… came to the school from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands after …

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By Caribbean News Now contributor MIAMI, USA — Tropical storm conditions were expected to reach portions of the Lesser Antilles on Thursday afternoon, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Barbados, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Lucia. A tropical storm watch is in effect for St Vincent and […]

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By Melanius Alphonse Caribbean News Now associate editor melanius@caribbeannewsnow.com CASTRIES, St Lucia — In an apparent attempt to denigrate the Saint Lucia Civil Service Association (CSA) for its resistance to the government’s plan to establish a new border control agency, Saint Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has, by accident or design, exposed deplorable working conditions, […]

The post St Lucia PM exposes security failings at international airport appeared first on Caribbean News Now.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The world’s biggest hotel company is plotting another entry into the Caribbean.

Marriott International has just announced plans to bring its newest hotel brand, Moxy Hotels, into the Caribbean and Latin America.

The company has already approved four hotel deals in the region, with the first Caribbean-Latin America debut for Moxy pegged for 2020.

The four approved deals are in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Colombia and Peru, a Marriott spokesperson confirmed to Caribbean Journal.

Last week, Marriott signed a deal for a 165-room Moxy in Medellin, Colombia.

Marriott says Moxy is a “playful and vibrant hotel brand for the next generation of travelers.”

The boutique brand first debuted in Europe in 2014, with a current portfolio of 30 Moxy-branded hotels worldwide.

Each hotel has “vibrant” lobby spaces, 24-7 self-service grab and go food and beverage options, copious plug-ins for personal devices in the guestrooms and free-Wifi.

It’s a brand clearly targeting millennials, with small rooms, lower prices and a focus on shared public spaces.

A Moxy hotel in London.

“Who said that affordable hotels must be cheap-looking and dull?  Who said that lifestyle hotels cannot have the same, or better, investor returns than the traditional select-service brand?  You just need to know what the new customer really wants and be smart on the design and execution,” said Laurent de Kousemaeker, Chief Development Officer, Marriott International Caribbean and Latin America. “This brand is a great fit for our region – both from an economic model and consumer appeal perspective.”

It’s part of a wider drive by Marriott to increase its presence in the Caribbean and Latin America, where the company has 240 properties open, with another 110 set to be added by the end of 2023, according to the company.

— CJ

The post Marriott Is Bringing a New Hotel Brand to the Caribbean appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Dana Niland

CJ Contributor

Grenada officially opened its 2018-2019 cruise season with an inaugural visit from Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Breeze cruise ship.

The ship, which has a capacity of 4,428 passengers, was welcomed with a steel pan salute.

Grenada has a diverse, robust chocolate-making industry.

Grenada is kicking off the winter season with strong momentum, with the cruise industry seeing year-over-year growth of almost 26.75 percent, according to numbers from the Grenada Tourism Authority.

The Eastern Caribbean port in St George’s continues to see growth, with the island’s diverse attractions — from chocolate plantation tours to rum-distillery visits — drawing in more and more cruise lines.

Officials say they are “expecting the growth to continue,” according to a statement.

— CJ

The post Grenada Begins Cruise Season With Strong Momentum appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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