… clean water to medical care – Puerto Ricans are throwing themselves into response … or damaging countless buildings, wrecking Puerto Rico’s electrical grid, and causing … island. “Maria definitely united the Puerto Rican people. It brought everyone together …

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

All-inclusive company Playa Hotels and Resorts is opening a pair of high-profile all-inclusive Hyatt-branded resorts in the Dominican Republic in November.

Playa, which has a regional portfolio of 21 resorts, will be debuting two new hotels in the tony Cap Cana enclave of Punta Cana on Nov. 1: the Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana, an adults-only resort; and the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana, a family-friendly resort.

A rendering of the pool area.

Both resorts will include amenities 24-hour room service, beach butlers and a range of suite categories (including swim-up suite options as well).

Both the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana and the Hyatt Zilara will feature 375 suites, with views of either the ocean or the “resort village,” according to Playa.

The combined property will also feature a 14,000-square-foot fitness center including an “industrial boxing gym” and a cenote-inspired spa, and a combined 12 dining concepts across the two resorts.

What a suite will look like a the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana.

The pair of resorts will join Sancutary Cap Cana, a nearby all-inclusive in Cap Cana that is managed but not owned by Playa.

“Since 2013, we have seen tremendous growth as we partner with legendary hospitality brands to provide levels of unmatched quality, service and style”, said Playa’s Chief Commercial Officer, Kevin Froemming. “We are thrilled to have our loyal supporters be among the first to experience the Hyatt all-inclusive flagship resorts.”

A rendering of the poolscape at the Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana.

It’s a major addition to what is becoming a full-fledged all-inclusive hub in Cap Cana, where Playa will be working to compete with what is the area’s leading resort, AMResorts’s renowned Secrets Cap Cana.

The new Hyatt-branded resorts join Playa’s existing umbrella of Hyatt all-inclusive resorts that includes Hyatt Ziva and Zilara propertes in Montego Bay; the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos in Mexico; Hyatt Ziva and Zilara properties in Cancun; and a Hyatt Ziva in Puerto Vallarta.

The new resorts are part of a broader expansion for Playa that will include a new Hilton all-inclusive in La Romana set to debut in December. 

For more, visit Hyatt Ziva and Zilara.

— CJ

The post Hyatt Is Opening Two Dominican Republic All-Inclusive Hotels appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Riu Hotels and Resorts has continued its expansion push with the addition of a major new room block at its all-inclusive Riu Emerald Bay in Mazatlan, Mexico.

The company has added a new section with 312 new rooms at the beachfront property, which is set along Mazatlan’s Brujas Beach on the country’s Pacific coast.

That lifts the total number of rooms at the all-inclusive property to more than 1,000, according to Riu.

The resort has also added one of its newest brand-wide amenities, a “Splash Water World” water park.

Additionally, Riu has opened a new eatery at the property, El Malecon, an international buffet restaurant.

The news comes as Mazatlan continues to see rising travel demand, particularly out of the Canadian market.

Riu has been in the midst of a broad expansion and renovation push that has seen upgrades and new additions at some of its resorts across the wider Caribbean-Mexico region.

For more, visit the Riu Emerald Bay in Mazatlan.

— CJ

The post Riu Expands All-Inclusive Resort in Mazatlan appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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… slammed Puerto Rico, sending hundreds of thousands of people to Florida.Puerto Rican … slammed Puerto Rico, sending hundreds of thousands of people to Florida.
Puerto Rican groups … Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico, devastating the island.
Friday …

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Caribbean has no shortage of great culinary festivals, from St Barth to Barbados, all showcasing the marvelous diversity of Caribbean food.

But one of the Caribbean’s most popular destination food festivals has a rather special party piece: it comes with a side of island-hopping.

The British Virgin Islands’ BVI Food Fete is a month-long celebration of cuisine, one that, uniquely, combines events on six different islands: Tortola, Scrub Island, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Cooper Island and Scrub Island.

The event kicks off with the BVI Gourmet Soiree, showcasing Scrub Island’s new executive chef, Chloe St-Cyr, with a menu helmed by six award-winning chefs.

On Nov. 9, the Taste of Tortola will be a culinary block party, with food trucks, local eateries and vendors cooking up their best work at the Queen Elizabeth II Park.

The following weekend includes the Cooper Island Rum Festival, centered around the boutique hotel’s famous rum bar with almost 300 different rums on offer, while the next day will see a pork barbecue on Jost Van Dyke.

Cooper Island is a pilgrimage destination for rum lovers.

The following weekend takes travelers to the Taste of Virgin Gorda, with a jazz-fueled gourmet party with views of The Baths.

The Anegada Reef in Anegada.

Finally, what may be the fete’s most popular event is hte two-day Anegada Lobster Festival from Nov. 30-Dec. 1, a two-day party celebrating what remains the Caribbean’s capital of lobster.

It’s a diverse schedule of must-visit food stops, meaning travelers can get a taste of the BVI on one island or plan a getaway with multiple Food Fete stops in their itinerary.

It’s yet another sign of the BVI’s inspiring comeback from the storms of 2017 – and a resounding message that the BVI is back and better than ever.

For more, visit the BVI Food Fete.

— CJ

The post Why BVI Food Fete Is a Must-Visit Caribbean Culinary Event appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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