Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

Amerijet opens new branch office in Port of Spain, Trinidad

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, March 29, 2023 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Amerijet International Airlines, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Amerijet Caribbean Express Ltd., opened a new branch office in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on March 28, 2023. Amerijet Caribbean Express Ltd. has been successfully operating at the Piarco International Airport for over 22 years. Recent legislation passed by the government of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago to encourage foreign direct investment will eventually allow for the establishment of special economic zones. In anticipation of the legislative change, Amerijet is moving forward with its expansion plans, focusing on hiring skilled and experienced labor in Trinidad & Tobago. Trinidad’s proximity to the United States, common language, and close time zone will allow the new Amerijet branch office to handle various financial and management functions and report directly to Miami’s headquarters.

Amerijet opens new branch office in Port of Spain, Trinidad

“Amerijet made a strategic and targeted investment. We see great opportunities to continue the growth of our Shared Services Center into the future. Since the start of our air cargo operation in 1991, we have provided Trinidad with uninterrupted service for the past 32 years using a third-party handling company prior to investing in our subsidiary Amerijet Caribbean Express in 1995. Our airline has grown from one B727-100 to a fleet of 23 B767 and B757 freighters. Today, we serve Trinidad with a minimum of four flights per week; we employ more than 20 people at the Piarco International Airport, and we have built amazing business and personal relationships over the years,” said Joe Mozzali, Amerijet’s CFO. “We appreciate our customers here in Trinidad, and we will continue supporting and investing in the region. We are here to stay and to grow with our customers; the sky is the limit.”

Amerijet’s Director of Revenue Accounting, John Hagan, will manage the Trinidad branch office. John joined Amerijet in mid-2021 and has been actively engaged in several areas of Amerijet’s Finance and Accounting Departments, in addition to implementing new systems and processes to streamline these functions and prepare for scalability. “Following a review of different locations, we identified Trinidad as the ideal location for a regionally located service center. We wish to grow our longstanding relationships with the local government, our loyal customers, and we see the potential of hiring skilled and committed people to build the solid foundations for the continued growth of Amerijet,” said John Hagan.

The Shared Services Center in Port of Spain consists of 54 individual workstations covering seven distinct departments, with four management offices and two conference rooms. Two independent internet service providers have been contracted to supply seamless connectivity between the Shared Services Center and Amerijet’s Miami headquarters.

The opening of the Shared Services Center is the latest example of Amerijet’s commitment to streamlining processes and creating best-in-class services for its customers. As Amerijet continues to pursue and execute its growth strategy in the region, the Shared Services Center will integrate and collaborate seamlessly with its worldwide offices.

More About Amerijet:

With almost 50 years of experience in the air cargo industry, Amerijet operates its dedicated fleet of freighters from its primary hub at the Miami International Airport to destinations throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America and Europe. Amerijet’s portfolio of worldwide scheduled, long–term and short–term ACMI and CMI charter services provide seamless and transparent transportation solutions for customers shipping time-sensitive, valuable, hazardous material, temperature-controlled, and other commodity types.

More information about Amerijet can be accessed at www.amerijet.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2043333/Amerijet_International_Airlines_new_branch_office.jpg
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1763558/Amerijet_1.jpg

Click Here for More Information »

Archipelago named ‘Tourism Company of 2022′ at the 18th Excelencias Awards Ceremony at FITUR 2023

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Jan. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Archipelago International, Southeast Asia’s largest privately owned and independent hotel management group, was today presented with the prestigious Caribbean News Digital: Tourism Company of 2022 award at the 18th Edition of the Excelencias Awards, which were hosted at the FITUR International Trade Fair in Madrid, Spain.

The Excelencias Awards were created 18 years ago by the Excelencias Group, a Spanish Company specializing in communications in Ibero-America. The awards promote excellence in different fields related to tourism, gastronomy and culture in Ibero-America and have become a benchmark in these sectors.

The Tourism Company of 2022 Award recognizes the expansion of Archipelago’s ASTON Hotels brand into the Caribbean in recent years and its contribution to the growth of the tourism sector in that region.

Receiving the award on behalf of Archipelago, its Managing Director, Gerard Byrne stated “I am honored to receive this award on behalf of our Group. It recognizes the hard work and dedication of our Americas and Indonesian corporate teams, who, under extraordinary circumstances over the last two years, have opened and are operating hotels in the region which deliver our ethos of world-renowned Asian service standards, operational excellence and unique F&B experiences. This award inspires us to continue to both invest in our regional growth strategy and promote the Caribbean and Latin America to our global network of customers and partners”.

Excelencias Award

About Archipelago:

Southeast Asia’s largest privately owned hotel management group, operating more than 200 hotels, with a further 150 hotels under development across Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean. A trusted hotel company with a long track record and more than 40,000 rooms operating or under development in over 70 destinations with award winning brands including ASTON, Collection by ASTON, Alana, Huxley, Kamuela, Harper, Quest, Neo, fave, Nordic and Powered by Archipelago.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1987874/Excelencias_Awards_2022_Photo.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1765607/ARCHIPELAGO_Logo.jpg

Click Here for More Information »

HIGHGATE ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE VICEROY HOTELS & RESORTS

NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — An affiliate of the Principals of Highgate announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Viceroy Hotels & Resorts (Viceroy). The LA-based, award-winning hospitality group is known for its highly individual modern luxury hotels and resorts throughout the world, and was voted one of the top 10 hotel brands globally in the 2022 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. The Viceroy brand debuted in 2000 with the launch of Viceroy Santa Monica and has evolved into a portfolio of hotels and resorts in iconic destinations such as St Lucia, Chicago, Los Cabos and Snowmass.

Highgate Logo

“We are excited for Viceroy’s future and we believe that this acquisition will not only fuel the future expansion of our brand, but also give us a true partner, one who will offer incredible support, opportunity and collaboration. This deal will accelerate our momentum, and solidify our position as the leading modern luxury lifestyle brand in our space,” stated Bill Walshe, CEO of Viceroy.

“We are thrilled to execute this transaction with Viceroy. Viceroy has built an outstanding customer reputation due in part to its strong service culture and incredible team,” said Richard Russo, Principal at Highgate. ”Through complementing Viceroy’s platform and DNA with Highgate’s diversified ability to grow through real estate acquisitions, development, and third-party growth channels, Highgate intends to add brand-accretive hotels to the Viceroy portfolio that will further enhance customer perception and brand awareness. Further, through powering Viceroy with a proprietary relationship with Highgate’s operating company, and imparting the benefits of Highgate’s scale, we will be able to provide significant incremental value to associates, guests, owners and partners.”

“We look forward to working with the Viceroy team to add visible and impactful hotels to the platform, and cement Viceroy as one of the most noteworthy luxury lifestyle hotel brands in the industry,” continued Russo. ”In the coming months, we will be announcing exciting additions to the portfolio in major urban gateway markets and select resort destinations that will invoke the distinct quality and luxury service that Viceroy has long been known for.”

The transaction is expected to close in early 2023. For more information on Highgate, visit Highgate.com.

ABOUT HIGHGATE:

Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company with over $20 billion of assets under management. Highgate has a 30-year track record as an investment manager, operating partner, and developer for REITs, private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, high net worth individuals, and other institutional investors. With a particular focus in hospitality real estate, Highgate’s portfolio includes over 500 owned and/or managed hotels comprising over 84,000 rooms across the United States, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Highgate’s capabilities extend to adjacent real estate verticals including multifamily, short-term rentals, and diversified healthcare real estate, as well as investments in real estate-linked securities, technology platforms, and hospitality-related operating businesses. Highgate maintains corporate offices in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, London, Miami, Seattle, and Waikiki. For more information, visit: www.highgate.com

ABOUT VICEROY HOTELS & RESORTS:

Viceroy Hotels & Resorts is a global modern luxury brand, inspiring travelers with one-of-a-kind, authentic experiences that bring together provocative design and intuitive service. Dynamic destinations immersed in the local community and culture are at the core of the Viceroy guest experience, and to better serve travelers the brand has established three unique hotel categories consisting of the Icon Collection composed of unparalleled properties furnishing lavish experiences, the Lifestyle Series offering energizing stays in vibrant locales, and Urban Retreats based in bold, eccentric cities. Viceroy’s portfolio of hotels and resorts can be found in a diverse array of breathtaking and inspiring destinations, including Los Cabos, Santa Monica, Chicago, Beverly Hills, Riviera Maya, Snowmass, San Francisco, Washington D.C. and St. Lucia. In 2020, the brand expanded to D.C. with the opening of the Viceroy Washington DC and Hotel Zena (Washington D.C.), and Viceroy is growing its international portfolio with the recent opening of Viceroy Kopaonik Serbia and looking ahead with Viceroy at Ombria Resort Algarve (Portugal) in 2023 and Viceroy Bocas Del Toro Panama in 2024. Additionally, Viceroy was named in the top ten of ‘Top 25 Hotel Brands’ on Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2022.

Viceroy for Everyone, Viceroy’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion to its colleagues and guests can be found at www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/about-us/diversity-equity-inclusion.

Viceroy is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) DISCOVERY, a unique loyalty program offering exclusive benefits and experiences to its members at over 800 hotels around the world. For more information, visit www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com. Follow Viceroy on Facebook and Instagram.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1654513/Highgate_Logo.jpg

Click Here for More Information »

Planet Hollywood Cancun Hosts a Concert With 80’s Cult Super Stars

CARIBPR WIRE, CANCUN, Mexico, Nov. 04, 2022: In a Gen X-inspired experience, Blue Diamond Resorts was the official host of The Sands, a themed event organized by R&R Productions LLC that took place from October 25th to 30th at Planet Hollywood Cancun, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort. This event welcomed famous music and movie artists of the 80s and their fans, in what they called “the best week of their lives”.

Iconic actors such as Corey Feldman, Diane Franklin, Amanda Wyss and Kimberley Kates, as well as a lineup of well-known bands and solo artists like The Cult, Vanilla Ice, Culture Club, Belinda Carlisle and Morris Day, were just some of the celebrities who visited the all-inclusive resort to delight guests with classic entertainment from one of the greatest decades of all time in a Vacation Like A Star™ experience.

The Sands also featured special appearances by classic VJs from MTV and VH1 and provided event goers with an exclusive and intimate opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the ’80s-era talent at special meet and greets. Guests also were able to enjoy daytime pool parties, nightly concerts, costume contests, karaoke, Gen-X Movies in the property’s cinema and more.

Blue Diamond Resorts, the hotel management company of Planet Hollywood Cancun, opens the way to a world of experiences in its all-inclusive resorts located in Mexico, Costa Rica and the Caribbean, through brands that include unique features and a concept that fits each personality and all age groups.

For more information about The Sands event at Planet Hollywood Cancun, click here.

About Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts

Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts bring big-screen excitement to some of the most sought-after locales for an all-inclusive experience, where guests can Vacation Like A Star™. From the pristine shores of Cancun to the tranquil beaches of Costa Rica, these all-ages resorts feature authentic Hollywood memorabilia, a world of flavors, themed entertainment and exclusive activities for the entire family, as well as a premium service with the Star Class™ category for a full A-list treatment. While, Planet Hollywood Adult Scene, offer an all-inclusive adults-only glam getaway (18+) ideal for a romantic escape or a fun-filled adventure with friends that will turn any vacation into the center of fascination and attention with glam and exclusivity.

This engaging and interactive experience at Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts, includes differentiated brand features and amenities, such as PHabulous Bed™, Plugged In™, Main Event Guarantee™ and star-quality accommodations.

To learn more about Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts, visit www.planethollywoodhotels.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/963a063e-0ea2-4a8d-91dd-97f308fcea73

Planet Hollywood Cancun Realiza Concierto Con Súper Estrellas De Los Años 80

CARIBPR WIRE, CANCÚN, Mexico, Nov. 04, 2022: En una experiencia inspirada en la generación X, Blue Diamond Resorts fue el anfitrión oficial de The Sands, un evento temático organizado por R&R Productions LLC que se llevó a cabo del 25 al 30 de octubre en Planet Hollywood Cancun, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort. Este hospedó a famosos artistas del mundo de la música y el cine de los años 1980 y sus fans, en lo que llamaron “la mejor semana de sus vidas”.

Actores icónicos como Corey Feldman, Diane Franklin, Amanda Wyss y Kimberley Kates, así como reconocidas bandas y solistas como The Cult, Vanilla Ice, Culture Club, Belinda Carlisle and Morris Day, fueron solo algunas de las celebridades que visitaron el resort todo incluido para deleitar a los huéspedes con entretenimiento clásico de una de las mejores décadas de todos los tiempos en una experiencia Vacation Like A Star™.

The Sands también contó con la presentación especial de anfitriones originales de MTV y VH1, y brindó a los asistentes la oportunidad exclusiva e íntima de acercarse a algunos de los talentos de la época de los años 1980 en “meet and greets” con actores, así como de disfrutar de fiestas en la piscina durante el día, conciertos nocturnos, concursos de disfraces, karaoke, películas de la generación X en el cine de la propiedad y más.

Blue Diamond Resorts, la compañía de gestión hotelera de Planet Hollywood Cancun, abre paso a un mundo de experiencias en sus resorts todo incluido ubicados en México, Costa Rica y el Caribe, a través de marcas que incluyen características únicas y un concepto que se adapta a cada personalidad y a todas las edades.

Para más información sobre The Sands en Planet Hollywood Cancun, haga clic aquí.

Acerca de Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts

Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts lleva la emoción de la gran pantalla a algunos de los lugares más buscados para una experiencia todo incluido, donde los huéspedes pueden vacacionar como las estrellas con Vacation Like a Star. Desde las prístinas costas de Cancún hasta las tranquilas playas de Costa Rica, estos resorts para todas las edades cuentan con auténticas piezas de memorabilia de Hollywood, un mundo de sabores, entretenimiento temático y actividades exclusivas para toda la familia, así como un servicio premium con la categoría Star Class™ para un tratamiento completo de famosos. Mientras tanto, Planet Hollywood Adult Scene, ofrece una escapada glamorosa sólo para adultos (18+) con todo incluido, ideal para una escapada romántica o una aventura llena de diversión con amigos que convertirá cualquier vacación en el centro de fascinación y atención con glamour y exclusividad.

Esta experiencia atractiva e interactiva en Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts incluye características y servicios de marca diferenciados, como PHabulous Bed™, Plugged In™, Main Event Guarantee™ y alojamiento de calidad estelar.

Para más información sobre Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts, visite www.planethollywoodhotels.com/es

Una foto asociada con este comunicado de prensa está disponible en: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/963a063e-0ea2-4a8d-91dd-97f308fcea73/e

Click Here for More Information »

Cruise Lines and Destinations Map Out Mutual Success at the FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

MIRAMAR, Fla., Oct. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Hundreds gathered in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic with one common goal: improve cruise tourism, especially the mutual benefits between destinations and cruise companies. That was again the main theme of another successful FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show, which celebrated its 28th annual occasion and 50 years of operations for Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).

“I want to applaud everyone throughout the Dominican Republic who coordinated this successful event and showcased the spectacular destination; it is clear that the country is committed to cruise tourism, which President Luis Abinader affirmed in his remarks and participation,” said Michele Paige, FCCA CEO. “It was also humbling to see the continued conviction in FCCA’s mission witnessed by all the attendees and cruise executives who joined to keep working together to build back better.”

Taking place October 11-14, the event featured its usual blend of workshops, meetings and networking functions for the over 500 attendees and 70 cruise executives, but with a new twist – or what Paige called a “new beginning” in her opening remarks – because of the enhanced communications and collaborations arising from the difficult pandemic.

That cooperation was evident throughout the entire agenda, with ways to seize the momentum being the talk of the event and including discussions of longer stays, overnights and homeporting, along with the importance of developing creative, customer-focused experiences to support the demand – and the direct ability for destination stakeholders to work with cruise lines on those goals available at the event.

Michael Bayley, President & CEO of Royal Caribbean International, echoed these sentiments in his opening remarks, noting the “better relationships” built by “work[ing] through a lot of issues and problems and challenges collectively as a team” – while showing the smoother seas ahead as evidenced by sailing above 100% occupancy and registering strong bookings and earnings.

How to capitalize on this for destinations – and the entire Caribbean and Latin American regions – was up front and center for 22 high-ranking government officials and a cruise executive panel including five Presidents and above from FCCA Member Lines, led by Josh Weinstein, President & CEO and Chief Climate Officer of Carnival Corporation & plc, who delivered remarks and comments at the Heads of Government Forum before steering the conversation to other potential mutual benefits, such as employment and purchasing opportunities.

Overall, partnership took the spotlight, and so did FCCA’s Strategic Partners, the Cayman Islands and the United States Virgin Islands (USVI). Kenneth Bryan, Minister of Tourism and Transport of the Cayman Islands, coordinated a dinner for the heads of government and shared the importance of working with FCCA to propel cruise tourism in this video, and the USVI delegation, led by Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte, was engaged and energetic as they interacted with Member Lines and other participants. Both also took part in the “Operating in a Post Pandemic World” workshop.

Headlining the workshop schedule was the “Presidential Panel,” which included Gus Antorcha, President, Holland America Line; Michael Bayley; Richard Sasso, Chairman, MSC Cruises USA; and Howard Sherman, President & CEO, Oceania Cruises.

About Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)

FCCA is a not-for-profit trade organization that represents the mutual interests of destinations and stakeholders throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Mexico, along with Member Lines that operate over 90 percent of the global cruising capacity. For more information, visit F-CCA.com and @FCCAupdates on FacebookInstagram and Twitter.

Click Here for More Information »

FCCA Partners with the U.S. Virgin Islands on Strategic Development Agreement

MIRAMAR, Fla., March 28, 2022 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) – the trade association that represents the mutual interests of destinations and stakeholders throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Mexico, along with Member Lines that operate over 90 percent of the global cruising capacity – is pleased to announce that it has partnered with the U.S. Virgin Islands on a strategic development agreement for 2022 that will focus on increasing the destination’s overall economic impact from cruise tourism. The agreement, coming from a directive by the FCCA Executive Committee, will feature access to key decision makers and their joint efforts with FCCA to fulfill the objectives, including increased cruise calls, new experiences and products, collaboration with the local private sector, more employment and purchasing opportunities, conversion of cruise guests to stay-over visitors, promotion of summer cruising, creation of consumer demand, travel agent outreach and more.

“This agreement is a further testament to the continued partnership that the U.S. Virgin Islands has had with FCCA and the cruise industry,” said Micky Arison, Chairman of FCCA and Carnival Corporation & plc. “The destination has supported cruising through the best and worst of times, and I am proud that this agreement will make it possible to better the lives and livelihoods of so many people there.”

“We are grateful for the U.S. Virgin Islands’ support through the pandemic, with this landmark agreement being more proof of their dedication to cruise tourism, and we cannot be more excited to reciprocate the faith they have shown in us and the industry by maximizing their benefits from the sector,” said Michele Paige, President, FCCA. “Through this agreement, the U.S. Virgin Islands will have FCCA’s full commitment to fulfilling the destination’s initiatives, including assisting the private sector and helping all locals prosper from the economic impact that the industry brings.”

After being a success story for Caribbean tourism in the wake of COVID-19, experiencing a banner year for stay-over tourism in 2021 and breaking numerous records, the U.S. Virgin Islands is looking to turn the page for their cruise tourism, which generated $184.7 million in total cruise tourism expenditures, in addition to $77.9 million in total employee wage income, during the 2017/2018 cruise year, according to the Business Research & Economic Advisors report “Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Destination Economies.”

“The U.S. Virgin Islands celebrates its steadfast partnership with FCCA and its Member Lines,” said USVI Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte. “Strategic marketing and collaborative programs promoting the allure of the cruise industry and our awe-inspiring islands are expected to provide the Territory with a springboard for a speedy resumption, as we enter the endemic phase of Covid-19.”

Through the agreement, FCCA will not only guide the U.S. Virgin Islands government on enhancing their product and increasing cruise calls, but also will facilitate new experiences to offer cruise companies and collaborate with the local private sector to maximize any opportunities. Additionally, the agreement will put the U.S. Virgin Islands in the spotlight for the new and improved programs that FCCA has developed with focuses on employment, purchasing and converting cruise guests to stay-over visitors.

As a top-down initiative directed by the FCCA Executive Committee, which includes presidents and above of FCCA Member Lines, the new strategic partnership will grant open access for the U.S. Virgin Islands with these key decision makers and the Committee’s efforts to effectuate the agreement’s objectives and the destination’s goals.

Some of the other features of the strategic partnership will include promoting summer cruising, engaging travel agents, creating consumer demand and developing a destination service needs assessment that will detail strengths, opportunities and needs.

About Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)
Created in 1972, FCCA is a not-for-profit trade organization that represents the mutual interests of the cruise industry and destinations’ private and public sectors. By building bilateral relationships with cruise tourism stakeholders and providing them a forum to work with executives from its Member Lines, FCCA fosters bilateral success for all parties. For more information, visit F-CCA.com and @FCCAupdates on FacebookInstagram and Twitter.

Click Here for More Information »

FCCA to Relaunch Award-Winning Marketing and Strategic Destinations Partnership Campaign with New Initiatives to Drive Overall Travel Demand

MIRAMAR, Fla., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) – the trade association that represents the mutual interests of destinations and stakeholders throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Mexico, along with Member Lines that operate over 90 percent of the global cruising capacity – is pleased to announce that it will resume its award-winning marketing campaign, with new programs focused on specific needs of its destination partners and driving overall travel demand for the foreseeable future.

“We are excited to relaunch our Strategic partnership Programs efforts, especially since that signifies the impressive progress that has been made in our partner destinations and the cruise industry,” said Michele Paige, President, FCCA. “Through the constant communications with all parties during this crisis, we have learned more about what our partners need and retooled our new programs and initiatives to their goals.”

In addition to continuing the Gold SABRE Award-winning Caribbean Is Open/Caribbean for Everyone marketing campaign, which generated more than 6 billion impressions in tracked initiatives and showed a measurable improvement in terms of those who would take a Caribbean cruise vacation, the new programs and campaigns will further foster overall demand for traveling to partner destinations – targeting consumers, travel agents, media, and FCCA contacts and resources in order to drive both cruise traffic, including summer cruising, and overnight visitors, also working to convert cruise passengers into overnight guests.

FCCA’s proven B2B focus will also be a mainstay in the new programs, with opportunities to target an influential audience of cruise executives and travel stakeholders through the FCCA’s media channels and publications, including Travel & Cruise, the official magazine of the global cruise industry produced and distributed by the FCCA and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA); events, ranging from private member events to the only official cruise conference representing the Caribbean, Mexico and Central and South America: the FCCA Cruise Conference; and even other FCCA operations, from its monthly meetings with FCCA Member Lines to staff e-mail signatures.

The largest changes in the new programs and initiatives will come directly from destination partners, with strategies tailored specifically for destinations’ varying wants and needs. On top of FCCA’s numerous successful strategies that utilize its reach and platforms, FCCA will work with destination partners to develop courses of actions for the differing destinations and their objectives, whether those goals include more cruise calls, developments, training programs, purchasing/sourcing, increasing employment, establishing homeport calls, securing year-round calls, and/or more.

FCCA will also apply new ways to utilize its numerous resources and contacts to actualize both the specific destination goals and the increase of overall travel demand for its partners.

About Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)
Created in 1972, FCCA is a not-for-profit trade organization that represents the mutual interests of the cruise industry and destinations’ private and public sectors. By building bilateral relationships with cruise tourism stakeholders and providing them a forum to work with executives from its Member Lines, FCCA fosters bilateral success for all parties. For more information, visit F-CCA.com and @FCCAupdates on FacebookInstagram and Twitter.

Click Here for More Information »

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico launches Operational Safety Week 2021

This event, the only one of its kind at the national level, contributes to the promotion of operational security in airports.

This year, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP) urges airports and airport groups to implement their operational safety week as an initiative to expand this event and promote operational safety at the national level

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Nov. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), in its third “Operational Safety Week, GAP Safety Week” promotes operational safety with members of the airport community in the airports they manage through training, outreach, and integration activities that allow us to share the importance all employees have in the prevention/mitigation of aviation incidents and accidents.

This year, the topic is “Observe, Identify, and Report,” alluding to the Event Notification System, or Voluntary Reporting System, which allows anyone from the airport community to report on potential dangers to be analyzed and, where appropriate, mitigated.

Between the 22nd and 26th of November, the corporate GAP and the twelve Mexican airports that it manages will actively participate in the event, in association with their airport communities: operational personnel, airlines, ground support service providers, air traffic service, authorities assigned to the airport, and contractors.

Webinars will be held, conducted by GAP, Volaris, Airports of the Southeast (ASUR), Airports and Auxiliary Services (ASA), the airports of Querétaro, Bogotá, and Quito (AIQ), among other organizations and airports, as well as the participation and support of the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) and the Latin America & Caribbean region of Airports Council International (ACI-LAC).

This event is the only one of its kind at the national level, and it contributes to the promotion of operational safety at all levels of airport and aviation organizations, which strengthens and maintains commercial air transport as the safest in the world.

At the inauguration, Raúl Revuelta Musalem, General Director of GAP, emphasized the importance of working in a coordinated manner for the benefit of operational safety. “If we have learned anything during this pandemic, it is that only with close collaboration between authorities, airports, airlines, and organizations can we can successfully emerge from a crisis.”

He added, “Above all, collaboration in safety is essential. And this event is the ideal forum for the exchange of experiences, ideas, knowledge, and best practices, with a single objective: to improve the safety of airports and the industry.”

Safety is a pillar and strategic axis for GAP. In 2015, GAP managed to certify the first Mexican airport with the Operational Safety Management System (SMS). Currently, this system is certified in all of their airports, and a continuous effort is being made to improve it through the timely incorporation of new regulatory requirements and best practices in the industry.

More about GAP:
Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V. (GAP) is a Mexican company operating in the airport sector. GAP manages 12 international airports in Mexico and two in Jamaica with 35 airlines providing service to more than 330 destinations. Shares of GAP are listed on the Mexican and New York stock exchanges.

In 2020, GAP served 27.3 million passengers, with a 56% recovery rate compared to passengers served in 2019 (48.7 million passengers). The airports that GAP manages can be found in:

  • Guadalajara and Tijuana, serving the main metropolitan areas,
  • Mexicali, Hermosillo, Los Mochis, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato and Morelia, serving mid-sized developing cities.
  • La Paz, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, and Montego Bay, serving some of the most important tourist destinations in the country and the Caribbean.
  • On October 10, 2018, GAP signed a concession contract with the Government of Jamaica to manage, modernize, and expand Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in the city of Kingston.

The airports managed by GAP in Mexico are owned by the Mexican government, allocated as a 50-year concession beginning in 1998 as part of a national initiative to privatize and improve the quality and safety of the country’s airport services.

In Jamaica, the Montego Bay airport is owned by the government, and the concession granted to manage it is for a period of 30 years, which will end in April 2033. Kingston airport was allocated as a concession for 25 years. GAP took control of its operations and administration in October 2019.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico believes in the value of each individual and seeks to unleash their potential through education. Mexicans who are better prepared will raise their quality of life and contribute to the development of the country. GAP, in line with its business model and through its Foundation, is committed to being a positive factor for change. We work on two strategic pillars: work with the community through GAP schools and training the airport community with community training centers.

Click Here for More Information »

Royal Caribbean Group sets June return for sailing from the U.S.

Celebrity Cruises leads industry with first major cruise ship approved to sail from America

MIAMI, May 26, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) has received approval to resume sailings from the United States after more than a year of suspended operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 26, the cruise company will mark a long-awaited return with Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge departing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

“Cruising from the U.S. is back!” said Richard D. Fain, Royal Caribbean Group chairman and CEO. “After months of working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other government officials, our Healthy Sail Panel and industry partners, we can again offer cruise lovers the chance to enjoy the wonders of cruising.  We are truly thankful to reach this special milestone.”

The cruise company’s return is heralded with a sailing on its much lauded, state-of-the-art, luxury ship Celebrity Edge. The ship was given the go-ahead by the CDC to be the first ship back in the water, meeting all new standards for delivering a safe and healthy cruise experience for guests and crew. The inaugural sailing from Fort Lauderdale sets the stage for Royal Caribbean Group to announce additional itineraries, reviving local U.S. port economies and kick-starting the rebound in cruise tourism around the world.

All sailings will depart with vaccinated crew and everyone over the age of 16 must present proof of vaccination against COVID-19; as of August 1, 2021, all guests ages 12 and older must present proof of vaccination.

About Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean Group is the operating business name for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Royal Caribbean Group is the owner and operator of three global cruise vacation brands: Royal Caribbean InternationalCelebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. Royal Caribbean Group is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, our brands operate 59 ships with an additional 15 on order as of March 15, 2021.  Learn more at www.royalcaribbeangroup.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1213007/RCG_Logo.jpg

Click Here for More Information »

Avianca appoints CellPoint Digital for ambitious payment orchestration project

CellPoint Digital tasked with delivering game-changing payment orchestration solution across all channels in all markets for the leading Latin American airline.

MIAMI, March 31, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Avianca, the oldest commercial airline in the world, has partnered with CellPoint Digital to improve customer experience when purchasing services and optimising payments across their entire global operation. This payment orchestration project is one of the most ambitious undertaken by an airline to date and will also address the specific complexities of payment in Latin America.

Using its leading Velocity Payment Orchestration Platform (POP), CellPoint Digital will assemble and manage a unique payment eco-system for Avianca to ease our customers’ payment process and simplify internal processes. Over five Payment Service Providers, 40+ acquirers, and over 40+ payment methods will be fully integrated, allowing for frictionless payments worldwide. Velocity will enable Avianca to deploy 25+ new payment methods, including global e-wallets with Latin American-specific choices plus new European options to offer our customers a variety of options.

Velocity’s roll-out will replace several current payment solutions with a single platform, radically accelerating the time to market for new acquirers and payment methods and automating key back-end processes such as refund and reconciliation. All transactions are dynamically routed to save cost and ensure the lowest rejection rate. Failed or refused transactions are automatically retried through an alternative route to maximise acceptance rates.

Alvaro Rosales, Payment Methods Manager at Avianca Holdings, says: “Offering to our customers their preferred payment method in an appealing and agile manner is critical for an excellent purchasing experience and also having a significant impact on our costs. It’s a challenge for a global airline to develop the eco-system needed to optimise payments, especially with the variety of local requirements for Latin America. Therefore, we needed an independent and agnostic payment orchestrator to process, optimise and automate all our payments through all our channels. CellPoint Digital’s advanced Payment Orchestration Platform will enable us to improve the purchasing experience for our customers and execute our payment strategy, boost our payment acceptance rate and reduce our average payment costs.”

As the Payment Orchestration Platform will be deployed across all digital channels, including B2C (website, mobile app, chatbot), B2B, distributors and traditional channels (call centre, airport or city ticket offices), Avianca customers will benefit from a consistent and enhanced payment experience whichever channel they use. They will be invited to store their cards for future payments and enjoy a new level of flexibility: to pay in their currency of choice, to pay with vouchers or miles, to split payments between several methods, to pay in installments or to pay by simply clicking a weblink.

“We are delighted to partner with Avianca, a flagship airline that has achieved longevity through innovation and is now trailblazing in the area of payment orchestration. We share their vision that optimising payments will make a significant difference to faster recovery while delivering a unique advantage well into the foreseeable future,” says Kristian Gjerding, CEO of CellPoint Digital. “In such challenging times, an airline cannot afford to lose a customer because their payment did not go through or they didn’t find their preferred payment method. Reducing cross-border transactions provides a broad opportunity for global airlines to save costs. However, integrating multiple payment options brings much more complexity, and this is where Velocity will help Avianca: ultimately making it simpler to operate a much more complex payment eco-system.”

For more information about CellPoint Digital’s partnership with Avianca or to interview Kristian Gjerding, CEO of CellPoint Digital, please contact Becky Sales at [email protected].

About CellPoint Digital
We make payments easier™ for airlines, travel companies and other international merchants and their customers.

CellPoint Digital is both a fintech and a traveltech company. We provide powerful payment and digital commerce solutions that enable merchants to simplify their systems, unify their customer experience and boost their digital transactions across websites, mobile apps and other channels. CellPoint Digital offers two omni-channel modular platforms. Velocity is a unique Payment Orchestration Platform that optimises all digital payment transactions, from cards or alternative payment methods, and accelerates the deployment of new payment options. Voyage is a full digital platform that masters the entire customer sales cycle (Promote, Sell, Pay, Serve). CellPoint Digital has offices in Copenhagen, Dallas, Dubai, London, Miami, Pune and Singapore. Visit www.cellpointdigital.com to learn more.

About Avianca Airlines.
Avianca is the commercial brand regrouping freight, passenger and cargo airlines. Avianca has been flying uninterrupted for 100 years. With a fleet of 158 aircraft, Avianca serves 76 destinations in 27 countries within the Americas and Europe. Avianca transported 30 million passengers in 2019 and achieved US$4.6 billion revenues. Avianca is part of the Star Alliance network and offers a leading LifeMiles™ loyalty programme. Learn more on www.aviancaholdings.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/968672/CellPoint_Digital_Logo.jpg

Click Here for More Information »

Iconic Jalisco nature and culture inspire The Design Solution’s redesign of Guadalajara International Airport

LONDON and GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Feb. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – With ambitions to create the ‘best airport in Mexico’ at its home base in Guadalajara, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico (GAP) plans to invest 10 billion Pesos (US$504m* see note) before 2026 in the development of Guadalajara Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport.  The plan includes an additional runway and new terminal building as well as, in the short/mid-term, a radical new 6 billion Pesos (US$302m* see note) redesign of the commercial space in the existing building.  The Design Solution has been appointed to deliver the redesign with the new space due to open on a phased basis over the next 2 years before being fully open in 2023.

The current terminal has benefited from numerous expansion projects since its opening in 1966 and today is a collection of airside zones, complex circulation patterns and architectural styles.  The objective of the terminal redesign is to rationalise passenger flows, creating a series of engaging touchpoints along the passenger journey, from security to gate, with a visionary design that unifies the entire experience.  The Design Solution has worked alongside the project’s commercial consultants, Pragma Consulting, in fulfilling the approved proposal.

The new plan optimises previously under-utilized space, creating a new vibrancy to the passenger experience with a significantly enlarged commercial zone.   The two security areas are retained and passengers are now drawn towards the airside heart of the terminal, a newly revitalised area overlooking the apron, surrounded by a dynamic mix of retail, bars, restaurants, pop-up sites and other customer service facilities.

“Our first task was to rationalise the passenger flows through the terminal to create an intuitive route in the airside commercial area.  With this approach, passengers have much more direct engagement with the greater exposure given to stores, restaurants, bars, pop-ups and seasonal event experiences” explains Graeme Johns, Director of the Design Solution. “It is always a challenge to transform older terminals that have evolved through piecemeal development, especially those that were predominantly assembled before commercial revenues became so important.  These new designs will create a world class facility and passenger experience fitting for GAP’s ambitions to transform Guadalajara International Airport and to maximise its commercial potential.”

“Mexico is so rich in history, culture, craft and unique landscapes and so finding a special feature to tie the designs together was not difficult.  Guadalajara is the heart of the Tequila and we were inspired by the shape of the harvested Agave plant used in the production of this iconic spirt, which is also one of the fastest growing categories in travel retail.  Its unique form is evident throughout the decoration of the terminal, such as the decorative lighting grilles featured in the main walkways and in the food & beverage area.”

Raul Revuelta, Chief Executive Officer, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico adds. “We first worked with The Design Solution at Sangster Montego Bay Airport in Jamaica, one of our other operated airports.  Shortly after, we appointed them to work at Los Cabos airport in Mexico and now on to Guadalajara.  We have worked together as a team over many months to create something we believe will transform the terminal, both in terms of bringing passengers the best travel experience as well as growing our commercial offer. In the core airside commercial area, we currently have 5,700 sq m and that will increase to 7,250 sq m.  The pandemic inevitably means the implementation of our ambitious plans will likely take longer than originally hoped but we look forward to a phased approach to achieving this vision.”

A key area of the redesign is centred on a flat roof canopy, located outside the centre of the terminal building, over an expanded baggage area.  The proposal is to transform this into a signature feature of the terminal, with an external garden terrace, surrounding an Agave-inspired architectural shade pod, offering casual seating, planting and a unique eating and drinking destination.  The ambience of this garden has also inspired the character of the indoor food & beverage zone and is further reflected in the outside feel that is brought inside to the gate seating areas. Heavily planted areas include trees to complement the minimalistic concrete benches with low level under-lighting, combining to create a light, contemporary and natural landscape look and feel. The exterior aesthetic is further enhanced with the application of resin-bound aggregate floor finishes and warm natural materials.

A large rotunda space is introduced directly after the wall-through duty free store, enabling passengers to pause, orientate themselves, check flight information and then plan how to spend their time before heading to the gate.  A large aura formation of pendant lights, made from Peltra, a Mexican porcelain enamel, designed by local contemporary design agency Bandido Studio in Puebla, is suspended within the space, creating a striking statement with a strongly local sense of place.

Beside agave cultivation, Tequila and Mezcal production, Guadalajara is home to Mexico’s thriving software industry, known worldwide as Mexico’s Silicon Valley.  The airport is the country’s third largest airport, handling almost 15m passengers in 2019.  The new development will increase capacity to 30m passengers per year, an increase of 60% more flights.  Pre-pandemic passenger growth was double-digit and the airport anticipates a return to growth in due course. ENDS

Note: US$ amounts quoted in 1st paragraph are approximate due to US dollar exchange rate on the date of publication and also according to the peso exchange rate on the date of investment approval.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About The Design Solution

The Design Solution is a London based retail architecture and design practice with a strong specialism in the $70bn+ travel retail industry.  The practice has over 30 years’ experience in developing world-class retail solutions for airports, rail, motorways and other retail destinations all over the world together with compelling merchandising and experiential designs for brands.

About Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, S.A.B. of C.V. (GAP) is a Mexican company that develops its activity in the airport sector. GAP operates 12 international airports in Mexico and two in Jamaica, serving more than 330 destinations, through 35 airlines. Its shares are listed on the stock exchanges of Mexico and New York.

In 2020, GAP served 27.3 million passengers, achieving a 56% recovery compared to those served in 2019 (48.7 million passengers).

The airports managed by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico are located at:

  • Guadalajara and Tijuana, serving the main metropolitan areas.
  • Mexicali, Hermosillo, Los Mochis, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, and Morelia, serving medium-sized developing cities.
  • La Paz, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo and Montego Bay, serving some of the most important tourist destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean.
  • On October 10, 2018, GAP signed the concession contract with the government of Jamaica to operate, modernize and expand the Norman Manley International Airport (”KIN”) located in the city of Kingston.

The airports managed by GAP in Mexico are owned by the Mexican government and have been allocated in a 50-year concession starting in 1998, as part of a domestic initiative to privatize and improve the quality and security of the country’s airport services.

In Jamaica, the government owns the Montego Bay Airport and the concession granted for its operation is for a 30-year period, which will conclude on April 2033. The Kingston Airport was granted for a 25-year concession. GAP took control of the operation and administration this past October 2019.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico believes in the value of each individual and seeks to trigger his or her potential through education. Better-educated Mexicans will raise their quality of life and contribute towards the country’s development. GAP, in line with its business model and through its Foundation, is committed to be a factor of change. We work on two strategic pillars: work with the community, through the GAP Schools, and on training the airport community, with Community Training Centers.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1440076/Renders.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1440075/GAP_logo.jpg

Click Here for More Information »

Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun debuts in picturesque Costa Mujeres

CaribPR Wire, TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 29, 2021: Planet Hollywood Hotels and Resorts is thrilled to announce the opening of its newest all-inclusive luxury property, Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun, on Friday, January 29, 2021. Featuring an array of amenities, services and A-list exclusives, the highly anticipated resort transforms the everyday all-inclusive vacation into a blockbuster getaway.

“It’s been an amazing journey leading my all-star cast of employees to prepare for the grand opening of Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun,” said General Manager Jonathan Iriarte. “The Planet Hollywood brand is dedicated to delivering unique and memorable experiences, and with this new resort we wanted to rewrite the script on what an all-inclusive vacation should look like. We can’t wait for our guests to experience the resort’s VIP line-up of features and attractions.”

Situated in the exclusive resort enclave of Costa Mujeres, a charming, pristine peninsula just north of Cancun’s Hotel Zone, Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun invites travelers to Vacation Like a Star™ in one of Mexico’s most beautiful beachfront locations, surrounded by turquoise waters and sprawling mangroves. With 898-luxury suites, world-class restaurants and modern wellness features, plus curated entertainment-themed experiences and authentic Hollywood memorabilia, it is the ideal resort for families, couples, friends and business professionals looking for a getaway like no other.

A range of exciting PH Experiences will allow guests to discover the wonders of Costa Mujeres while the resort’s PH Attractions set the stage for action-packed features on-site – including four swimming pools, a lazy river, Shipwreck Cove and Jurassic Splash Park, FlowRider® surf simulator, Labyrinth, a mini-golf course and the first-of-its-kind Planet Play Adventure Park. Children can enjoy supervised activities at the Stars Kids Club™, a unique kids club program designed to spark the imagination of younger guests, and the whole family can catch a front row seat at the theater to watch fan-favorite movies and classic films.

Delivering today’s hottest culinary trends from the resort’s ‘Crave – World of Flavors’ program, Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun‘s selection of 11 restaurants, including celebrity Chef Guy Fieri’s Burger Joint, will take guests on a culinary adventure spanning from Mexico to Japan, Italy and India. Guests can also enjoy a Chef’s Table experience featuring a personal Chef and custom crafted menu of dishes catered to each person’s unique tastes. Another new venue, Studio Disco Bar & Lounge is the perfect place to live the VIP experience and dance the night away in paradise. With everything from specialty coffees to vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free choices, Planet Hollywood is committed to providing a memorable, highlight-reel worthy experience for each and every guest.

Additional all-star features and amenities include:

  • The PH Spa, inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood, which promises total relaxation and rejuvenation with deep immersive therapies, soothing massages, showers, a steam room, sauna, hydrotherapy pool and an ice fountain.
  • The resort’s professionally designed wellness program, PHIT, which brings active vacationers top-trending fitness regimes straight from Hollywood.
  • The state-of-the-art PUMPED Fitness Centre which offers first-class workouts with professional instructors, daily classes and the latest cardio and strength-training equipment. The resort also features tennis courts and a world-class outdoor facility.
  • A modern and spacious Convention Center that will transform any conference or board meeting into a full red-carpet experience, with a capacity of up to 1,300 guests.
  • A variety of wedding packages fit for the big screen, plus on-site wedding coordinators to take care of all the details.
  • Monthly special events and daily activities for guests of all ages, from Hollywood Tribute Nights to Retro Wednesdays.
  • Signature brand offerings, including the Your Soundtrack™ music program, where guests can curate a soundtrack for their vacation and Plugged-In™, a personal command center to help guests do anything from ordering room service to booking excursions, along with free Wi-Fi throughout the resort.
  • Other brand offerings include the Main Event Guarantee™, allowing guests to catch all major events in real time and STAR Class™, delivering the full star experience with exclusive amenities and extraordinary service.

Introducing a new way to Vacation like a Star™, Planet Hollywood Adult Scene Cancun, the brand’s first-ever adults-only resort-within-a-resort concept, allows guests 18 years and older to enjoy Planet Hollywood’s signature celebrity-inspired experience in an exclusive resort setting. This upscale oasis is comprised of 332 suites with A-lister amenities including hand-crafted PHabulous Beds™, ceiling-mounted rain showers and plush bathrobes and slippers. Adult Scene also features its own private beachfront and pool area, complete with a swim-up bar and waiter service, two specialty restaurants reserved exclusively for Adult Scene guests – the Braza Grill & Churrascaria and Catch Seafood Restaurant – in addition to full access to the amenities and facilities at the wider Planet Hollywood resort.

For more information or to book your all-inclusive vacation, visit www.planethollywoodhotels.com or contact your Travel Agent.

About Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts

Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts offer luxurious vacation settings where guests can get close to authentic Hollywood memorabilia, enjoy entertainment-themed facilities and Vacation Like A Star™ in some of the most sought-after locales – including Costa Rica’s Pura Vida paradise, the beautiful beaches of Cancun and coming soon, Sint Maarten. For those looking for the full A-list treatment, the Star Class™ upgrade provides members with a Personal Agent to maximize their experience, including access to the exclusive STAR Class™ Lounge, a rider to customize their in-room mini-bar, a pillow menu for the perfect night’s sleep and more. Planet Hollywood’s Adult Scene is a lavish haven for those 18+, offering uninterrupted cocktails and sunset views for a blockbuster vacation experience. Designed for those who want to be dazzled by the marvels of technology, Planet Hollywood Resorts are a step ahead, delivering guests superior luxury and innovation with the convenient Plugged In™ program, enabling a keyless and cashless environment for guests, unlimited Wi-Fi and a PHTV channel to stay informed.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4daafe26-4b68-478c-a56c-23e4cb750737

Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun debuta en la atractiva Costa Mujeres

Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun
Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun debuta en la atractiva Costa Mujeres

CaribPR Wire, TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 29, 2021: Planet Hollywood Hotels and Resorts se complace en anunciar la apertura de su nueva propiedad de lujo todo incluido, Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun, este viernes 29 de enero de 2021. Con su amplia variedad de facilidades, servicios y exclusividades de primer nivel, el tan esperado complejo transformará las vacaciones tradicionales con todo incluido en un verdadero éxito de cartelera.

Guiar a este gran elenco de empleados estelares en la preparación de la gran inauguración de Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun ha sido una experiencia increíble“, dijo su gerente general Jonathan Iriarte. “La marca Planet Hollywood se dedica a brindar experiencias únicas y memorables, y con este nuevo resort queríamos reescribir el guion sobre cómo deberían de ser unas verdaderas vacaciones con todo incluido. Estamos impacientes de que nuestros huéspedes puedan experimentar nuestra gama de características VIP y las increíbles atracciones del resort.

Situado en el exclusivo enclave turístico de Costa Mujeres, una encantadora e inmaculada península al norte de la Zona Hotelera de Cancún, Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun invita a sus huéspedes a disfrutar del concepto Vacation Like a Star™ en uno de los lugares frente al mar más hermosos de México, rodeado de aguas turquesas y extensos manglares. Con 898 suites de lujo, restaurantes de clase mundial y modernas instalaciones de bienestar, además de una selección de actividades de entretenimiento temático y decorado con auténticos objetos provenientes de diferentes clásicos de culto de Hollywood; Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun es el resort ideal para familias, parejas, amigos y profesionales de negocios que buscan una escapada sin igual.

Los huéspedes podrán descubrir las maravillas de la famosa Costa Mujeres gracias a la gran variedad de experiencias que ofrece PH Experiences; mientras que las atracciones PH serán indudablemente el escenario ideal de divertidos e inolvidables momentos llenos de acción, las cuales incluyen cuatro piscinas, un río lento, una piscina de chapoteo ambientada en un barco pirata y el Jurassic Splash Park, el simulador de surf FlowRider®, un laberinto de setos, un campo de minigolf y el primer Planet Play Adventure Park, el primer parque de juegos de su tipo. Los niños pueden disfrutar de actividades supervisadas en el Stars Kids Club™, el club infantil con un programa diseñado para despertar la imaginación de los más pequeños, mientras que toda la familia puede tomar asiento en primera fila en el cine donde podrán disfrutar de sus películas favoritas y de los clásicos que nunca pasan de moda.

Siguiendo las tendencias culinarias más modernas, con su programa ‘Crave – World of Flavors’, el cual incluye una gran selección de 11 restaurantes temáticos contando el famoso Guy Fieri’s Burger Joint, Planet Hollywood Cancun llevará a sus huéspedes en una aventura culinaria viajando desde México hasta Japón, pasando por Italia y La India. Además podrán disfrutar de la exclusiva experiencia Chef’s Table, con un chef personal y un menú personalizado para satisfacer los gustos únicos de cada huésped. Cuando cae la noche, Studio Disco Bar & Lounge es el nuevo lugar para vivir la verdadera experiencia VIP y bailar toda la noche en el paraíso. Hay de todo y para todos, desde cafés especiales hasta opciones veganas, vegetarianas y sin gluten, Planet Hollywood se compromete a brindar una experiencia memorable y destacada para todos y cada uno de sus huéspedes.

Otras características e instalaciones dignas de las celebridades son:

  • El PH Spa, inspirado en la Edad de Oro de Hollywood, para una sesión de relajación y rejuvenecimiento incomparables incluyendo terapias de inmersión profunda, masajes relajantes, duchas, baño de vapor, sauna, piscina de hidroterapia y fuente de hielo.
  • El programa de salud y bienestar PHIT, diseñado profesionalmente por la marca para ofrecer a los más activos los mejores regímenes de entrenamiento físico inspirados directamente de Hollywood.
  • PUMPED Fitness Center, un centro de acondicionamiento físico de última generación con instructores profesionales y rutinas físicas de primera categoría, clases todos los días y lo último en equipos cardiovasculares y de fuerza. Además canchas de tenis y una instalación al aire libre de clase mundial.
  • Un moderno y espacioso Centro de Convenciones que transformará cualquier conferencia o reunión en evento de alfombra roja, con una capacidad de hasta 1.300 invitados.
  • Gran variedad de paquetes de bodas de película, con coordinadores de destino para cuidar todos los detalles.
  • Eventos especiales cada mes y actividades diarias para huéspedes de todas las edades, desde Noches de Tributo a Hollywood hasta Miércoles Retro.
  • Valores adicionales de la marca, como el programa Your Soundtrack™, donde los huéspedes pueden seleccionar la banda sonora que representará sus vacaciones y Plugged-In™, el programa de conectividad que les permite hacer muchas cosas, desde pedir servicio a la habitación hasta hacer reservas de excursiones y actividades, además de brindar Wi-Fi gratis por todo el resort.
  • Entre otros valores agregados encontramos en concepto Main Event Guarantee™, para que los huéspedes puedan ver todos los eventos importantes en tiempo real y STAR Class™, para vivir una verdadera experiencia de celebrity con comodidades exclusivas y un servicio extraordinario.

Planet Hollywood Adult Scene Cancun presenta una nueva forma de disfrutar la experiencia vacacional Vacation like a Star™. Se trata de la primera propiedad con el concepto de ‘resort dentro de un resort’ exclusivo para adultos de la marca Planet Hollywood, el cual permite a los huéspedes mayores de 18 años disfrutar de una experiencia Planet Hollywood inspirada en las celebridades dentro de un entorno muy exclusivo. Este oasis de lujo se compone de 332 suites con facilidades de primer nivel que incluyen PHabulous Beds™, colchones hechos a mano, duchas tipo lluvia montadas en el techo y suaves batas y pantuflas. Adult Scene también cuenta con su propia área privada frente a la playa y la piscina, con un bar en la piscina y servicio de camareros, dos restaurantes de especialidades exclusivos para los huéspedes de Adult Scene, los restaurantes Braza Grill & ChurrascariaCatch Seafood, además de acceso a las demás facilidades e instalaciones de todo el resto del complejo Planet Hollywood.

Para más información o para reservar sus vacaciones con todo incluido, visite www.planethollywoodhotels.com o comuníquese con su agente de viajes.

Acerca de Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts

Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts ofrece vacaciones de lujo en lugares donde los huéspedes pueden acercarse a auténticos objetos provenientes de las más famosas películas de Hollywood, mientras disfrutan de instalaciones con entretenimiento temático y el concepto Vacation Like A Staren algunos de los destinos más solicitados, incluyendo el paraíso de la Pura Vida de Costa Rica y próximamente, Las hermosas playas de Cancún y Sint Maarten. Aquellos en busca de la auténtica experiencia de celebrity, pueden subir a la categoría Star Class™, la cual ofrece a sus miembros un agente personal para maximizar su experiencia, acceso al exclusivo salón STAR Class, la opción de personalizar su mini-bar en la habitación, un menú de almohadas para una noche de sueño perfecta, entre muchos otros beneficios. El hotel Adult Scene de Planet Hollywood es un lujoso refugio para mayores de 18 años, que ofrece cócteles sin cesar y preciosos atardeceres para una experiencia vacacional de gran éxito. Diseñados para aquellos que desean deslumbrarse con las maravillas de la tecnología, los resorts de Planet Hollywood van un paso por delante, brindando a sus huéspedes un nivel superior de lujo e innovación con el práctico programa Plugged In™, que permite un entorno sin llaves y sin efectivo para los huéspedes, WIFI ilimitado y un canal PHTV para mantenerse informado.

Una foto asociada con este comunicado de prensa está disponible en https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4daafe26-4b68-478c-a56c-23e4cb750737/es

Click Here for More Information »

Royal Caribbean Group appoints Amy C. McPherson to Board of Directors

MIAMI, Dec. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) today announced the appointment of Amy C. McPherson, former president and managing director of Europe for Marriott International, to its Board of Directors. Her appointment was effective as of December 21, 2020.

“I am honored to welcome Amy to our board of directors,” said Richard D. Fain, Royal Caribbean Group’s chairman and CEO. “Her many years of involvement in the growth of the travel industry, as well as her deep experience in the development of international markets, will be a valuable addition to the board.”

McPherson spent more than 30 years in leadership roles at Marriott International, including 10 years of service as the company’s president and managing director of Europe, until her retirement in 2019.  While at Marriott, she was recognized as one of 25 outstanding “Women Who Mean Business” by the Washington Business Journal.

Ms. McPherson is former Vice Chair of the Executive Advisory Council at James Madison University College of Business. Currently, she is a principal investor in KidsKnowBest, a full-service creative agency providing strong brand solutions for the social age powered by kids.

About Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., doing business as Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), is a cruise vacation company that owns four global brands: Royal Caribbean InternationalCelebrity CruisesAzamara and Silversea.  Royal Caribbean Group is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, our brands operate 61 ships with an additional 15 on order as of December 21, 2020.  Learn more at www.rclcorporate.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

Click Here for More Information »

Experts recommend heightened protocols for the healthy return of sailing

Healthy Sail Panel recommends 74 detailed steps to safeguard the health of guests, crew and communities

MIAMI, Sept. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – New recommendations from a panel of globally recognized medical and scientific experts say that by relentlessly focusing on prevention and other measures – including the testing of guests and crew members – public health risks associated with the pandemic can be mitigated in a cruise ship environment.

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8644151-royal-caribbean-group-norwegian-cruise-line-healthy-sail-panel/

Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

The Healthy Sail Panel submitted its recommendations today to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in response to a CDC request for public comment that will be used to inform future public health guidance and preventative measures relating to travel on cruise ships. The Panel was formed in June by Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH).

The Panel comprises globally recognized experts in medical practice and research, public health, infectious diseases, biosecurity, hospitality and maritime operations that have applied the best available public health, science and engineering insights to their recommendations.

The Healthy Sail Panel’s 65-plus-page report includes 74 detailed best practices to protect the public health and safety of guests, crew and the communities where cruise ships call. Recommendations include testing, the use of face coverings, and enhanced sanitation procedures on ships and in terminals. The Panel is chaired by Governor Mike Leavitt, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“The Healthy Sail Panel spent the last four months studying how to better protect the health and safety of guests and crew aboard cruise ships,” said Dr. Gottlieb. “Taken as a comprehensive approach, we believe the Panel’s robust public health recommendations will help inform strategies for a safe resumption of sailing.”

Gov. Leavitt said: “This Panel undertook an ambitious, cross-disciplinary, public health examination to develop standards and guidelines that create the highest level of safety in the complex environment of a cruise ship. We studied the industry’s experiences combating the pandemic – and we then incorporated the many lessons learned and advances made by medicine and science over the past six months. The Panel’s recommendations are grounded in the best scientific and medical information available and are intended to meaningfully mitigate public health risks to those who sail.”

“We understand our responsibility to act aggressively to protect the health and safety of our guests and crew, as well as the communities where we sail, and we asked the Panel to help us learn how to best live up to that responsibility,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “We were inspired by the depth of the Panel’s work and their determination to help us establish the strongest protocols in the travel industry.”

“The Healthy Sail Panel’s recommendations are robust and comprehensive, and they reflect the intense focus the panelists brought to their work,” said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “We know that both authorities around the globe and consumers expect cruise lines to provide the safest, healthiest vacations we can, and this work demonstrates our commitment to doing just that.”

Fain and Del Rio said each company will use the Panel’s recommendations to inform the development of new, detailed operating protocols, which will be submitted to the CDC and other authorities around the globe for review and approval– an important milestone in the process of resuming sailing around the world. The Panel’s work is open sourced for others to incorporate in their protocols as well; Governor Leavitt and Dr. Gottlieb expressed appreciation that authorities and other cruise companies had already engaged in the Panel’s work as observers.

The Healthy Sail Panel identified five areas of focus every cruise operator should address to improve health and safety for guests and crew, and reduce the risk of infection and spread of COVID-19 on cruise ships:

  1. Testing, Screening and Exposure Reduction
  2. Sanitation and Ventilation
  3. Response, Contingency Planning and Execution
  4. Destination and Excursion Planning
  5. Mitigating Risks for Crew Members

In each category, the Healthy Sail Panel created practical and actionable recommendations to address specific safety concerns. Among the recommendations are key strategies such as:

  • Taking aggressive measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 from entering a ship through robust education, screening and testing of both crew and guests prior to embarkation
  • Reducing transmission via air management strategies and enhanced sanitation practices
  • Implementing detailed plans to address positive infection on board, including contingencies for onboard treatment, isolation and rapid evacuation and repatriation
  • Closely controlling shore excursions
  • Enhanced protection for crew members

The full Healthy Sail Panel report can be found here: Royal Caribbean Group or Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements contained in this release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this release, including, without limitation, those regarding business strategies, plans, and objectives for future operations (including those regarding efforts made by the panel and future health and safety protocols and mitigation efforts) are forward-looking statements and we cannot guarantee that our protocols and mitigation efforts will be successful. Many, but not all, of these statements can be found by looking for words like “expect,” “plan,” “will,” “may,” and similar words. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance and may involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements. Examples of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to the impact of: the spread of epidemics, pandemics and viral outbreaks and specifically, the COVID-19 outbreak, including its effect on the ability or desire of people to travel (including on cruises); the ability to develop strategies to enhance health and safety protocols to adapt to the current pandemic environment’s unique challenges once operations resume and to otherwise safely resume operations when conditions allow; coordination and cooperation with the CDC, the federal government and global public health authorities to take precautions to protect the health, safety and security of guests, crew and the communities visited and the implementation of any such precautions; and other factors set forth under “Risk Factors” in each respective company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. While we believe that the recommendations of the panel will make cruise vacations safer, we cannot guarantee or assure that our protocols and mitigation efforts will effectively eliminate the risk of contracting COVID-19. There may be additional risks that are considered immaterial or which are unknown. The above examples are not exhaustive and new risks emerge from time to time. Such forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which we expect to operate in the future. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change of events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement was based.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1200435/Royal_and_Norwegian_Logo.jpg

Click Here for More Information »

GAP, the first airport group in the world to accredit all its airports in the ACI Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) programme

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Sept. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ – Airports Council International (ACI) is pleased to announce the accreditation of all the airports that are part of Grupo AeroportuarIo del Pacífico (GAP) in the ACI Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) programme. GAP becomes the first airport group in the world to successfully accredit all its airports in the AHA program.

ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme supports airports assessing the new health measures and procedures introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with ICAO Council Aviation Restart Task Force (CART) recommendations and in alignment with the joint EASA and ECDC Aviation Health Safety Protocol.

The AHA program recognizes airports’ commitment to the safety of passengers, airport employees, and the general public. All passenger areas and processes are considered including terminal access, check-in areas, security screening, boarding gates, lounges, retail, food and beverages, gate equipment such as boarding bridges, escalators and elevators, border control areas and facilities (in collaboration with authorities), baggage claim area and arrivals exit.

“Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico reaffirms its commitment to the health and safety of passengers and employees by accrediting the 14 airports of the group (12 in México and 2 in Jamaica) in the ACI Accreditation of Sanitary Measures (AHA) program. GAP becomes the first Airport Group in the world to demonstrate that all its airports have successfully implemented their health measures in accordance with the recommendations of the ICAO CART and aligned with the best practices of the industry”, said Rafael Echevarne, Director General of ACI-LAC.

“Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico’s priority is to give its passengers a safe and pleasant travel experience. As proof of this is the present accreditation, which keeps us in the leadership of health security at an international level, applying the best protocols and measures in all our airports”, added Raúl Revuelta, CEO of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico.

About ACI
Airports Council International (ACI) is the international airport organization, with 1,960 airports in 176 countries. The Latin American and Caribbean office (ACI-LAC) has 270 airports in 34 countries that manage 95% of air traffic in the region.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, S.A.B. of C.V. (GAP) is a Mexican company that develops its activity in the airport sector. GAP operates 12 international airports in Mexico and two in Jamaica, serving more than 300 destinations, through 35 airlines. Its shares are listed on the stock exchanges of Mexico and New York.

In 2019, GAP served 48.7 million passengers, 8.4% more than in 2018.

The airports managed by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico are located at:

  • Guadalajara and Tijuana, serving the main metropolitan areas.
  • Mexicali, Hermosillo, Los Mochis, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato and Morelia, serving medium-sized developing cities.
  • La Paz, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo and Montego Bay, serving some of the most important tourist destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean.
  • On October 10, 2018, GAP signed the concession contract with the government of Jamaica in order to operate, modernize and expand the Norman Manley International Airport (”KIN”) located in the city of Kingston.

The airports managed by GAP in Mexico are owned by the Mexican government and have been allocated in a 50-year concession starting in 1998, as part of a domestic initiative to privatize and improve the quality and security of the country’s airport services.

In Jamaica, the government owns the Montego Bay Airport and the concession granted for its operation is for a 30-year period, which will conclude on April 2033. The Kingston Airport was granted for a 25-year concession. GAP took control of the operation and administration this past October 2019.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico believes in the value of each individual and seeks to trigger his or her potential through education. Better-educated Mexicans will raise their quality of life and contribute towards the country’s development. GAP, in line with its business model and through its Foundation, is committed to be a factor of change. We work on two strategic pillars: work with the community, through the GAP Schools, and on training the airport community, with Community Training Centers.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1252162/Prevenci_n_AIG_4.jpg

Click Here for More Information »

Los Cabos Airport Second Worldwide To Achieve ACI Airport Health Accreditation (AHA)

-  Los Cabos Airport is the first aerodrome to receive this accreditation in the American Continent

-  Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico Will accredit al lof its airports in the AHA Program

LOS CABOS, Mexico, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Airports Council International (ACI) World and ACI Latin America and Caribbean have announced today that Los Cabos International Airport is the second in the world and the first in Latin American and Caribbean to be accredited in the ACI Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) programme.

LOS CABOS AIRPORT, SECOND WORLDWIDE TO ACHIEVE ACI AIRPORT HEALTH ACCREDITATION (AHA)

ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme recognizes the commitment to health and welfare of passengers, airport staff and the public, by supporting airports assessing the new health measures and procedures introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with ICAO Council Aviation Restart Task Force (CART) recommendations and in alignment with the joint EASA and ECDC Aviation Health Safety Protocol and ACI EUROPE’s Guidelines for a Healthy Passenger Experience at Airports.

Topics covered by the accreditation include cleaning and disinfection, physical distancing (where feasible and practical), staff protection, physical layout, passenger communications and passenger facilities.

“Airports in Latin America and Caribbean have acted quickly to this crisis adapting their procedures to the ICAO CART Recommendations and industry best practices. The ACI Airport Health Accreditation gives airports the opportunity to demonstrate to the travelling public and governments that the measures implemented are consistent with global recognized standards” said Rafael Echevarne, Director General of ACI-LAC.

“The impact of the COVID Pandemic has been devastating to our economies and the reactivation of air transport is key for the economic recovery of our region. The AHA programme will contribute restoring confidence in air travel”, added Rafael Echevarne.

“We congratulate Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP) and Los Cabos International Airport for being the first airport in the region to be accredited in the Airport Health Accreditation programme which demonstrates the commitment of GAP to the health and safety of passengers, employees and the public.”

“Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico’s priority is to give its passengers a safe and pleasant travel experience. As proof of this is the present accreditation, which keeps us in the leadership of health security at an international level, applying the best protocols and measures in all of our airports”, added Raúl Revuelta, CEO of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico.

Congratulations to Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico and the team from Los Cabos Airport!”

About ACI
Airports Council International (ACI) is the international airport organization, with 1,960 airports in 176 countries. The Latin American and Caribbean office (ACI-LAC) has 270 airports in 34 countries that manage 95% of air traffic in the region.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, S.A.B. of C.V. (GAP) is a Mexican company that develops its activity in the airport sector. GAP operates 12 international airports in Mexico and two in Jamaica, serving more than 300 destinations, through 35 airlines. Its shares are listed on the stock exchanges of Mexico and New York.

In 2019, GAP served 48.7 million passengers, 8.4% more than in 2018.

The airports managed by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico are located at:

  • Guadalajara and Tijuana, serving the main metropolitan areas.
  • Mexicali, Hermosillo, Los Mochis, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato and Morelia, serving medium-sized developing cities.
  • La Paz, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo and Montego Bay, serving some of the most important tourist destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean.
  • On October 10, 2018, GAP signed the concession contract with the government of Jamaica in order to operate, modernize and expand the Norman Manley International Airport (”KIN”) located in the city of Kingston.

The airports managed by GAP in Mexico are owned by the Mexican government and have been allocated in a 50-year concession starting in 1998, as part of a domestic initiative to privatize and improve the quality and security of the country’s airport services.

In Jamaica, the government owns the Montego Bay Airport and the concession granted for its operation is for a 30-year period, which will conclude on April 2033. The Kingston Airport was granted for a 25-year concession. GAP took control of the operation and administration this past October 2019.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico believes in the value of each individual and seeks to trigger his or her potential through education. Better-educated Mexicans will raise their quality of life and contribute towards the country’s development. GAP, in line with its business model and through its Foundation, is committed to be a factor of change. We work on two strategic pillars: work with the community, through the GAP Schools, and on training the airport community, with Community Training Centers.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1230260/Foto_9.jpg

Click Here for More Information »

Royal Caribbean Group sets sail with updated corporate identity

MIAMI, July 30, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – When a company is known for raising the bar on design and innovation, nothing is exempt from the mantra of continuous improvement—not even the company’s own name.

That’s why Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is now known by a new moniker: Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL).

“The name is simpler, fresher and more modern. It’s also more descriptive—Royal Caribbean Group sounds like a parent company name, reflective of our growth and evolution since we last updated our identity more than 20 years ago,” said Royal Caribbean Group chairman and CEO Richard Fain.

The company’s flagship cruise line brands – Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea, Azamara, TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises – are all now proud members of Royal Caribbean Group.

Royal Caribbean Group’s logo has also been updated. The company’s iconic crown and anchor emblem has been sharpened and made more symmetrical, and now resides inside a circle at all times.

The Royal Caribbean Group identity was designed by Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv.

About Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) is the operating business name for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Royal Caribbean Group is the owner of four global cruise vacation brands: Royal Caribbean InternationalCelebrity CruisesSilversea and Azamara. Royal Caribbean Group is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, our brands operate 63 ships with an additional 16 on order as of July 10, 2020. Learn more at www.rclcorporate.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1221675/Royal_Caribbean_Group_building.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1221674/Royal_Caribbean_Group_Logo.jpg

Click Here for More Information »

Archipelago International Adds Two Hotels to Its Cuban Portfolio

JAKARTA, Indonesia, July 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Archipelago International, Southeast Asia’s largest privately owned and independent hotel operator, today announced that it has been awarded the management contracts for a further two hotels in Cuba. The first of these is the iconic Panorama Hotel in Havana. To be rebranded as the ASTON Panorama Hotel, the property, which first opened its doors in 2002, comprises 320 rooms and is best known for its impressive architectural design and superb location, facing the sea in the city’s Miramar district.

Aston Panorama Hotel, Havana, Cuba

The second hotel is the Holguin Costa Verde Hotel, which will be rebranded as the ASTON Costa Verde Beach Resort. This resort is located in the Holguin region of Cuba on its northeastern coast and comprises 749 rooms, 4 pools, 9 restaurants and 7 bars offering a great selection of á la carte, buffet, beachside and poolside dining options.

Aston Costa Verde Beach Resort, Holguin, Cuba

Both hotels are due to open on 1st December 2020 and will join Archipelago’s growing portfolio in Cuba, which includes the GRAND ASTON Cayo Las Brujas Beach Resort & Spa and two upcoming hotels, GRAND ASTON Varadero Beach Resort and GRAND ASTON La Habana Hotel, both currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2021.

“We are delighted to be given the opportunity by Grupo de Turismo Gaviota S.A. to introduce our very successful ASTON brand to Havana and Holguin, particularly at such landmark hotels. Since its opening, GRAND ASTON Cayo Las Brujas has consistently ranked as the No.1 hotel in its region for guest satisfaction and quality audits. This operational excellence is now more important than ever and will continue to be post Covid-19, as guests will expect and demand higher standards of hygiene and safety practices from hotels. Cuba is best positioned to alleviate these concerns, as it is recognized as one of the safest destinations in the world, has an excellent healthcare system and is taking a holistic approach as a nation to ensure its tourism offerings meet new standards and expectations”, commented Gerard Byrne, Managing Director, Archipelago Overseas.

According to Archipelago’s President & CEO, John Flood “We will continue to invest in the resources needed to ensure that the hotels we manage and operate in Cuba perform above and beyond our guest’s expectations. There is no doubt that in the post pandemic travel context, Cuba will stand out as one of the world’s leading destinations for safe, healthy and environmentally friendly travel”.

About Archipelago International

Archipelago International is one of the most trusted names in Asian hospitality, operating over 150 hotels with a further 50+ currently under development across Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and the Middle East. With 20,000 rooms in more than 60 destinations, the Group’s brands include GRAND ASTON, ASTON, Collection by ASTON, The Alana, Huxley, Kamuela, Harper, Quest, NEO and favehotels.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1221115/Aston_Panorama_Hotel_Havana_Cuba.jpg
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1221114/Aston_Costa_Verde_Beach_Resort_Holguin_Cuba.jpg

Click Here for More Information »

Royal Caribbean Group names Dr. Calvin Johnson Global Head, Public Health and Chief Medical Officer

Former Pennsylvania Secretary of Health to lead strategic planning and operation of global health program

MIAMI, July 28, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Royal Caribbean Group has named Dr. Calvin Johnson as Global Head, Public Health and Chief Medical Officer. In this new role, Johnson will lead the Group’s global health and wellness policy, manage its public health and clinical practice, and determine the strategic plans and operations of its global healthcare organization. Johnson will also collaborate with the Healthy Sail Panel to ensure the company establishes and implements its protocols and recommendations.

“Calvin’s extensive experience in public health and clinical care will help us raise the bar on protecting the health of our guests, crew and the communities we serve,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “Calvin will also work closely with the newly announced Healthy Sail Panel to ensure we establish and implement leading health protocols and procedures.”

Dr. Johnson has a strong background in protecting public health through service delivery innovation, policy development and analysis, and leadership training and development. He has successfully led significant response efforts during active infectious disease outbreaks and was responsible for ensuring all aspects of patient care while overseeing a clinical operation with 1,300 caregivers and more than 300,000 individuals.

“Royal Caribbean Group is committed to going beyond requirements to truly innovative solutions,” said Johnson. “I am excited to join the industry leader, who is clearly establishing the way forward in managing public health initiatives and protecting health and safety. The Healthy Sail Panel is doing critical work to help us develop enhanced standards, and achieve readiness for the return to service, and I am looking forward to being involved in that work.”

“Calvin will add critical expertise in our mission to elevate the quality of care,” said Jennifer Love, Royal Caribbean Group Senior Vice President, Safety, Security, Environment, Medical & Public Health. “His appointment is testament to our commitment to transforming healthcare for those we serve.”

Dr. Johnson, most recently Principal at Altre Strategic Solutions Group, is the former Chief Medical Officer for Corizon Health, then the largest provider of correctional health care in the United States, and for Temple University Health System. He served as Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 2003-2008 and was Medical Director for the New York City Department of Health from 1998-1999. He earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a BS in Chemistry from Morehouse College.

About Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) is the new operating business name for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.   Royal Caribbean Group is the owner of four global cruise vacation brands:  Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea. and  Azamara. Royal Caribbean Group is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and HapagLloyd Cruises. Together, our brands operate 63 ships with an additional 16 on order as of July 10, 2020.  Learn more at  www.rclcorporate.com or  www.rclinvestor.com.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1213007/RCG_Logo.jpg

Click Here for More Information »

Royal Caribbean Group reinvents cruise industry’s safety drill

New patented approach helps guests sail away smoothly

- Technology licensed to other cruise lines to help eliminate crowding

MIAMI, July 24, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Royal Caribbean Group is replacing one of the least-loved but most important parts of a cruise vacation – the safety drill – with Muster 2.0™, an entirely new approach to delivering safety information to guests. The innovative program, the first of its kind, reimagines a process originally designed for large groups of people into a faster, more personal approach that encourages higher levels of safety.

With Muster 2.0, the key elements of the safety drill – including reviewing what to expect and where to go in case of an emergency, and instructions on how to properly use a life jacket – will be accessible to guests on an individual basis instead of a group approach that has been followed historically. New technology, eMuster™, will be used to help provide the information to guests via their mobile devices and interactive stateroom TVs. Travelers will be able to review the information at their own time prior to setting sail, eliminating the need for the traditional large group assemblies. The new approach also enables everyone on board to maintain better spacing as guests move about the ship, and it allows guests to enjoy more of their vacation with no interruption.

After reviewing safety information individually, guests will complete the drill by visiting their assigned assembly station, where a crew member will verify that all steps have been completed and answer questions. Each of the steps will need to be completed prior to the ship’s departure, as required by international maritime law.

“The health and safety of our guests and crew are our number one priority, and the development of this new muster process is an elegant solution to an outdated, unpopular process,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “The fact that this will also save guests time and allow the ship to operate without pause means that we can increase health, safety and guest satisfaction simultaneously.”

“Muster 2.0 represents a natural extension of our mission to improve our guests’ vacation experiences by removing points of friction,” said Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean Group’s senior vice president of digital. “In this instance, what’s most convenient for our guests is also the safest option in light of needing to reimagine social spaces in the wake of COVID-19.”

This marks the first dramatic change to the safety drill process in a decade, since Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas moved the life jackets from guest staterooms to the muster stations, which improved the evacuation process and has been widely followed throughout the industry. More than a year in the making, Muster 2.0 is also an initiative that will be part of the comprehensive set of protocols and procedures Royal Caribbean Group is developing along with the Healthy Sail Panel that was recently assembled in collaboration with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

“This new process represents the kind of innovation that the Healthy Sail Panel is focusing on as part of its mission to enhance the health and safety of cruising,” said former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt, co-chair of the Healthy Sail Panel. “It shows that we can accomplish a lot if we try to think outside the box on safety.”

“I’d like to extend my congratulations to Royal Caribbean Group on this innovative milestone. It’s exactly what our industry needs during these unprecedented times and we appreciate the generous offer to participate in this innovation,” said Frank Del Rio, President and CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “In this industry, we all work cooperatively to enhance health and safety, and this is an example of that.”

The distributed muster for ocean-going vessels concept is patented in the United States and is patent-pending in major markets around the world, including the various cruise industry flag states. The company has also worked with international regulators, the U.S. Coast Guard and other maritime and government authorities to ensure it meets all safety requirements.

In addition to introducing the new process on the ships of its own cruise lines – Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara – Royal Caribbean Group is offering to license the patented technology to interested cruise operators and will waive patent license fees during the time the world and industry battle the global pandemic. Patent licenses have already been granted to the company’s joint venture, TUI Cruises GmbH, as well as Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., the parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Muster 2.0 was first tested on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas in January 2020. Guests who took part in the mock process indicated a strong preference for the new approach and also reported better comprehension and retention of the safety information.

About Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) is a cruise vacation company comprising four global brands: Royal Caribbean InternationalCelebrity CruisesAzamara and Silversea. Royal Caribbean Group is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, our brands operate 63 ships with an additional 16 on order as of July 10, 2020. Learn more at www.rclcorporate.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1219127/eMuster_infographic_Infographic.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1213007/RCG_Logo.jpg

Click Here for More Information »