… criticism of the White House, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló vowed he … President Trump to stop treating Puerto Ricans as “second-class…

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Airbnb’s immersive “Experiences” program has officially launched on the island of Bermuda.

Airbnb Experiences now includes 15 experiences in Bermuda, thanks to a partnership between Airbnb and the Bermuda Tourism authority.

“Airbnb Experiences are designed to allow people to immerse themselves in local communities and participate in activities led by local experts, all while encouraging cross-cultural connections between guests and locals.” said Carlos Munoz, Airbnb Campaign Manager, Public Policy and Communications for the Caribbean and Central America. “As a people-powered platform, we are pleased to expand our footprint in Bermuda to now include one-of-a-kind bookable experiences in addition to the hundreds of unique homes to stay in throughout the island.”

The program sees local hosts taking visitors on different kinds of cultural excursions, from a food tour of Hamilton to a journey through a photographic journey through the Bermuda Botanical Gardens.

“Tapping the vast creative and entrepreneurial potential of Bermudians is a major plank of our National Tourism Plan. Airbnb Experiences effectively delivers on that strategy,” said Pat Phillip-Fairn, chief product and experiences development officer at the Bermuda Tourism Authority. “We are very proud of the passionate locals putting Bermuda’s legendary hospitality on display for the world and we encourage others to step forward with their ideas.”

Airbnb Experiences is now in more than 1000 destinations around the world.

— CJ

The post Airbnb Experiences Launches in Bermuda appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

One of the top all-inclusive hotels in the Dominican Republic just took things to the next level.

Spanish hotel giant Melia has officially opened its new Grand Reserve at the Paradise Palma Real, a 432-room ultra-luxe all-inclusive that represents the flagship Dominican Republic outpost for the brand.

The new Punta Cana property, part of the wider Paradisus Palma Real complex, has eight restaurants, six bars, a spa, a water park and a total of seven different pools.

Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina was on hand for the official opening of the hotel, one of seven by Melia in the country.

That includes more than 4,000 hotel rooms across the Dominican Republic.

The $110 million project held its soft opening at the end of last year.

— CJ

The post Melia’s New Dominican Republic All-Inclusive appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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… Donald Trump visited Puerto Rico in October 2017, … have been on Puerto Rico,” said Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló … Puerto Ricans.
Yet Trump claimed Thursday he’s “taken better care of Puerto Rico … complete recovery of Puerto Rico,” White House spokesman …

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The island of St Thomas is seeing a surge in Airbnb demand, according to new numbers released by the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism.

St Thomas is seeing a 338 percent growth in bookings for the spring season compared to the same period last year.

The news comes after St Thomas was named the top Caribbean destination for Airbnb in 2018, after it saw a 600 percent increase in bookings compared to the previous year.

Indeed, vacation rentals and Airbnb properties have helped buoy the US Virgin Islands’ recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.

“The U.S. Virgin Islands looks forward to welcoming these travelers to the Territory, many of whom might be visiting for their very first time. Renting an Airbnb during a stay is a great way to see our islands and experience our local VI vibes,” said Joseph Boschulte, the Commissioner-Designate for the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. “We hope all travelers who stay with us this spring and summer enjoy the fruits of our collective efforts to improve the tourism experience across the Territory.”

Airbnb defined the spring period as bookings between March and April 21, 2019.

— CJ

The post St Thomas Seeing Surge in Airbnb Demand appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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