity, both for Panama and the 76 additional destinations serviced by the airline,” Heilbron said.

The post Copa Is Officially Coming to Barbados appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Caribbean’s leading aviation conference is back again, this time in The Bahamas.

The Caribbean Aviation Meetup, a high-level conference on regional aviation issues, will be held at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island June 12-14.

The event, hosted by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, focuses on solutions to Caribbean airlift problems, from improving competitiveness through air connectivity to ways to improve the conditions for local carriers.

The conference, which is the brainchild of Cdr. Bud Slabbaert, will include 30 presentations by speakers from 13 different countries and territories.

For more info, contact cdrbud@gmail.com.

The post Top Caribbean Aviation Conference Heads to Bahamas appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By Alexander Britell

Virgin’s highly-anticipated cruise brand Virgin Voyages as released the first renderings of its ships.

And the results, well, they’re pretty cool.

The adults-only cruise brand has made it clear it plans to disrupt the cruise industry, and the renderings are no exception, with a range of contemporary, original designs that don’t look like anything else you see in the cruise industry right now.

Virgin Voyages has partnered on the ship design with Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio, along with design houses including Concrete Amsterdam; Softroom in London and Roman and Williams and WorkAC in New York.

The first Virgin Voyages ship is due for delivery in 2020.

“At the core of our Epic Sea Change For All is ensuring that the spaces on our ships are well-styled, distinct and reflective of the dynamic experience we want to bring to our sailors,” said Tom McAlpin, President and Chief Executive Officer for Virgin Voyages. “Our design partners together with our internal design team have dreamed up eye-catching, intimate and alluring spaces that we can’t wait to see come to life.”

Virgin said it opted to use multiple interior designers “in order to focus on the strengths of each firm and to show diversity throughout the ship,” all undertaken under the principle of the “Modern Romance of Sailing.”

The bar at The Manor.

“Ranging from gritty to glamorous, we’ve collaborated with a collection of brilliant interior designers and architects to create a variety of spaces that our sailors will love,” said Dee Cooper, Senior Vice President of Product Design for Virgin Voyages. “With careful thought, humor and attention to detail the Creative Collective has designed a ship that’s styled for those thirsty for a wonderful modern holiday at sea.”

Virgin Voyages has also revealed some of its food and beverage concepts, from the Richard’s Rooftop outdoor lounge reserved for suite guests to Pink Agave, the ship’s upscale Mexican restaurant.

The Dock.

The ship will also include The Manor, a signature nightclub inspired by Richard Branson’s history in the music industry (and named after his first-ever Virgin music studio), along with The Dock, an outdoor lounge aiming for a Hamptons-meets-Ibiza vibe.

The Pink Agave eatery.

That’s along with eateries like the Test Kitchen, a laboratory-styled environment designed by Concrete Amsterdam.

Virgin Voyages currently has three ships under order with shipbuilder Ficantieri, with the first slated to arrive at PortMiami in 2020 for her inaugural sailing season around the Caribbean.

The initial ship will have the capacity for 2,700 guests, or, as Virgin Voyages calls them, “sailors.”

— CJ

The post What Virgin Voyages’ Ships Will Look Like appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Two of St Maarten’s preeminent resorts are finally planning to make their return following last year’s storms.

The Sonesta Ocean Point resort and the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort will reopening for the winter tourist season, the company announced this week.

The Sonesta Ocean Point will reopen Nov. 15, while the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort will reopen Feb. 1, 2018.

The revamped entrance to the Ocean Point.

Both properties are all-inclusive resorts, with the Sonesta Ocean Point an adults-only property and the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort geared toward families.

Sonesta Maho’s transformation will be headlined by the total overhaul of the property’s Sky Tower, which sustained heavy damage from Hurricane Irma. The tower will be built with a new technology that can sustain winds of more than 200 mph, according to Sonesta.

Design + Positif is responsible for the overall architectural and interior redesign of Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, with the property set to receive a new clean, contemporary look.

The transformed Maho lobby.

The Ocean Point, which sustained less damage than its sister property, will see an entirely redesigned lobby and the addition of a new Spanish-style tapas restaurant, among other changes.

Ocean Point’s conventino center will be completely reconstructed and redesigned, with updates to all 24,000 square feet of meeting space.

The nearby Maho Village, which includes popular shopping and nightlife spots, is undergoing a massive transformation of its own, with plans to reopen this summer that will include the 21,000-square-foot Casino Royale.

Sonesta has announced bookings will launch June 1.

The announcement comes after another another of the island’s top resorts, the Divi Little Bay, officially reopened earlier this month.

— CJ

The post Sonesta Resorts to Reopen in St Maarten This Winter appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico