Archives for October 2021

Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the scheduled return of cruise ships across the island’s ports, beginning in mid-November, is a strong vote of confidence by major international stakeholders in the safety of and demand for brand Jamaica. It also signals the nearly full reopening of an industry that is crucial to Jamaica’s tourism recovery efforts and will aid greatly in bringing back much-needed jobs.

“Our tourism industry is quickly recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Arrivals figures are climbing, airlift for the winter season is looking good, and the winter cruise schedule will be very busy, with an uptick in November which will see multiple ships docking in Ocho Rios, Falmouth, and Port Antonio,” said Bartlett.

These cruise lines include The World, a boutique cruise line for Port Antonio; the Carnival Sunrise, Norwegian Gem, MSC Meraviglia, AIDAdiva, among others, for Ocho Rios; and the Emerald Princess for the Port of Falmouth.

”Cruise is an integral part of our tourism product and an important driver in terms of visitor arrivals and expenditure. Thousands of Jamaicans depend on the cruise shipping industry,” he added. 

Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise line, has committed to sending 110 or more cruises (200,000 cruise ship passengers), by its various brands, to the island between October 2021 and April 2022. 

While Royal Caribbean International, the second largest cruise line in the world, will resume limited operations to Jamaica in November of this year. Also, cruise executives reiterated a strong desire to employ thousands of Jamaicans across a wide range of jobs and are awaiting government regulatory amendments to make it a reality.

With Carnival’s 16-call itinerary over the next three months, MSC Meraviglia’s return, and Royal Caribbean, Disney, and other cruise lines ready to begin sailing in the Caribbean, Jamaica could have cruises back on track by December, with nearly the whole fleet. By the end of the year, Bartlett expects just under 300,000 cruise passengers to visit Jamaica.

“We have been heavily marketing Port Royal to our international investors during our various marketing engagements overseas. During our meeting with TUI, they disclosed several planned visits and calls on the Port Royal Cruise Port, starting in January. We expect to have five calls from January through April 2022 in Port Royal.  We have also been in discussion with key partners in Dubai regarding plans to also invest in the tourism product in Port Royal,” said Bartlett.

This season, the Nieuw Statendam and Nieuw Amsterdam of Holland America Cruise Line, Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, and Seabourn Cruise Line’s Seabourn Ovation, Royal Spirit of Adventure from Saga Cruises, are all scheduled to dock at Port Royal. 

Cruise shipping will return to Montego Bay in January 2022.

Media Contact: 

Corporate Communications Division

Ministry of Tourism 

64 Knutsford Boulevard

Kingston 5

Telephone: 920-4924 

Fax: 906-1729

Or

Kingsley Roberts

Senior Director, Corporate Communications

Ministry of Tourism

64 Knutsford Boulevard

Kingston 5

Tel: 920-4926-30, ext.: 5990

Cell: (876) 505-6118

Fax: 920-4944

On the occasion of the first official encounter of Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde, Seychelles’ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, with Middle East tourism partners, Tourism Seychelles’ Office hosted a “Taste of Seychelles” event at Jumeirah Emirates Towers on the evening of Tuesday, October 26.

Alongside the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, various other government representatives from Seychelles attended the event. The Minister of Youth, Sports and Family, Marie-Celine Zialor; the Designated Minister and Minister of Fisheries, Jean François Ferrari; The Mayor of Victoria, David Andre; and other notable senior government officials from the Seychelles joined Minister Radegonde in welcoming the guests, who included numerous influential personalities and leading business figures from the United Arab Emirates, as well as various media press, media moguls, and trade partners, to the glittering event.

The Minister was also accompanied on this mission by the Principal Secretary for Tourism, Sherin Francis, and the Director General for Destination Marketing, Bernadette Willemin, both of whom were there to welcome the guests.

Throughout the lively and sophisticated evening, which took place ahead of Seychelles’ National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai, the guests were taken on a journey of discovery of the savor of Seychelles, where delicacies such as coconut nougat, banana chips and local beverages were served while they were serenaded by Seychellois vocalist Isham Rath and Saxophone player Jean Quatre, two Seychellois celebrity artists.

In his address, Minister Radegonde stated: “As this is my first visit to the Middle East in my capacity as the tourism minister, I would like to thank the people of the United Arab Emirates for their incredible hospitality. Our relationship with the United Arab Emirates has always been close and special. Since our ties to the region began almost two decades ago, the UAE has been the number one Middle Eastern country visiting our islands for ten consecutive years.”

Discussing the effects of the pandemic on the islands, Mr. Radegonde noted: “We have been very active in taking the necessary measures in implementing the appropriate travel requirements so that we can protect both our citizens and visitors. Thankfully, our hard work has paid off. At present, approximately 72% of our population has been fully vaccinated. Through this, we can now officially declare Seychelles as a safe country for tourists.”

Commenting on the event, Ahmed Fathallah, Tourism Seychelles representative based in Dubai, said: “We are truly thrilled by the turnout of this event. We would like to thank our esteemed guests for making it here today and for extending the warmest of welcomes to Minister Radegonde on his first official visit as the tourism minister to the Middle East. As travel restrictions begin to ease throughout the Arab world, we hope that more and more people are able to see for themselves the multifaceted and culturally rich aspects of Seychelles.”

An avant-goût of the Seychelles experience is available for those who visit the island-nation’s pavilion at EXPO 2020, Mrs. Francis noted, “To those who are interested in experiencing their own personal ‘Taste of Seychelles’ here in Dubai, we are happy to inform them that they can now comfortably do so at the Seychelles pavilion located in EXPO.”

Under the slogan ‘Conserving Nature,’ Seychelles is using their heightened platform in the EXPO 2020 Dubai to highlight the efforts made by both local and international bodies to protect the natural treasures of Seychelles through maintaining the natural ecosystems and biodiversity of the beautiful islands.”

“It was an absolute pleasure to take our UAE guest on this beautiful voyage to the taste of our islands. It was an opportune time for the Tourism Seychelles team to network with our industry partners,” said Bernadette Willemin.

With 18,000 visitors recorded from UAE since January 2021, the country is second top source market for Seychelles.

MEDIA CONTACT: Tourism Seychelles, [email protected] 

“IMEX America is the very first international event to open once the US travel ban lifts on November 8, and by bringing together a large cross-section of the global and US business events community at the show, we hope to pave the way for the sector’s regeneration and recovery.” Carina Bauer looks ahead to IMEX America, taking place November 9 – 11 in Las Vegas.

With just under two weeks to go until IMEX America, hundreds more global buyers, exhibitors and industry professionals have now confirmed their attendance.

• Over 3,000 global buyers are registered to attend 

• Over 2,200 exhibiting companies, from destinations, venues, hotel groups and technology providers, are also confirmed.

Expanded exhibitor line-up

The recent US travel announcement has significantly strengthened the European presence at the show from exhibitors including Holland, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Scandinavia and Spain. The show floor spans all four corners of the earth with Australia, Korea, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore among the Asia-Pacific countries, along with other global heavyweights including Dubai, Morocco and South Africa. They join the US, Canada and Latin America to create a truly international reach. These global destinations are proving popular, with many exhibitor schedules filling fast shortly after diaries went live.

The Tech Hub area of the show floor is one of the largest ever, showcasing a broad range of tech companies and reflecting just how quickly the sector has evolved over the past couple of years. Companies include Aventri, Bravura Technologies, Cvent, EventsAir, Fielddrive BV, Hopin, MeetingPlay, RainFocus and Swapcard.

The Road to Mandalay Bay

Billed as the ‘homecoming for the industry’, this year’s show is set to be a very special reunion: not only is it the 10th edition of IMEX America, the show also has a new home – Mandalay Bay. Planning  a show in the new venue has allowed the IMEX team to take a fresh look at the show’s design and introduce some unique features which capitalise on Mandalay Bay’s attractions and enhance the attendee experience. One of these is the ‘Relaxation Reef, which will host a program of wellbeing activities in the venue’s Shark Reef Aquarium, home to more than 2,000 sea creatures. Some of the free learning sessions at the show will also take place in Mandalay Bay’s stunning outside spaces.

Tailored learning for all sectors

The inspiring, free learning program running throughout the show is not to be missed, and launches on Smart Monday, powered by MPI, taking place on 8 November, the day before IMEX America begins. Dr Shimi Kang from the University of British Columbia will deliver the Smart Monday keynote, showcasing the latest research-based methods for adaptability, innovation, collaboration and lasting business success.

Dedicated sessions for various industry groups allow attendees to personalise their Smart Monday experience. There’s education and networking exclusively for corporate executives at the Executive Meeting Forum – designed for senior-level corporate executives from Fortune 2000 companies – and the new Corporate Focus – open to all planners from corporations at all levels. Association leaders can connect and learn with their peers at the Association Leadership Forum, created by ASAE.

Each day begins with an MPI keynote. Movers and shakers from outside the business events industry will each bring their unique world view to the show including the founder of a global dance movement and community.

The Inspiration Hub is once again home to show floor education, delivering a packed schedule of learning opportunities addressing the business needs and skillset requirements that define late 2021. Sessions cover Creativity in communication; Diversity and accessibility; Innovation and tech; Business recovery, Contract negotiations, Personal branding and Sustainability.

Celebrate the industry’s homecoming

While the show floor is the hub of business and learning, the IMEX America experience continues across Las Vegas. Bespoke tours provide the lowdown on the city whether it’s the finest food, mystery experiences or the inside track on two iconic venues: Caesar’s Palace and Mandalay Bay. The homecoming for the industry is an extra cause for celebration at evening events including Site Nite taking place at the new Resorts World, MPI Foundation’s signature Rendezvous event at Drais and the EIC Hall of Leaders at MGM Grand.

Watch Carina and the IMEX Team preview the show and provide an insight into the planning process in the latest Conversations with Carina.

IMEX America takes place 9 – 11 November at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas with Smart Monday, powered by MPI, on 8 November. To register – for free – click here. For more details about accommodation deals and to book, click here. 

www.imexamerica.com 

#IMEX21   

MEDIA CONTACT: Emma Blake, [email protected]

Intensifying its marketing efforts on the Spanish market after months of relying on virtual contact with its partners, Tourism Seychelles recently hosted its first educational tour for a small group of Spanish agents specializing in luxury travel.

Organized in partnership with Qatar Airways, Constance Hotels and Resorts Seychelles and with the support of trade partners in Seychelles, the 5-days visit, which took place beginning of October, aimed at increasing the visibility for the destination.

The eight agents accompanied by Mónica González Llinás, the Tourism Seychelles representative for Spain & Portugal, were taken on a tour of the capital, Victoria, exploring cultural landmarks and heritage sites. Venturing further afield, they visited the UNESCO World Heritage site Vallée de Mai on Praslin as well as cruising the islands. Throughout their encounters with various partners during their short visit, the Spanish agents were treated to a taste of famed Seychellois hospitality.

“After promoting Seychelles virtually to our Spanish partners, it was finally great to have them experience our destination in person,” Ms. González Llinás commented, saying that the experience was one the agents, inspired by the outstanding beauty of the islands and the welcome they received, will always remember and help them when selling holidays to the destination.

She thanked partner hosts Qatar Airways, Constance Group resorts Ephélia and Lémuria, and destination management companies Mason’s Travel, Creole Travel Services and 7º South who offered a range of products and services to make the event a success.

“We are grateful to our partners for hosting the agents. The entire experience not only enhanced their knowledge to better sell the destination but also impacted them personally, which we believe will be an advantage when they are promoting the destination to their clients,” Ms. González Llinás said.

“There has been an increase in interest for travel to Seychelles since March 2021, when Spanish residents received the green light to travel to the archipelago,” Ms. González Llinás added, noting that 2, 296 visitors have travelled to Seychelles from Spain so far this year. The source market generated 4,528 arrivals in 2019.

MEDIA CONTACT: Tourism Seychelles, [email protected] 

Next up are 12 men’s teams this week at the Ocean Club Golf Course

Fifth-year senior Kirsten Baete of Nebraska shot a final-round even-par 72 on Sunday to hang on for a wire-to-wire victory in the second annual White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational. The win, by one stroke over Emily Hawkins of Campbell, was the first Baete’s career.

Baete finished at 10-under 206, while Hawkins fired a 7-under-par 65 to post 207 at the Ocean Club Golf Course at Atlantis Resort. Mikayla Dubnik of Mercer was third at 68-211.

With three players finishing among the top-10, Campbell, an NCAA Regional qualifier earlier this year, won the team title, beating the Cornhuskers by four strokes, while host University of Miami finished third.

“I want to say thanks to everybody at the course – the superintendent, the pro shop; the course was in absolutely incredible shape,” Baete said after posting her career-low score and fourth career top-10 finish. “It was beautiful and is hands down my new favorite course.”

“This is Kirstin’s first win, so we are extremely excited for her to get this [win] under her belt,” said Nebraska coach Lisa Johnson. “She has worked so hard in her five years at Nebraska, and she is such a great athlete and such a coachable player that it is wonderful for her to get this win and represent the Huskers.”

Campbell posted a four-player total of 10-under 854 over 54 holes with Hawkins and Anna Nordfors leading the way. Nordfors, with a final-round 72, finished fourth individually with a 4-under 212 total. Tomita Arejola tied for 10^th with 69-217 while Patricia Garre Munoz added 226.

“This has been very special and was the perfect week for us,” said Campbell coach John Crooks. “This team did what was necessary and Emily Hawkins shot 65 today and that was pretty special. Each member of the team has shot under par before and helped Campbell this season.”

“My sincerest congratulations to Kirsten Baete and all those who participated in the Women’s edition of the White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational,” said Deputy Prime Minister The Honorable I. Chester Cooper, Bahamas Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation. “The Bahamas has a longstanding tradition of attracting golfers from all over the world to experience our world-class golf courses, and we hope that while the University teams are here they enjoy our beautiful islands, on and off the golf course.”  

The final team scores: Campbell 854, Nebraska 858, Miami 862, Mercer 870, Florida International 900, Northern Illinois 905, Iowa 908.

The prestigious White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational, featuring some of the top collegiate golf teams in the United States, continues this week at the Ocean Club Golf Course with the men’s competition featuring 12 schools, including host University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Following two days of practice rounds beginning Wednesday, the 54-hole competition starts on Friday, Oct. 29 on the 7,159-yard Ocean Club course.

In addition to Little Rock, other teams competing in the event include Bowling Green State University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Lamar University, Lipscomb University, University of Michigan, University of Mississippi, University of San Francisco and the University of South Florida.

The University of Houston won the inaugural event in 2019 with a four-man total of 833.

The schedule of events for the upcoming men’s White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational:

• Wednesday, October 27: Team Practice Rounds

Ocean Club Golf Course Team Reception 6 p.m.

• Thursday, October 28: Team Practice Rounds 
• Friday, October 29: Round 1 – 8 a.m. Shotgun Start
• Saturday, October 30: Round 2 – 8 a.m. Shotgun Start 
• Sunday, October 31: Round 3 – 8 a.m. Shotgun Start

Trophy Presentation (Individual and Team Champions) 

ABOUT THE BAHAMAS

With over 700 islands and cays and 16 unique island destinations, The Bahamas lies just 50 miles off the coast of Florida, offering an easy fly-away escape that transports travelers away from their everyday. The Islands of The Bahamas have world-class fishing, diving, boating, and thousands of miles of the earth’s most spectacular water and beaches waiting for families, couples, and adventurers. Explore all the islands have to offer at www.bahamas.com or on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram to see why It’s Better in The Bahamas.

ABOUT OCEAN CLUB GOLF COURSE

Atlantis Paradise Island’s Ocean Club Golf Course offers a challenging and beautiful course for golfers desiring championship play. Masterfully conceived, the Tom Weiskopf-designed 18-hole, par 72 championship course stretches over 7,100 yards on Atlantis’ peninsula. The course has been host to iconic sporting events such as the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI), the Michael Douglas & Friends Celebrity Golf Tournament, and the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational

Contact: Mike Harmon

[email protected]

MEDIA CONTACT:

Anita Johnson-Patty, General Manager, Global Communications

Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation

[email protected]

Weber Shandwick, Public Relations

[email protected]