After the opposition United Workers’ Party’s victory in St Lucia’s recent general election, new Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has named his Cabinet.

New Prime Minister Allen Chastanet

The most anticipated appointment in the new St Lucia cabinet? Tourism, where Dominic Fedee will take the reins as Minister of Tourism, Information and Broadcasting, succeeding former Tourism Minister Lorne Theophilus.

Fedee does have a background in tourism, including serving as regional public relations manager for Sandals Resorts.

Chastanet’s cabinet includes 15 members (including himself), and also includes former Prime Minister Stephenson King as Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Energy and Labour.

Chastanet himself has assumed the portfolios of finance, economic growth, job creation, external affairs and public service.

The full Cabinet list is below:

Dr Gale Rigobert — Education

Ezechiel Joseph — Agriculture

Stephenson King — Infrastructure

Guy Joseph — Economic Development

Lenard Montoute — Sports, Culture and Local Government

Edmund Estephane — Minister in the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Local Government

Hermangild Francis — Home Affairs

Mary Isaac – Health and Wellness

Bradley Felix — Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister

Dominic Fedee — Tourism

Jimmy Henry — Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture

Fortuna Belrose — Minister in the Ministry for Sports, Culture and Local Government

Ubaldus Raymond — Minister in the Ministry of Finance

Herod Stanislas — Minister in the Ministry of Economic Development

The post This is the New St Lucia Cabinet appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The first-ever Nickelodeon Hotel has officially debuted in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

The resort, which is the product of a partnership between Karisma Hotel and Resorts and Viacom International Media Networks, is a five-star, all-inclusive property.

The beachfront Uvero Alto-area hotel, Nickelodeon’s first-ever international property, had its soft opening this past weekend.

Suites at the Nickelodeon.

“With the opening of Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana, it’s now a reality for Nickelodeon fans and luxe resort lovers alike to enjoy a dream beach vacation complete with non-stop entertainment, five-star culinary experiences, and quality time with their favorite characters, friends and family,” said Gerald Raines, Senior Vice President, Global Recreation for Viacom International Media Networks.

The 208-suite hotel has Karisma’s signature “Gourmet Inclusive” experience, from a Wine Spectator-award-winning wine list to a focus on creative gastronomy.

Guests have access to eight restaurants, two “corners,” and two bars sand lounges within the resort.

The suites have a range of options, from “Jacuzzi Pads” to swim-up suites to four “Super Villas” including the Pineapple Villa, inspired by Nickelodeon character SpongeBob SquarePants’ home.

A swim-up flat suite

And yes, it’s all about Nickelodeon, with everything from a Nickelodeon concierge, a “Nickelodeon Place,” a range of family and kids activities and even Nickelodeon Character Experiences with photo ops.

“The immersive and interactive experience at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts is one-of-a-kind – the property seamlessly combines five-star luxury with fun and imagination in a new way,” said Armando Chomat, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Karisma. “We were thrilled to have built the world’s first-ever Gourmet Inclusive® Nickelodeon property and to have welcomed our first guests over the weekend.   We look forward to being part of families’ traditions and unforgettable vacation experiences for years to come.”

And to answer the burning question about a Nickelodeon Caribbean hotel, yes, you can get slimed.

The post The First-Ever Nickelodeon Caribbean Hotel Is Now Open appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Jamaica’s top hotel association has a new president.

The Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association has named Omar Robinson its newest president.

Robinson was elected by members of the association following the group’s 55th Annual General Meeting at the Sandals Ochi Beach Resort in Ocho Rios.

“I look forward to continuing the mandate of the JHTA, by working closely with both private and public stakeholders to ensure the advancement and sustained growth of the Jamaican tourism industry,” Robinson said following his election.

Omar Robinson, GM of Round Hill in Jamaica

Robinson is the general manager of the Round Hill resort, where he has served since 2003.

He had previously served as co-chairman of the Montego Bay chapter of the JHTA from 2007 to 2010 and chairman of the organization from 2010-11.

His previous experience has included stops at Jamaican resorts including Sandals Ochi Beach Resort and Beaches Sandy Bay Resort in Negril.

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Sandals Resorts International is expanding in Barbados.

The company has officially broken ground on a multimillion-dollar expansion of its Sandals Barbados resort on the island’s Dover Beach.

The expansion will see the construction of an additional 222 rooms and suites, according to the company.

Dubbed Sandals Barbados “Phase II,” the expansion is slated for completion in November of 2017.

It will add to the existing room count of 280 rooms and will make the property the largest Sandals-branded resort in the Eastern Caribbean.

“Our organization is really three things. It is an organization that has the ability to take a tourism product and market it globally across the world and make it a household name,” said Sandals CEO Adam Stewart. “Our second aspect is the projects and development team that thinks bigger and better with every new project. So for us our biggest competition is always our last project.

“Our third pillar, Stewart said, “is the people.”

It will also add five new restaurants, a new spa and wellness sanctuary, three new swimming pools and an entertainment pavilion with a bowling alley; the latter will be a first for the company.

The expansion will also add a 10,500-square-foot conference facility with capacity for 550 people.

That will mean an additional 520 new jobs, according to the company, bringing the total direct employment of the resort to more than 1,100.

Barbados Tourism Minister Richard Sealy greets Sandals Chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart.

Sandals Resorts International Chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart, who was on hand for the groundbreaking this week, said he was grateful for the “Bajan support and hospitality” extended to the company.

The expansion comes as Barbados is undergoing something of a tourism renaissance, with strong arrival growth this year.

According the island’s most recent data, stay over arrivals to Barbados were up 7.4 percent in the first quarter of 2016.

At least 20,000 of the 591,000 visitors to Barbados last year were Sandals guests, according to Barbados Tourism Minister Richard Sealy.

There are 15 Sandals-branded resorts in the Caribbean.

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It’s one of the gems of the Caribbean coast of Mexico: the lovely fishing village called Puerto Morelos, halfway between Cancun and the Riviera Maya.

It’s a stunning stretch of Caribbean beach, with no corner more beautiful than that at the area’s best hotel, the Grand Residences Riviera Cancun.

Here’s what it’s like from one of the hotel’s Master Suites.

The post VIDEO: On the Beach in Puerto Morelos, Mexico appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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