Archives for August 2022

Destination to Welcome Top Tourism Executives from the Region

Jamaica will be the host destination for the prestigious World Travel Awards Caribbean & North America 2022 slated for August 31. The leading travel industry leaders and decision-makers from the Caribbean and Americas region will be attending the red-carpet gala reception to be held at Sandals Montego Bay, where the best in the region will be celebrated.
 
“We are proud and honored that Jamaica will be hosting the World Travel Awards again this year for the eighth time and, notably, during the year of Jamaica’s 60^th Anniversary of Independence,” said the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica. “This is a significant occasion for our destination as we will be welcoming some of the region’s finest minds in travel and tourism. The Caribbean has been dominant in the global tourism recovery, and the leaders will be acknowledged at these illustrious Awards.  Jamaica is a fitting backdrop, and hosting these awards is testament to our leadership position in the industry as well as our appeal as a destination of choice for group business travel and prominent events such as this.”
 
Justin Cooke, Executive Vice President, World Travel Awards, said:

“We are delighted to be hosting the World Travel Awards Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony in Montego Bay, Jamaica.”

“We are overwhelmed by the gravitas and number of travel figureheads joining us from across the world to acknowledge industry excellence. This is a reflection of just how strongly travel is bouncing back in the Caribbean, especially in Jamaica, where 2022 earnings are expected to surpass 2019 levels by 20 percent.”
 
Jamaica has earned numerous recognitions from the World Travel Awards over the years, including Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board for 13 consecutive years and Caribbean’s Leading Destination for 15 consecutive years. A win at the annual World Travel Awards is the premier travel and tourist industry accolade. Voted by travel and tourism professionals and consumers worldwide, the awards recognize each winner’s demonstrated commitment to excellence. 
 
The World Travel Awards were established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. The brand is recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality in those industries. For further information on the World Travel Awards, visit worldtravelawards.com.
 
For more information on Jamaica, please go to visitjamaica.com.
 
About The Jamaica Tourist Board
 
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. JTB offices are also located in Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Tokyo and Paris. 
 
In 2021, the JTB was declared the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards (WTA) for the 13^th consecutive year and Jamaica was named the Caribbean’s Leading Destination for the 15th consecutive year as well as the Caribbean’s Best Spa Destination and the Caribbean’s Best MICE Destination. Jamaica also won the WTA’s World’s Leading Wedding Destination, the World’s Leading Cruise Destination, and the World’s Leading Family Destination. Additionally, Jamaica was awarded three gold 2020 Travvy Awards for Best Culinary Destination, Caribbean/Bahamas. The Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) named Jamaica the 2020 Destination of the Year for Sustainable Tourism. In 2019, TripAdvisor® ranked Jamaica as the #1 Caribbean Destination and #14 Best Destination in the World. Jamaica is home to some of the world’s best accommodations, attractions and service providers that continue to receive prominent global recognition.
 
For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the JTB’s website or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at 1-800-JAMAICA (1-800-526-2422). Follow the JTB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. View the JTB blog here.

 
MEDIA CONTACT:
Victoria Polansky | Cathy A. Preece
Lou Hammond Group
[email protected] | [email protected]

Guam Visitors Bureau President & CEO Carl T.C. Gutierrez issued the following statement on South Korea’s announcement that it will be lifting its pre-travel COVID-19 test requirement for inbound travelers starting September 3, 2022:

“We are extremely pleased South Korea will lift its current pre-travel COVID-19 test requirement for inbound travelers later this week.”

“With the current Department of Public Health and Social Services free COVID testing program in partnership with Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio and GVB, we have done our best to accommodate South Korea’s testing protocols and lessen the burden of travelers going overseas. Currently, South Korea requires inbound travelers to show a negative result within 48 hours of their PCR tests or within 24 hours of their rapid antigen tests to enter the country.

While South Korea will be lifting its pre-travel test requirement starting September 3, we also want to make it clear anyone wanting to go to South Korea will still need to take a PCR test at their own cost within the first 24 hours of their arrival to the country as a precautionary measure enforced by the Korean government.

GVB is reassured that as the testing protocols are easing back in South Korea and other countries, it will encourage further recovery of our visitor markets. Guam has been doing a great job at keeping its COVID numbers low, and now, the South Korean government believes it is at that point too.”

Media Contact:

JOSH TYQUIENGCO

Public Information Officer

GUAM VISITORS BUREAU

Office: (671) 646-5278 

[email protected]  

An original new musical which tells the tempestuous story of the Renaissance artist Michelangelo Merisi aka Caravaggio.

Caravaggio The Musical will premiere on September 20, for a limited engagement through September 25 (except for September 22) at Malta’s largest theater, the Mediterranean Conference Centre’s (MCC) Republic Hall. For the first time ever, the MCC will be presenting this original production about the intriguing life of the master painter.

Locally known as the Italian artist who painted the world-famous The Beheading of St. John housed at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Malta’s capital Valletta, Caravaggio’s colorful life is much more of a mystery than his paintings. Caravaggio The Musical aims to shed light on the artist’s personal torments through an original story set to music. Caravaggio The Musical, which has been in the works for two and a half years, will tell the story of the artist at the height of his fame and his transformation into an outlaw forced to seek refuge with the Knights of St. John in Malta.

The musical, composed by Paul Abela with book and lyrics by Joe Julian Farrugia and directed by Malcolm Galea, does not merely aim to tick the boxes of a biography but to also do justice to the core of the story of a tormented genius. Known for his distinctive chiaroscuro style which dominated baroque, Caravaggio brought the psychological realism of the divine to form in his dynamic and deeply expressive paintings. But while his talents were seemingly granted from above, a fiery temper and a penchant for scandal dogged the painter for as long as he lived.

Present for the press preview launch of the new production were Minister for Tourism Clayton Bartolo, MCC Chairman Kenneth Spiteri, MCC CEO Pierre Fenech and members of the team behind the production.

Minister Bartolo remarked how important it is for Malta and the MCC to be able to offer such high-level productions not only to locals but to tourists who will be visiting the island. 

Musical director Malcolm Galea said, “Working on this production has been a beautiful process that will leave the legend of Caravaggio with a new generation as well as showcase our considerable local talents.” 

Featuring a mix of experienced local and international talent on and off stage, Caravaggio The Musical promises a spectacle that’s as exciting as the life of its protagonist. Caravaggio The Musical is on at the Mediterranean Conference Center (MCC) from September 20-25, 2022 (except Sept.22). Patrons can purchase a combo-ticket to watch the musical and visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral.

For tickets, special offers and T&Cs please click here.  

About Malta

The sunny islands of Malta, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, are home to a most remarkable concentration of intact built heritage, including the highest density of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in any nation-state anywhere. Valletta, built by the proud Knights of St. John, is one of the UNESCO sites and the European Capital of Culture for 2018. Malta’s patrimony in stone ranges from the oldest free-standing stone architecture in the world, to one of the British Empire’s most formidable defensive systems, and includes a rich mix of domestic, religious and military architecture from the ancient, medieval and early modern periods. With superbly sunny weather, attractive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do. 

For more information on Malta, click here

SEEN IN MAIN IMAGE: Hon. Clayton Bartolo, Minister for Tourism – image courtesy of Malta Tourism Authority, photo by DOI – Pierre Sammut

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Malta Tourism Authority- North America 

Michelle Buttigieg

Tel:      (212) 213 0944

Fax:     (212) 213 0938

E-mail: [email protected]

MTA US/Canada Editorial Contact:

The Bradford Group

Amanda Marconi/Jillian Sliwinski

Tel:      (212) 447-0027

E-mail: [email protected]

Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, commends the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation (JCTI) for its 94% success rate of certification in 2022.

This was announced during a mid-year performance review session for the Tourism Ministry and its public bodies, held on Friday (August 26) at Sandals Royal Plantation resort in Ocho Rios.

“The performance of our hospitality workers in the JCTI this year is truly remarkable. We are very proud of our hospitality workers who have prioritized certification and have performed above average. It indeed proves that the JCTI continues to be the primary platform to build a quality tourism workforce that can access attractive jobs that offer decent work, social protection, and upward social mobility,” said the Minister.

The announcement was made by Dr. Carey Wallace, Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), who noted that from April to August 2022, 94% of candidates who participated in certification programs with the TEF’s Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation (JCTI) division were successfully certified.

He added that during the period, 1262 students participated in a number of training programs and 1195 of them successfully passed their exams with a grade of at least 70%. 

The JCTI, which is a division of the TEF, is tasked specifically with facilitating the development of Jamaica’s valuable human capital and supporting innovation for the tourism sector.

“The JCTI will be crucial as we continue to recover from the pandemic’s effects.”

“It contributes to our aim of developing a strong local capacity with an unrelenting dedication to quality by facilitating tourist workforce certification,” said Bartlett.

“Furthermore, as we ‘Build Forward Stronger’ from the pandemic through the implementation of our Blue Ocean Strategy, the focus is on attracting a diverse set of visitors seeking a uniquely Jamaican experience, leveraging local supply and tourism experiences, and creating an even more resilient, safe, and sustainable future.,” he added.

JCTI was founded in 2018 and is made possible by strategic relationships with the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA), Human Employment and Resource Training-National Service Training Agency Trust (HEART-NSTA Trust), National Restaurants Association (NRA) owners of the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) and the American Culinary Federation (ACF).

It offers a variety of supervisory and middle management certification programs, including Certified Hospitality Supervisor (CHS), Certified Sous Chef (CSC), Certified Food and Beverage Executive (CFBE), Certified Hospitality Housekeeping Executive (CHHE) and Certified Hospitality Trainer (CHT)

The JCTI also delivers the Hospitality and Tourism Management program, an initiative for high schools in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Youth. Graduates of this program are prepared to work in entry-level positions in industry and commerce.

During the retreat, it was revealed that the third cohort of the HTM program will include 350 high schools from schools across the island.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Alyssa Taffe

Communications Officer

Tourism Enhancement Fund

64 Knutsford Boulevard

Kingston 5

Tel: 1(876)908-5970/Ext: 5721

Cell: 1-876-441-5055

A ball of light, composed of great glass vines that twist in great arches around each other the artwork unwinds and reformulates the traditional architecture of the Venetian chandelier, presenting a unique one-of-a-kind work handmade in collaboration with the master artisans of Berengo Studio in Murano Glass.

Through the chandelier, the artist explores the classical imagery of Venetian glass chandeliers and sets out to reinterpret this historical splendor using his own unique visual language. As always, Ai Weiwei takes us by surprise, on closer inspection the foliage and delicate florals of the chandelier’s baroque exterior give way to a series of unexpected guests, items, and creatures that cut through the ornate botanical foliage with contemporary ferocity. A pair of handcuffs dangle from a branch, crabs scuttle over blossoming flowers and voluptuous leaves, an isolated hand raises a finger in protest. To those who know Ai Weiwei’s work, these items become akin to clues, symbols that are weighted by their varied associations, each carrying with them their own stories.

The defiant hand to power leaps out as a clear echo to Ai Weiwei’s famous photographic series “Study of Perspective” produced between 1995 and 2017 where the artist photographed his own hand with a raised middle finger before monuments and sites of power and prestige around the world. The crabs reference the thousands of porcelain river crabs that crowded the 2010 installation titled “He Xie”, a homonym for harmony and a phrase used often by the Chinese government, that was also a slang term for internet censorship. A glass bird in the form of the iconic twitter icon sits silently within this landscape, a reference to the artist’s prolific use of the social media platform. In this way, this new chandelier of Ai Weiwei holds within it a complex network of ideas and forms, a web of artistic references and connotations that trace the entire oeuvre of the contemporary artist’s career.

“We are delighted to welcome Ai Weiwei’s “White Chandelier” as the protagonist of our magnificent Gran Salone.”

“Our hotel has become a trendsetter serving as home for pieces of acclaimed contemporary artists. That combined with our historic legacy, residential luxury and privilege location makes us the best address in Venice,”  says Patrizia Hofer, General Manager of The St. Regis Venice. The hotel is a luxury destination, rich in history and tradition, inspired by the city’s artistic heritage, which marries contemporary innovation by hosting a series of distinguished guests and artists to allow travelers and art lovers visiting Venice to discover the city from a whole new perspective.

The functional artwork is skillfully illuminated thanks to Berengo Studio’s partnership with the creative Italian lighting company Luce5. An exclusive cocktail event at The St. Regis Venice hotel was held on the evening of the 28th of August in the presence of the artist to celebrate the White Chandelier’s debut in the main entrance hall of the historic hotel.

About Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei (*1957, Beijing) lives and works in multiple locations, including Beijing (China), Berlin (Germany), Cambridge (UK) and Lisbon (Portugal). He is a multimedia artist who also works in film, writing and social media.

About Berengo Studio

Berengo Studio was founded in 1989 by Adriano Berengo with the intention of creating a space for creatives of all disciplines to freely experiment with the medium of glass. Over the last thirty years the Studio has forged a new path for the medium within the art world, testing the limits of contemporary glassmaking with its innovative and inventive approach. Inspired by the work of Peggy Guggenheim and Edigio Costantini in the 1960s, who invited artists such as Picasso and Chagall to produce sculptures in glass, Berengo decided to further this creative vision, inviting contemporary artists from around the world to collaborate with the skilled glass maestros of Murano. It’s an enterprise that has seen him collaborate with the likes of Ai Weiwei, Tracey Emin, Thomas Schütte, and Laure Prouvost. Today sculptures made at Berengo Studio can be found in museums, galleries, and collections around the world, and the Studio is seen as the leading glass furnace for artistic collaborations.

About Luce5 and The Lighting Factory

Luce5 is an Italian company that has been operating since 1991 working alongside architects, lighting designers, artists, and creatives who wish to realize unique projects with light. The Lighting Factory is an ambitious project that gathers and enhances the skills and competencies that Luce5 has developed thanks to several collaborations with international artists. The name of the project pays homage to one of the most famous artist studios that ever existed and whose creative and collaborative spirit the company wishes to honor: Andy Warhol’s The Factory. Light and its control are essential to enhance and appreciate the details of any artwork and Luce5 combines technical expertise with extensive research, cooperation, creativity and ambition to ensure every project is matched to its own unique lighting system.

About The St. Regis Venice

The ultimate sophisticate and arbiter, The St. Regis Venice combines historic legacy with modern luxury in a privileged location beside the Grand Canal surrounded by views of Venice’s most iconic landmarks. Through a meticulous restoration of the unique collection of five Venetian palaces, the hotel’s design celebrates the modern spirit of Venice, Italy, boasting 130 guestrooms and 39 suites, many with furnished private terraces with incomparable views of the city. Uncompromising glamour extends naturally to the hotel’s restaurants and bars, which offers a range of exquisite dining and beverage options for Venetians and visitors alike including the private Italianate Garden (a refined space for local tastemakers and guests to mingle), Gio’s Restaurant & Terrace (the hotel’s signature restaurant), and The Arts Bar, where cocktails have been specially created to celebrate masterpieces of art. For celebratory gatherings and more formal functions, the hotel offers a choice of areas that can be easily transformed and personalized to host guests, supported by an extensive menu of inspirational cuisine. Crafted occasions are held in the Library, with its urbane atmosphere, in the well-appointed Lounge, or in its adjacent Astor Boardroom. The Canaletto Room embodies the contemporary spirit of a Venetian palazzo and impressive ballroom, presenting an ideal backdrop for significant celebrations. For more information, please visit stregisvenice.com

About St. Regis Hotels & Resorts

Combining timeless glamour with a vanguard spirit, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts is committed to delivering exquisite experiences at more than 50 luxury hotels and resorts in the best addresses around the world. Beginning with the debut of The St. Regis hotel in New York by John Jacob Astor IV at the dawn of the twentieth century, the brand has remained committed to an uncompromising level of bespoke and anticipatory service for all of its guests, delivered flawlessly by the signature St. Regis Butler Service. For more information and new openings, visit stregis.com or follow Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. St. Regis is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy®, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including complimentary nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit marriottbonvoy.com

@aiww @berengostudio @stregisvenice @fondazioneberengo @luce5_theartoflighting @marriottpr_italy

#AiWeiwei #WhiteChandelier #StRegisVenice #CultivatingtheVanguard #BerengoStudio #Luce5

SEEN IN IMAGE:  Ai Weiwei, White Chandelier, 2022, Photo credit Marco Gaggio

MEDIA CONTACT:  [email protected]