tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:40:07 +0000All the sunny news from the Caribbean !http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)Blogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-6557460411210079407Tue, 22 Oct 2013 16:48:00 +00002013-12-11T11:21:52.617-05:00 State of the Industry&nbsp; Marketing the Authentic Caribbean Vacation&nbsp; Melanie Reffes The industry’s annual conference on tourism was held this year on the French island of Martinique. Organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) in collaboration with the Martinique Tourism Authority, ‘State of the Industry’ (SOTIC) was the star attraction at the Madiana Convention Centerhttp://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2013/10/state-of-industry-in-caribbean-cto-2013.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-3750775633076980358Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:50:00 +00002013-06-30T08:26:58.845-04:00 June 10, 2013 Melanie Reffes New York City The largest regional tourism event in the New York area, Caribbean Week in New York rocked the Big Apple with fashion shows, gospel concerts, cooking demonstrations, tropical parties and seminars for travel agents who sell the region. The annual event attracted regional tourism ministers, commissioners and directors of tourism, hoteliers, travel http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-caribbean-spices-up-big-apple.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-851599191780995270Fri, 24 May 2013 18:52:00 +00002013-05-24T14:54:57.255-04:00 Melanie Reffes Petion-Ville, HAITI The ride from the international airport in Port -au –Prince to the suburb of Petion-Ville is long, rocky and dusty.&nbsp; On either side are snapshots of street life in in a country that is still struggling from an earthquake that struck one quiet night in January more than three years ago. Women and men walk purposefully down potholed streets balancing http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-pride-of-petion-ville.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-4135996400151617939Sun, 28 Apr 2013 00:19:00 +00002013-04-28T20:31:06.816-04:00Melanie Reffes Punta Cana April 2013 Organized by the National Hotel and Tourism Association of the Dominican Republic (ASONAHORES) and hosted at the Barcelo Bavaro Beach Resort, the lucky 13th edition of the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) was a spirited affair at the Punta Cana Resort and adjoining Convention Center.&nbsp; Aerial view Barcelo Bavaro ( credit: Bavaro Resorts ) http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2013/04/doing-business-in-dominican-republic.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-152944313848306467Sat, 20 Apr 2013 01:19:00 +00002013-04-20T11:36:43.046-04:00 Port of Spain Hosted for the third time by the twin isles of Trinidad and Tobago and organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), 14th&nbsp;Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development (STC-14)&nbsp;took center-stage at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain. &nbsp;Bringing together the key players from government officials and hoteliers to academics and http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2013/04/selling-sustainability-in-caribbean.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-2527951843756268736Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:12:00 +00002013-02-17T19:31:24.051-05:00 Harbour Island, The Bahamas As the song goes, Nassau may be funky but the Out Islands are the real gems in The Bahamas. Strung like a necklace archipelago, the tiny specks of serenity are wooing the romance market and targeting your clients who may prefer a quieter wedding vibe nowhere near &nbsp;busy cruise ship ports, glitzy casinos or high-rise mega-resorts.&nbsp; (credit: Mark Da http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2013/02/out-about-in-out-islands-melanie-reffes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-7490081210124816971Sat, 26 Jan 2013 16:58:00 +00002013-01-26T12:32:29.415-05:00Melanie Reffes - Nassau, Bahamas&nbsp; Hosted by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board and organized by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), the much-anticipated and always well-attended Caribbean Marketplace 2013 was a spirited affair at Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island.&nbsp; Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island ( credit: M. Reffes)&nbsphttp://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2013/01/selling-sun-caribbean-marketplace-2013.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-8513344765958074940Thu, 24 Jan 2013 23:05:00 +00002013-01-26T14:00:10.523-05:00Melanie Reffes - South Beach A vacay in the Caribbean is supposed to relax and refresh, however, if you’re flying to the islands from the northeast where the weather can change on a dime or from the west or south where the connection times at the airport in Miami require sprinting to the gate like an Olympic athlete, consider staying for a day or two before your flight to the Caribbean. http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2013/01/sweet-suites-selling-south-beach.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-2664372666810778908Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:23:00 +00002012-10-14T12:01:14.870-04:00 State of the Industry Selling the Caribbean Melanie Reffes St. Kitts&nbsp; With the theme,&nbsp;“Developing a Winning Tourism Strategy”, State of the Industry 2012 was organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)&nbsp;&nbsp; in collaboration with the St. Kitts Ministry of Tourism and the St. Kitts Tourism Authority.&nbsp; Focusing on the region’s tourism business, the http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2012/10/cto-sizzles-in-st-kitts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-3829362919287940927Thu, 04 Oct 2012 01:18:00 +00002012-10-03T22:00:33.557-04:00Melanie Reffes Ocho Rios October 2012 Organized by the&nbsp;Jamaica&nbsp;Hotel&nbsp;and Tourist Association (JHTA) with support from the Jamaica&nbsp;Tourist&nbsp;Board&nbsp;(JTB) and Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Jamaica Product Exchange, known as JAPEX, was a smashing success at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in&nbsp;Ocho&nbsp;Rios.&nbsp; Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort ( credithttp://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2012/10/jamaica-rocks-at-japex-2012.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-8153430516570796698Sat, 04 Aug 2012 15:58:00 +00002012-08-05T17:46:48.209-04:00 Serving up a delicious platter of hotels, resorts, golf courses, spas, casinos and delectable local cuisine, Aruba aims to please with stretches of the finest beaches in the Caribbean and the coveted US pre-clearance at departure. &nbsp;With more flights from the US than most other Caribbean countries, Aruba is also below the hurricane belt with temperatures year round at the eighty degree http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2012/08/eat-drink-be-happy-selling-aruba.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-1775345025632070995Sat, 14 Jul 2012 01:07:00 +00002012-07-16T11:27:50.378-04:00 Word of mouth is the tried and true marketing tool at the Grand Case Beach Club in French St. Martin.&nbsp; Guests who return year after year recommend the beachfront property to their friends, they appreciate that the bartenders remember their favorite drink, they’re amazed that Fabian Bellossat at Creole Rock Water Sports kiosk not only remembers their first name but where they live and what http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2012/07/tres-bon-in-st-martin-stay-in-grand.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-3811230825863872913Wed, 11 Jul 2012 01:59:00 +00002012-07-10T22:13:02.987-04:00 Nearly a ten percent hike in international visitors so far this year is making the Tourist Board in St. Maarten a happy bunch. For the first quarter of 2012, visitor arrivals from outside the Caribbean to the French/Dutch island has hiked 9.5 percent compared to the first quarter of last year.&nbsp; This record jump is the best showing in international arrivals in the past five years and ishttp://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2012/07/sassy-in-st-maarten-stay-at-sonesta.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-7242186566796540687Sun, 17 Jun 2012 23:44:00 +00002012-06-22T19:52:29.297-04:00 A spring rite of passage in the Big Apple, Caribbean Week got off to a rousing start in Manhattan in June.&nbsp; &nbsp;Celebrating the sights, sounds, culture and vacation opportunities of the world’s favorite vacay destination, &nbsp;Caribbean Week is the largest regional tourism event in New York and attracts a host of tourism officials, hoteliers, celebrity chefs, fashion designers andhttp://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2012/06/caribbean-week-in-new-york.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-4827591553351576818Mon, 28 May 2012 21:48:00 +00002012-06-09T09:10:10.593-04:00 Melanie Reffes&nbsp; It was nirvana for literary lovers over the Memorial Day weekend when the Anguilla Literary Festival was the hottest ticket on the island. The four-day fete, hosted by Paradise Cove Resort, celebrated the best and the brightest wordsmiths from Anguilla, USA, Canada and Caribbean with readings, workshops, panel discussions, scrumptious breakfast and lunch buffets http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2012/05/good-read-allure-of-anguilla.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-6562338755310871863Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:37:00 +00002012-04-24T21:24:22.296-04:00 April 2012 - &nbsp;Melanie Reffes An annual event, Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) celebrated its lucky thirteenth year in April at the Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort Convention Center in&nbsp;Punta Cana.&nbsp;Sponsored by The&nbsp;Hotel and Tourism Association of the Dominican Republic (ASONAHORES), DATE is the premier trade show in the DR attracting buyers, sellers, movers and shakers http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2012/04/its-date-in-dominican-republic.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-8434139490040811752Sun, 01 Apr 2012 22:31:00 +00002012-04-22T20:58:02.450-04:00 March 2012 - Melanie Reffes&nbsp; Steeped in history and a big draw for tourists, the Maya solar calendar will usher in a new era on December 21.&nbsp; For centuries, the Mayans have anticipated this cosmic cycle while for the modern world of resort and destination marketing, this significant date means a plethora of deals, discounts, promotions and incentives aimed at enticing vacationers to http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2012/04/maya-and-marriott-getting-cozy-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-1611484047471340411Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:23:00 +00002012-03-15T11:23:02.474-04:00If you’re in the mood for vacation but don’t have a lot of extra cash to spend, the Caribbean is ripe with high season bargains that won’t break the bank. From air and hotel packages to gratis room nights and generous add-ons like complimentary weddings on the beach, a reasonably priced winter respite can easily become a reality for couples looking for a break from the blustery winds at home. http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2012/03/dont-break-bank-selling-luxury-for-less.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-2213851530297014067Sat, 03 Mar 2012 17:02:00 +00002012-03-07T09:01:11.528-05:00 Setting the stage for what promises to be another stellar conference, the 13th annual Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC – 13) will be held from April 15 to 18 in Guyana.&nbsp; Organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) in collaboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), the eco-astute event is the most important gathering on sustainable tourism development in the Caribbean. http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2012/03/reggie-medford-artiste-extraordinaire.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-5999651030385219299Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:24:00 +00002012-02-06T14:09:28.153-05:00 Hosted by The Caribbean Hotel &amp; Tourism Association (CHTA), Islands Of The Bahamas, MasterCard and Virgin Holidays, Marketplace 2012 was held at the Atlantis on Paradise Island from January 22 to 24.&nbsp; Renamed’ Caribbean Travel Marketplace’ and marking its 30th anniversary this year, the annual trade show is the largest marketing event in the region where suppliers meet, greet,&nbsp; http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2012/01/selling-caribbean-marketplace-2012.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-4046470120703404233Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:03:00 +00002011-11-15T12:03:15.677-05:00 Following a soft opening in October, Marriott Frenchman's Reef and adjacent Morning Star Beach Resort in St. Thomas re-opened earlier this month with a grand party attracting the island’s glitterati. With 302 rooms and suites, the newly renovated Frenchman’s Reef is a stunning showpiece of architectural splendour with sweeping vistas of Charlotte Amalie, one of the Caribbean’s most majestic http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2011/11/frenchmans-reef-morning-star-beach.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-3929811611856126849Sun, 06 Nov 2011 15:27:00 +00002011-11-06T10:27:45.578-05:00Blessed with sun-dappled skies, candy sands and tie-dyed sunsets, Barbados is affectionately known as "England in the Tropics" courtesy of its ongoing love affair with cricket games and afternoon tea.&nbsp; With, Zagat-rated eateries, championship golf courses, classic calypso and swishy resorts; Barbados has earned unrivaled loyalty from savvy travelers and in-the-know travel agents.  http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2011/11/fast-track-to-fabulous-elegant-hotels.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-7129500892804893647Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:57:00 +00002011-07-20T17:57:30.714-04:00 Inviting beach at Grand Case Beach Club (photo credit:&nbsp; GCBC) <!--[if gte mso 9]> 800x600 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-CA X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2011/07/ooh-la-la-at-grand-case-beach-club.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-1018176572540053652Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:56:00 +00002011-07-01T12:58:41.904-04:00Soaring past the past five million mark, arrivals to the Bahamas hit a high note in 2010 with this year looking just as rosy.&nbsp; Whether it’s Nassau and Paradise Island, Abaco Islands, Exuma Islands or Harbour Island, a holiday is, indeed, better in the Bahamas. A quick forty-five minute flight from Miami or three hours from New York City, the Bahamas are the perennial favourite of vacationershttp://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2011/07/lucky-in-love-wyndham-nassau-resort.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4025069973675403779.post-5073514231933159074Sun, 12 Jun 2011 16:52:00 +00002011-06-13T21:48:53.498-04:00Wowing the big city with Caribbean charm, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) took a bite out of the Big Apple during Caribbean Week in New York City.“This year’s celebration is sure to be our biggest and most exciting Caribbean Week ever, “said Sylma Brown-Bramble, director of marketing, CTO, “the local community will get to experience why the Caribbean is the number one warm-weather http://jaxfaxcaribbeannews.blogspot.com/2011/06/caribbean-takes-bite-out-of-big-apple.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Editor)0