Looking to experience Grand Cayman’s famous Cayman Cookout foodie event?

The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman has launched its first-ever package tailored for the event, aimed at creating the “ultimate weekend experience” for food lovers.

The festival takes place Jan. 12-15, 2017 at the hotel.

The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman.

The culinary festival features food and wine activities led by celebrity Chefs Eric Ripert, Jose Andres, Anthony Bourdain and Emerli Lagasse, among others, and has become one of the Caribbean’s most sought-after culinary festivals.

The Cayman Cookout Culinary Package includes accommodations at the Ritz-Carlton for four nights; daily breakfast for two; two tickets to the Wine Fair and two tickets to the Barbecue.

The gastronomic get-together features 40 different events.

— CJ

The post The Best Way to Experience Cayman Cookout appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — On November 8, the pro-statehood candidate Ricardo Rosselló was declared the winner of Puerto Rico’s elections. Rosselló has conservative views similar to those of US President-elect Donald Trump, and Puerto Rican human rights activists wonder how his…

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A major port development project in Montego Bay is now “back on track,” according to Gordon Shirley, the chairman of the Port Authority of Jamaica.

The construction phase of the $19.3 million USD project is going ahead, he said, after the plans had been put on hold to facilitate the construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal at the Montego Bay port by New Fortress Energy.

“When the Authority was approached by New Fortress Energy less than two years ago to facilitate the shipment of LNG to our terminal in Montego Bay and to allow for the construction of the storage facility on our port lands, it was not difficult for us to convince our Board and our parent Ministry that this was something that we should support in the national interest,” he said.

The project includes the construction of new cruise-terminal buildings and ground transportation staging areas, along with modification to the port’s container freight station, paving of expanded cargo storage areas and installation of new relief-storage facilities.

The Port Authority is also looking to increase the berthing capacity at the port to accommodate two dedicated cruise berths, along with separate berths for the handling of containerized and bulk cargo and for the handling of fuels, respectively.

“On completion, it will give the port the flexibility to handle multiple vessels simultaneously and the capacity to process an expanded range of cargo to facilitate the growth of western Jamaica,” Shirley said.

The post Major Montego Bay Port Development “Back on Track” appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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There are now 32,056 rooms under contract in the Caribbean-Mexico hotel pipeline, according to the latest report from hotel analytics firm STR.

That represents a 14.3 percent increase in the number of rooms under contract compared with October 2015, according to the company.

Under contract data includes projects in the In Construction, Final Planning and Planning stages.

The wider region showed 14,087 rooms in 90 projects in construction in October, itself a 15.6 percent increase year over year.

Mexico’s Caribbean tourism hub, the Yucatan Peninsula, showed 2,387 rooms in 12 hotels in construction.

— Caribbean Journal Staff

The post Caribbean-Mexico Hotel Pipeline Tops 32,000 Rooms appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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If you are a “frequent” Caribbean traveler, it’s likely that you’re a member of some kind of rewards club or have a special travel credit card. But not all such credit cards are created equal — and some may be far better for those making regular trips to the islands of the Caribbean. We’ve investigated the top options for travelers to the region, and found four cards that offer the most rewards (and optionality) for you. You just have to decide what’s more important – saving on flights or saving on hotels. We’ve ranked the best credit cards for those traveling to the Caribbean in 2017.

JetBlue Card from Barclaycard

JetBlue is no longer working on a card with American Express, meaning this is your new best option: the JetBlue Mastercard from Barclaycard. It includes some great features, ranging from no foreign transaction fees (a huge plus in the Caribbean) to 50 percent inflight savings on cocktails and food purchases on JetBlue flights to 3x points on JetBlue purchases. (That’s along with 2x points at grocery stores and restaurants).

You can redeem points for any seat at any time on JetBlue operated flights, meaning no blackout dates — and points awarded to your TrueBlue account don’t expire.

It’s a natural for consideration, given that JetBlue is the fastest growing airline in the Caribbean.

The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card

If you stay at luxury resorts in the Caribbean, this Visa card will be a big boost.

The perks are numerous: first, you get three complimentary nights at any tier 1-4 Ritz-Carlton hotel after you spend $5,000 in the first three months after opening your account.

Even better? You also get 5x points at any participating Ritz-Carlton hotel including brands like JW Marriott, Edition, Autograph Collection Hotels (think Atlantis, for example), Renaissance and Marriott Hotels. Other benefits include 2x points on airline tickets and at restaurants and car rental firms. This credit card also has no foreign transaction fees.

Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard

Citi has partnered on four credit cards with American Airlines, but this is the top-level option. The Executive World Elite edition offers you the chance to earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months after opening your account. There is $450 annual fee, though, which is definitely something to think about. But that’s potentially offset by this card’s part piece: Admiral’s Club membership, giving you access to more than 50 global lounges and up to two guests. With Admiral’s Club day passes at $50, regular travelers could see this pay big dividends. Also included? Priority check-in and early boarding, along with a $100 statement credit every five years for your application fee for Global Entry or TSA Pre.

With its massive network in the Caribbean, this card could be a boon for travelers.

You also get 10,000 elite qualifying miles for every $40,000 you spend each year, with 2x miles on all eligible AA purchases.

Thanks to AA’s recent changes, accumulating miles means more in the Caribbean, with reward travel comparatively favorable in the Caribbean than some of the carrier’s other markets.

And then there are other inclusions, like lost baggage protection that can refund the purchase price of missing items or the cost to repair damaged items, and worldwide travel accident insurance.

Hilton HHonors Surpass American Express Card

The best Amex option for Caribbean travelers, this card is a great option, especially for those heading to the region for business travel. The annual fee is just $75, and you get 75,000 Hilton HHonors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on the card in within your first three months of becoming a member. Then there are the other perks: complimentary gold status; 12x Hilton Hhonors bonus points for any purchase at a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio; 6x Hilton Hhonors points for spending at restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations in the U.S., and 3x Hilton Hhonors points for all other purchases, among other features. Hilton has seven hotels in the Caribbean under the Hilton brand alone, along with several more under the Waldorf-Astoria, Curio, Conrad, DoubleTree and Embassy Suites brands.

The post The Best Travel Credit Cards for the Caribbean in 2017 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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