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Anguilla’s beloved Moonsplash Music Festival returns this March

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Anguilla’s beloved Moonsplash Music Festival returns this March

Anguilla’s iconic Moonsplash Music Festival will once again take place under a full moon at the legendary Dune Preserve on Rendezvous Bay, from March 21 – 24, 2019.

Music lovers and Anguilla fans were devastated last year, when for the first time in its 27 year history, Moonsplash producer and creator Bankie Banx suspended the event, as repairs to the venue were still underway. Some of the biggest names in reggae music have graced the Moonsplash stage — Steel Pulse, Jah Cure, Gregory Isaacs, Sugar Minott, Marcia Griffiths, Bunny Wailer, Inner Circle – just to name a few. So have popular music artists like Jimmy Buffet and John Mayer, and award winning rappers Nas and Q-Tip. It is a magical experience, on an extraordinary island.


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This year’s Moonsplash returns to its roots as the Coolest Beach Party in the Caribbean. Timed to coincide with the first full moon of the month, the magical evenings unfold at the rustic Dune Preserve, Bankie’s legendary retreat, that doubles as laid back beach bar by day and pulsating dance party each evening. The newly renovated beach bar now accommodates 500 persons on decks and another 500 under a temporary beach extension.

Highlights of this year’s Festival are two, not to be missed celebrations — Sheriff Bob’s 80th Birthday Bash and Third World and Friends 40th Anniversary celebration.  Robert Saidenberg, The Sheriff of Goodtimes (aka Sheriff Bob) met Bankie Banx in the late 80s at a recording studio in New York City. Bankie invited Sheriff down to Anguilla and that summer they started planning the first Moonsplash.  This is a very special year for The Sheriff of Goodtimes as he’ll be celebrating his 80th Birthday at Moonsplash 2019. He was also the subject of the 2018 award-winning short documentary film, The Sheriff of Goodtimes, which won Best Short Documentary at the Big Apple Film Festival.

Third World, the ‘Reggae Ambassadors’, is one of the longest lived Reggae bands of all time, and the world’s greatest reggae fusion band, mixing in elements of R&B, funk, pop, rock, dancehall and rap. With 10 Grammy nominations and catalogue of charted hits spanning four decades, Third World will be releasing a new studio album in Spring 2019, produced by 4-time Grammy winner, Damian “Jr Gong” Marley, the youngest son of the legendary Bob Marley, under the Ghetto Youth International imprint. The lead single “Loving You Is Easy” was released late 2018.

Moonsplash kicks off at 6:30PM on Friday, March 22nd with Funky Horns SXM on the Beach Stage, along with other supporting acts.  Headliners on the Main Stage later that evening are Anguilla’s own Omari Banks and the legendary Mighty Diamonds, with additional supporting acts to be announced. Omari’s international musical career has taken him on tour to North America, Europe and Asia, and his recently released single “Me and You” was produced by multi-platinum, multi-Grammy nominee Jason “J Vibes” Farmer. Tabby, Bunny and Judge have produced over forty albums in their long and storied career.

On Saturday, March 23rd, starting from 6:30PM on the Beach Stage, festival fans will be treated to the Sheriff’s 80th Birthday Bash featuring Orange Grove, the popular Sint Maarten band whose infectious sound echoes traces of rock, hip-hop and reggae, and Sheriff and the Deputy, featuring Kat Minogue and Captain Bob.

Sheriff and The Deputy play traditional Folk, Rock, and Country music – the band enjoyed 9 months of performances at Opry City Stage, the NYC branch of the world-famous Grand Ole Opry.

The Third World and Friends 40th Anniversary Celebration takes the Main Stage later that evening, along with the Festival’s own impresario, the incomparable Bankie Banx, and the versatile True intentions, a reggae band that originated in Anguilla with roots in Dominica, who has rocked the local and regional music scene. A surprise guest will complete Saturday’s fantastic line up.

On Sunday, March 24th, the Moonsplash Beach party commences at 11:30AM with spontaneous appearances by the Bankie Banx Moonsplash cast. A host of fun activities are planned for the day.

Cool vibes, great beaches, thrilling performances, amazing music — what more could you wish for? A Beyond Extraordinary experience awaits you when you join us at Moonsplash in Anguilla next month.

For information on Anguilla, please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com; follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.

IIPT India Announces the Winners of the 4th Celebrating Her awards at ITB Berlin

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For the fourth consecutive year ITB Berlin will play host to the International Institute for Peace – India’s (IIPT India) Global Awards for Empowered Women in Tourism – “Celebrating Her.”

The IIPTI Global Awards, “Celebrating Her” are intended to acknowledge and felicitate exceptional women in the fields of travel, tourism and hospitality; individuals with a clarity of vision and mission who understand and believe that tourism, perhaps the biggest industry in the world, could become the first global peace industry and who have committed themselves to fostering the tourism business as a vehicle for peace.

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Five exceptional women from the world of tourism will be felicitated at the 4th edition of the Awards for their achievements and for their contribution to promoting tourism as a vehicle for peace and understanding.

The Awards will be held from 1400 to 1500 at the Palais am Funkturm (Hall 19) on the ITB fairgrounds on Thu 07 March and will be followed by a networking reception from 1500 to 1530.

Key speakers at the awards include Dr. Taleb Rifai, former Secretary General of UNWTO (2010 – 2017), H.E. Eliza Reid, First Lady of Iceland, The Hon. Marie-Christine Stephenson, Minister of Tourism and Creative Industries, Haiti and others.

The Celebrating Her award winners for 2019 are:

H.E. Rania al Mashat – Minister of Tourism for Egypt for Tourism Policy and Leadership

Helen Marano – Founder & President, Maranao Perspectives for Building Global Alliances that promote Tourism as a Force for Good

Mechtild Maurer – General Director, ECPAT Germany for promoting Socially Responsible Tourism

Jane Madden – Managing Partner, Global Sustainability & Social Impact, FINN Partners for Sustainability and promoting Corporate Social Responsibility

Hon. Elena Kountoura – Minister of Tourism for Greece for Tourism Strategy and Resilience

Commenting on the Awards, Ajay Prakash, President of IIPT India says, “Each one of our winners this year is a champion; these ladies have reached the top of their chosen paths in tourism and are an inspiration. The Awards are being held on the eve of International Women’s Day but our champions need to be felicitated every day of the year.

Gender equality, which is a critical part of the United Nations SDGs, is intrinsic to IIPT’s global aims and objectives and integral to fostering peace. Through the Awards we’re aiming to create a network of powerful women across the world who would serve as role models and mentors while they represent IIPT as our Global Ambassadors of Peace.”

Dr. Talib Rifai, former Secretary General of UNWTOP and Chair of IIPT’s International Advisory Board says, “Celebrating Her is a timely initiative. Travel and tourism has become today’s grand human activity, greatly affecting the life and livelihood of people and communities and in turn, Peace and Sustainable Development all over the world.

Leaders in travel and tourism should be the first to recognize that we cannot anymore go about life, progress, development and building peace without HER and without reintegrating half of the human community in advancing towards our goals. It is, therefore, only natural that IIPT India, the country that is standing up bravely to achieving our goals, picks up the issue on behalf of all of us – To state clearly that, CELEBRATING HER IS CELEBRATING US”

Rika Jean-Francois, CSR Commissioner for ITB Berlin – co-presenters of the Awards, said “ ITB is extremely delighted to have partnered with IIPT India to give out these important awards. There are so many amazing women in the tourism industry who are doing an excellent job, committed to improving conditions, who are often never seen, never officially recognized. We are proud to foster change.”

Founded in 1986 by Louis D’Amore, IIPT is built on two very simple but powerful premises: That tourism, perhaps the biggest industry in the world, can become the first global Peace Industry and that every tourist is potentially an Ambassador of Peace. Through global summits, conferences, workshops, awards, the global Peace Parks initiative, consultations with governments and the UNWTO and a regular newsletter, IIPT has worked conscientiously over the last 30 plus years to make peace an integral part of the tourism ecosphere.

IIPT India is non-profit registered with the Indian Registrar of Companies.

Seychelles to take over Berlin in a tropical storm as strong tourism delegation hits ITB in March

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Destination Seychelles will have a strong presence in the German capital, Berlin, as a 42 strong member delegation gets ready to attend the 53rd edition of Internationale Tourismus-Börse Berlin (ITB) travel trade show, which will take place from March 6, 2019 to March 10, 2019.

Staged annually in Berlin, the ITB is the one of the world’s leading travel show and is a-must attend business-to-business event; providing a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to Germany and international travel professionals.

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The show provides a unique opportunity for the entire global travel trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business.

Destination Seychelles be featured alongside over 180 countries and some 10,000 companies and organisations, all fitted in 26 halls in the biggest marketplace of the international travel industry.

The exotic and breath-taking paradise of Seychelles will have its own destination stand covering a space of 180sqm from which the delegation will be actively selling the charms of the destination during the four days of the fair.

The Seychelles delegation will be headed by the Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine, Mr. Didier Dogley, who will be accompanied by the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive, Mrs. Sherin Francis, and will comprise of representatives from hotels, airlines and DMCs in Seychelles.

The marketing wing of the Seychelles destination will be further represented by the presence at the Seychelles Stand of the Regional STB Director for Europe, Mrs. Bernadette Willemin, and the Director for Germany, Switzerland and Austria, Ms. Edith Hunzinger. Marketing Executive, Ms. Winnie Elisa and Senior E-Marketing Executive Randy Rosalie from headquarters will assist them all well equipped to sell the destination as one everyone deserves to tick off their personal bucket list.

In anticipation of Seychelles’ presence once again in Berlin STB Chief Executive Mrs. Sherin Francis mentioned the importance of the destination’s attendance adding on to the visibility of the destination.

“Seychelles presence in ITB is irrefutably some valuable exposure for the destination. Our selling tactic by attending major trade fairs as a tourism board is to make our destination as tangible as possible.

We are look forward to marketing Seychelles means selling the destination ‘sea-sun-sand’ alongside our other features like our creole culture and hospitality. Our presence in major trade fairs adds on to the value of the experience and our partners”, said Mrs. Francis.

Thousands of senior travel industry professionals, Government Ministers, and international press visit ITB each year in March to network negotiate and discover latest trends and industry opinions.

Representatives of hotels include Mr. Fabrice Collot and Ms. Patricia de Mayer from Banyan Tree Seychelles, Ms. Wendy Tan of Berjaya Hotels Seychelles, Mrs. Foram Varsani from Cerf Island Resort and Ms. Ekaterina Gritsenko of Coral Strand Hotel and Savoy Seychelles Resort and Spa.

Other tourism establishment representatives are Mr. Ash Behari from Coco De Mer Hotel & Black Parrot Suites, Mr. Alan Mason representing both Denis Private Island and Carana Beach & Indian Ocean Lodge, Mr. Manuel Policarpo and Ms. Rui Oliveira of Eden Bleu Hotel, as well as Mr. Anthony Smith, Mr. Andre Borg and Mr. Daniele Fabbri of Hilton Seychelles.

Representing Kempinski Seychelles Resort & Spa will be Ms. Agata Sobczak and Mr. Masami Egami. Le Duc de Praslin and Valmer Resort will have a presence at the fair through Mr. Derek Savy and Mr. Robert Payet. Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove will be represented by Mr. Marc Wozniak and Mrs. Jenny Seraphine.

Other hotel representatives are Ms. Devi Sumayna Budhoo of Le Relax Management, Mr. Ferruccio Tirone and Ms. Samia Sedgwick of Maia Luxury Resorts & Spa and Paradise Sun, Mr. Eddie D’Offay of Pure Seychelles Hotels, Ms. Ernestina Bertarini and Ms. Sylvia Fletcher  of Raffles Seychelles and Mr. Sherif El Mansoury from the H Resort Beau Vallon Beach Seychelles.

Mr. Konrad Tarasiewicz from Coco Charter, and Mrs. Lucie Barone and Mr. Jonathan Loeffel will be representing VPM Yacht Charter Seychelles as DMCs.

DMCs also include Mrs. Anna Butler Payette and Ms. Dorina Cedras of 7° South, Mr. Lenny Alvis and Mrs. Elza Frichot Dahoo from Mason’s Travel as well as Mr. Guillaume Albert, Mr. Eric Renard, Mr. Philippe Cornaille, Ms. Amanda Lang and Ms. Luisa Mehl from Creole Travel Services.

Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness breaks ground for Closed Harbour Beach Park

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Habour closed JamaicaPrime Minister, the Most Hon Andrew Holness (C) and Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett (3rd L) participated in the official ground breaking ceremony for the Closed Harbour Beach project in Montego Bay today. Joining the moment are (L-R) Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Dr. Carey Wallace, Mr. Winston Dear, Chairman Montego Bay Advisory Council, Ms. Heather Pinnock, Acting General Manager of the UDC, Attorney General Mrs. Marlene Malahoo Forte, Senator Ransford Braham, Chairman of the UDC, Hon Godfrey Dyer, Chairman of the TEF, Hon Dr. Horace Chang, Minister of National Security and Hon Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. Closed Harbour Beach Park will include the creation of a beach futsal and multipurpose court, basketball and netball courts, kids play area, food kiosks and outdoor dining area as well as a waterfront rehabilitation component.

Construction of the highly anticipated Closed Harbour Beach Park in Montego Bay will begin following the official groundbreaking by Prime Minister, the Most Hon Andrew Holness yesterday.

The project, which is being primarily funded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and executed by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), will be the largest transformative development for the parish and largest of its kind in the Caribbean.

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In addressing stakeholders at the Closed Harbour site, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said, “Montego Bay has a special place in Jamaica and it represents the essence of what it is to be Jamaican with its enterprise, industry and creativity,

This city can become the pearl of the Caribbean and we are making the necessary investments and through development, rule of law and public order this can become a reality.”

Prime Minister Holness added, “As the government undertakes this project, i want to assure the citizens of St. James that we will not allow the tourism industry to grow without including you,

The Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, is the biggest advocate for pensions, training and development and ensuring the profits of the sector redound to the people and this project will be one such example.”

Closed Harbour Beach Park is estimated to cost J$1.296Billion and will include extensive work to create a beach futsal and multipurpose court, basketball and netball courts, kids play area, food kiosks and outdoor dining area.

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, in highlighting the significance of this project, said “Closed harbour is at the core of what Jamaica’s tourism is about and that is to enhance and develop our products which will be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. It forms part of our overall vision to reimage tourism in Jamaica,

We are committed to building out these types of spaces because our first obligation is to our people to ensure they have access to the best beaches and experiences such as these.”

Minister Bartlett added, “There’s no doubt that the Closed Harbour Beach Park will be the most transformative development for Montego Bay and we are going to carry out the vision of re-imaging Montego Bay as a premier destination under the direction of our Prime Minister.”

Minister of National Security, Hon Dr. Horace Chang stated that the project represents “Integrated development and will signal the new Montego Bay.”

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Homer Davis said, “This closed harbour beach is for the people of Montego Bay and people of Jamaica. I am pleased to be Mayor at this time to witness this important development that will benefit so many.”

The UDC will act as project managers for the project which will also see a waterfront rehabilitation component. This will include rehabilitating the groynes that were created in the 1970s that have since been eroded.

Tourism Safety in Jamaica: Risk, reality and a new way forward

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Safety and security are becoming the center point and the basis of a new way forward for the visitors’ industry on this Caribbean Island nation according to Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett. 

Dr. Tarlow reports from Kingston:

I spent Yesterday in meetings dedicated to innovative ideas regarding tourism surety, that is the point where safety and security meet economic development and reputation.  During the day I had the chance to meet not only with the minister of tourism but also the minister of public safety and security.

We discussed a great many issues: From tourist security to security for Jamaica’s citizens, from technology to the need for police raises, from the fact that in the long-run prevention is less expensive than crisis management.  What we meant by that last statement was that the best way to handle a crisis is to avoid it if at all possible.  This discussion leads to the question of risk, and the reality that to be alive is to deal with risk.

Many of these same discussions are being held around the world.

What I have found unique here in Jamaica is not only the open dialogue, but the willingness intellectually to debate the issues and the realization that a tourism center must always seek ways to reinvent itself.  Tourism dare not be satisfied with past success but must also think creatively about future problems.

An example of the rapid changes faced by the world of tourism is the knowledge that we live not only in a world of social media but also in a hyper-connected world.

Ours is a new world where a smartphone can create a revolution, and where the solving of one problem all too often produces new problems and unintended consequences.  For those who have studied Hegelian philosophy, we see that tourism, like society, is a constantly changing dynamic and perhaps the industry’s biggest threat is the fear of meeting new situations, analyzing them, and seeking solutions in a world without permanent solutions.

What I have learned once again here in Jamaica is that in life there are no easy solutions, but despite this reality, we dare not flee from the challenges of an ever-changing world;  to do less is to run from the ethical and enter into a den of paranoia.

Having debated great issues all day with Jamaican colleagues I have come to understand that the real beauty of this land goes beyond its mountains and its beaches but in the creative spirit of its people.

They have taught me once again that change is a part of life and that either we control the change or it will control us.

Best wishes from Jamaica!

Dr. Peter Tarlow is leading the new eTN Travel & Tourism Safety Training Program, a partnership between  Tourism & More, Inc. and the eTN Group. Tourism and More has been working for over 2 decades with hotels, tourism-oriented cities and countries, and both public and private security officers and police in the field of tourism security. Dr. Tarlow is a world-renowned expert in the field of tourism security and safety. He leads the eTN Travel Security and Safety Training team. For more information, visit travelsecuritytraining.com.