CaribPR Wire

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands, Dec. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — interCaribbean Airways (interCaribbean) formerly Air Turks & Caicos, the national airline of The Turks & Caicos Islands announces the launch of the “Name that Plane” Competition.

Recently the company unveiled its new name, brand and colorful logo to reflect the Greater Pan-Caribbean along with the expansion of air service in Western Caribbean in the upcoming months. The company will shortly take delivery of its next aircraft painted in the new vibrant brand colors.  interCaribbean is pleased to invite the Citizens and Residents of the Islands to which we fly, to help the company select the name for our next plane.

As the winner of the competition we will fly you on one of our flights to Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands as our guest to officiate at the christening ceremony of this aircraft.  As the winning entry, you not only have the opportunity to be a part of this special event, but in winning you will also receive (2) round trip tickets to any one of the exciting destination.

To enter simply visit flyairtc.com (our current website), and start your journey with interCaribbean Airways by entering the competition from the home page.  Let your imagination run wild by giving us your suggested names.  Please try not to use more than 25 letters but be inspired by the Islands you love, your travel style, perhaps your own name,  or a memory and passion for the Islands …. Just keep in mind the name has to represent a connection to one or more of the islands.

May the best plane name win!.  The rules are really quite simple and details are listed on the signup page.  Air Turks & Caicos looks forward to hearing your fantastic name ideas.

About Air Turks & Caicos – Air Turks & Caicos is the national carrier of Turks & Caicos Islands, operating a fleet of Embraer 120 and Beech 99 aircraft, with flights domestically to Grand Turk and South Caicos, and International flights to Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, Santiago in the Dominican Republic, Cap Haitien and Port Au Prince in Haiti, Kingston in Jamaica and Nassau in the Bahamas.  New Services to San Juan commence in early 2014.  Flights may be booked online at www.flyairtc.com by visiting company customer care centers, airport locations or your local travel agent.

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands, Nov. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – Air Turks & Caicos, the national airline of Turks & Caicos Islands announces the changing of its name to InterCaribbean Airways.  The “interCaribbean” name was chosen to reflect the greater Pan-Caribbean expansion of air service in the Western Caribbean in the coming months.  With this a new slogan adopted to reflect the mission…. Connecting you and the Caribbean.

For the first time, travelling between the islands of Western Caribbean may take an hour or two instead of a day or two.  For years the ability for business and leisure explorers to travel between the islands has been nearly impossible.  With the forthcoming expansion of air services, the citizens, residents and visitors will be able to travel faster and easier to create new business and leisure opportunities.

Mr. Lyndon Gardiner, the chairman of Air Turks & Caicos said “it is important for us to capture the life and the color of the Islands.  We believe our new brand and colors represent all of the Caribbean.”   Air Turks & Caicos selected design firm, Lila Design Associates, to create the development of the new brand.  “An important part of this process was to translate the airline’s vision in producing a Pan-Caribbean brand that reflects the route expansion and growth of network plans.” says Norbert Lambriex, the founding partner and creative director of Lila Design.  The lively and joyful Caribbean colors are renowned worldwide and should be recognized while our brand matures into a timeless and powerful image.   The logo represents elements of the sea, air, palm trees and flamingos.

About Lila Design – Lila Design is a Netherlands based boutique branding company specializing in airline and corporate jet designs.  Lila Design focuses solely on aircraft exterior paint scheme (livery), brand design solutions, specification of personal jets and commercial airliners. To learn more about this creative design firm, visit www.liladesign.com

About Air Turks & Caicos – Air Turks & Caicos is the national carrier of Turks & Caicos Islands, operating a fleet of Embraer 120 and Beech 99 aircrafts, servicing flights domestically to Grand Turk and South Caicos, and International flights to Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, Santiago in the Dominican Republic, Cap Haitien and Port Au Prince in Haiti, Kingston in Jamaica and Nassau in the Bahamas.  Flights may be booked online at www.flyairtc.com or by visiting our call centers, airport locations as well as your local travel agent.

New Routes From Eastern US To Warm-Weather Hot Spots Including The Bahamas, Anguilla and Turks & Caicos

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – JetSuite, the nation’s fastest growing private jet charter company, has expanded service to include non-stop flights to popular locations in the Caribbean just in time for the holiday travel season.  Passengers can now fly non-stop from the east coast to St. Maarten (TNCM), Anguilla (AXA), Turks and Caicos (MBPV), as well as Nassau (MYNN) and Eleuthera (MYEH) in The Bahamas on the JetSuite Edition Citation CJ3. These six-passenger aircraft can fly up to 2,000 miles, and offer free onboard WiFi, increased interior comfort and speeds up to 480 miles per hour.

“Our mission revolves around making private air travel accessible to more people than ever before, and offering an unprecedented level of transparency,” explains JetSuite CEO Alex Wilcox. “Expanding our service to the Caribbean solidifies our position in New York, the busiest jet charter market in the world.”

The first private aviation company in history to guarantee an online quote, JetSuite is also introducing enhancements to its JetSuite.com website that will make booking holiday travel even easier:

• New Mobile Site – JetSuite passengers can now easily run a guaranteed quote on their mobile device while either on the go or while reclining in a JetSuite Embraer Phenom 100 or Citation Edition CJ3, all fully WiFi-equipped
• Find Nearest Airport – Click on the “?” in the Instant Quote box on JetSuite’s homepage to search for the closest airport within 25-200 miles of your desired zip code origin or destination. Hovering over the results will reveal the airport fees for each airport, so you can determine whether you’d like to select your airport based upon location OR price

And for those travelers hoping to snag a last-minute escape, JetSuite continues to offer its popular SuiteDeals on its Facebook page. Select destinations and one-way flights for the following day are offered at prices as low as $536. Keep in mind this price is not person; it’s for the entire jet!

For more information, visit www.jetsuite.com or www.facebook.com/JetSuiteAir

About JetSuite
JetSuite’s vision to provide the freedom and exhilaration of private air travel to more people than ever is realized through transparent pricing, efficient operations, acute attention to detail, acclaimed customer service, and industry-leading safety practices. Offering a WiFi-equipped fleet of the industry’s most fuel efficient jets, the company continues to redefine private aviation.  Under the leadership of CEO Alex Wilcox, a JetBlue founding executive, JetSuite is rated Platinum by ARG/US, the highest possible safety rating in the private jet industry.  In 2013, the FAA’s 2012 Diamond Award of Excellence and National Air Transportation Association’s Five Star Award were both bestowed upon JetSuite for the achievements of the company’s highly regarded maintenance department.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY — October 7, 2013:  My Haiti Travels, a U.S.-based boutique concierge firm that coordinates high-quality travel services to Haiti for leisure and business travelers, announced its second annual “Impact Week” signature international expedition to Haiti.  Scheduled for January 16-20, 2014, the all-inclusive five-day and four-night travel package will feature cultural activities, premium hotel and beach resort stays, volunteerism and touristic exploration of Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince and the Arcadins Coast, a popular Caribbean beach destination.  The inaugural “Impact Week 2013” trip was hailed by travelers as a fun, rewarding and safe experience.  With a mission to expose a positive image of Haiti and help stimulate the local economy, “Impact Week 2014” will showcase Haiti’s authentic beauty and history through the eyes of the My Haiti Travels agency.

Founded by Dina Simon shortly following the devastating earthquake of January 2010 to support the resurgence of tourism and investment in Haiti, My Haiti Travels representatives liaise with hotel and resort establishments, restaurants and professional tour guides to provide unique experiences tailored to each client’s specific needs, lifestyle and budget.  Led by a bi-lingual staff and local professionals across Haiti’s hospitality and tourism sector, “Impact Week 2014” offers an exclusive itinerary of live music and entertainment, beach resort activities and fine dining in the trendy Pétion-Ville neighborhood of top restaurants and premier social hot spots.

Travelers will also enjoy notable museum exhibitions, mountain hiking, artisan market visits and city tours of Haiti that capture its long and renowned history as the first independent sovereign nation in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the first black republic in the world when it declared independence from France during the Haitian Revolution on January 1, 1804.  The robust tour schedule also allows quality time for individual exploration of Haiti’s dynamic Taino, African, Latin and French ancestry.

“The vision for Impact Week is to make Haiti the ultimate multicultural experience for travelers, and to offer the perfect mix of civic and social interaction,” said Dina Simon, founder and managing director, My Haiti Travels. “We are excited to invite travelers to join us in January to experience Haiti through our eyes.”

For the second consecutive year, “Impact Week” is scheduled during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday in the United States, and will include a Project Day to provide volunteer services to elementary students of PRODEV (Progress and Development through the Youth of Haiti). Established in 1995 to empower the youth of Haiti through education, PRODEV is a Haitian-led non-profit, non-political foundation officially recognized by the government of Haiti.

A discounted early-bird registration rate is now available through November 2, 2013.  For more information and to register for “Impact Week 2014,” visit www.ImpactWeekHaiti.com.

Media partners of “Impact Week 2014” include Bel Ti Fi, Haitian All-Starz, The Haitian Times, Kiskeácity, Radio Soleil and The Stewardship Report.  For sponsorship inquiries, media partnership opportunities and more information regarding “Impact Week Haiti 2014,” please contact My Haiti Travels at [email protected].

About My Haiti Travels

My Haiti Travels (MHT) is a U.S.-based boutique concierge firm that coordinates high-quality travel services to Haiti for leisure and business travelers.  My Haiti Travels will host U.S. multicultural professionals during its second annual IMPACT WEEK HAITI trip, a five-day and four-night all-inclusive French-Caribbean voyage filled with leisure activities, volunteerism, networking and touristic exploration of Port-au-Prince, Haiti during the Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) holiday weekend on January 16 – 20, 2014.  To educate people about Haiti and its rich culture, My Haiti Travels also publishes the “Haiti Through Our Eyes” newsletter that features guest blogs and travel stories.  For more information, please visit www.ImpactWeekHaiti.com and follow My Haiti Travels on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram and YouTube.

Mr. Gregor Nassief

CaribPR Wire, PORSTMOUTH, Dominica, Mon. Aug. 19, 2013: Dominica hotelier, Gregor Nassief, has issued a second letter to LIAT, this time to the Chairman of LIAT’s Board of Directors, Mr. Jean Holder, calling for his resignation.  The letter, titled ‘Blameless and Shameless,’ calls for accountability in “what is probably LIAT’s worst operational crisis in its 56 year history.”   The letter calls on the Chairman to address the issues, and adds: “If you are unable to force the necessary executive changes at LIAT then you must step up to take responsibility for the current crisis.”  The public complaint is enclosed for publication.

August 19, 2013

Mr. Jean Holder

Chairman of the Board of Directors

Dear Mr. Holder:

Re:  Blameless & Shameless

I attempted to reply to your last e-mail dated August 12^th, but this time my reply was returned with the message “The following organization rejected your message: owa.liat.com.”  As you have blocked my ability to communicate with you via e-mail, I will respond through this letter.

As a reference, I have attached our e-mail exchanges, including my rejected reply, which you never got.  This is not to expose or ridicule you.  In fact many may see wisdom in your points and arguments and come to your defense.

I, however, do not see wisdom, I see avoidance, apathy and a clinging to the notion that LIAT’s management is not in control of or responsible for what is probably LIAT’s worst operational crisis in its 56 year history.  Worst is that you take comfort in an assumption that we are all better off with LIAT than without it, so we should effectively put up and shut up.  That is, in essence, your attitude and your response.  And despite your promise to reply to my letter “in some detail in the very near future,” to date you have addressed none of the issues raised.

Address the Issues, Please

I refer to my open letter dated August 11^th titled ‘Heads Must Roll’ and ask the questions again:

Did LIAT appropriately plan for the fact that pilots had to be taken off line for ATR training?

Did LIAT appropriately plan for the fact that pilots trained on the ATRs could not fly Dash 8s?

Why did LIAT reduce its Dash 8 fleet before the ATRs were fully operational?

Why was such a high-stakes venture undertaken during the peak summer season?

Was there a contingency plan for things not going perfectly?

Your CEO, in what amounts to a letter of apology to LIAT customers, published in the Trinidad Guardian on August 16^th, speaks of “severe weather conditions” and “airport limitations.”   Amazingly, the letter ends with “we will be open and honest in communicating with you as we address your concerns.”

Let me ask a direct and open question to you and your CEO:  Of the LIAT flights that have been delayed or cancelled since June 1^st 2013 until today, please tell me what percent are due to “severe weather conditions” or “airport limitations?”

Another open question – and this one for the benefit of your ultimate shareholders, the taxpayers of the Caribbean: What has this crisis, since June 1^st, cost LIAT in terms of having to pay for passenger overnights, food, ground transportation, chartered flights from several other Caribbean carriers to move passengers around, overtime hours, additional contracted crew and so forth?

And then there is of course the unimaginable economic cost to the region as a result of this disaster.  Imagine a class action law suit where everyone claimed for lost time, missed connections and mental anguish.  Imagine the tourism industry stakeholders of the various islands being part of the suit and claiming lost revenue?

A recent couple visiting Dominica for a vacation experience who suffered greatly at the hands of LIAT wrote us the following: “We truly enjoyed the island and we have been to many of the neighboring islands as well. Each has been a different and equally pleasant experience but we will not be back if LIAT is the airline we have to fly. The people of the Islands may not have a choice but we do and our choice will be to go somewhere where we are treated better by the airline and have a fighting chance of getting to our destinations reasonably on time.”

Multiply this by thousands and thousands.  Do you begin to understand the damage and what is at stake?

Your CEO, the key decision maker at LIAT responsible for planning the Dash 8 to ATR transition, who has finally apologized but who has taken no direct responsibility for the planning and implementation errors that have occurred, continues to hold his position.

My letter of August 11^th also outlined three incidents/areas where I believe LIAT’s public relations has been disastrous.  Your only response to this has been: “I agree that in the circumstances our PR has not been as effective as it should be.”  Your Commercial & Customer Experience Director, the depth of your indifference to what your customers are suffering, continues to hold her position.

If you are unable to force the necessary executive changes at LIAT then you must step up to take responsibility for the current crisis.

Napoleon once said: “To get power you need to display absolute pettiness; to exercise power, you need to show true greatness.”   I ask you to put the pettiness aside, show true greatness, and resign.  Resign because it is the honorable thing to do, resign because it will set an example of accountability to the sitting and future Directors and Executives, resign because the people of the Caribbean and the visitors to the Caribbean need to see that after the more than two months of suffering that LIAT has put them through that at least one person stands tall, takes the blame and feels the shame.

In Closing

Let’s roll back the clock.  It is June, 2013, and LIAT’s latest edition of Zing Magazine has just hit the back pockets of passenger seats.  Your Commercial & Customer Experience Director opens the issue with: “We are looking forward to a fantastic summer of service.  We hope you’ve realized by now that LIAT is about one thing: YOU!  Yes, this year is the Year of the Customer and we want to make you feel special by giving you the service you deserve.”

How did we get from there, to here?  Oh yes, right, “bad weather,” “airport limitations.”

It is time to care.  It is time for change.  Heads must roll.

Respectfully Yours,

Gregor Nassief

Owner/Director – Secret Bay

Executive Chairman – Fort Young Hotel

ps:        To the staff of LIAT.

A recent visitor wrote to us: “If the governments of the Island who own the airline required that senior management spend some time at the counters dealing with passengers it would at least give these managers a true incentive to improve because the issue stems from the top and not the lower level employees.”

The few moments of calm I experienced in my own tribulations over the last two months were given to me by a member of LIAT staff at the check-in counter in Dominica and an air stewardess on a flight from Trinidad.  A caring attitude, a caring smile and clear communication.  I thank them for this.

I appeal to LIAT’s staff not to fall temptation to work stoppages and strikes.  You will simply be moving the victims – your customers, LIAT’s reason for existence – from the torture chamber to the electric chair.  You will be joining your management in not caring.  Instead, join the call for an executive shake-up at LIAT.

It is time to care.  It is time for change.  Heads must roll.

cc:        LIAT Board of Directors

Prime Ministers of Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Barbados and St Vincent & the Grenadines

=== EMAIL EXCHANGE BETWEEN DOMINICA HOTELIER & LIAT CHAIRMAN ===

=== FIRST E-MAIL BELOW IS THE REJECTED E-MAIL THAT NEVER REACHED THE CHAIRMAN ===

=== e-mail addresses and telephone numbers removed ===

From: Gregor Nassief

Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 10:11 PM

To: Jean Holder

Subject: Re: Letter to the LIAT Board of Directors

Dear Mr. Holder,

My family arrived last night, and I was very happy that their arrival was only 26 hours late under the circumstances.   Really – no sarcasm – I was relieved.  Many have suffered much worse.  Thanks for your note of concern.  It is appreciated.

I think our e-mail exchanges are not productive, and it is better we speak.  There is a significant disconnect.  From your perspective, your example below of the ATR being down for maintenance proves your point that LIAT management is not responsible while I believe it perfectly proves my point that LIAT management is responsible.  As stated in my letter, had LIAT planned all of this properly, had you contracted pilots to support the transition, had you not returned Dash 8s before the new fleet was operational, had you put in place solid contingency plans, then such an event as what you outline below would not bring the airline to its knees.  Your executives ignored the advice of many, including your pilots, but you refuse to deal with these issues.  Proper planning would have cost LIAT much less and what this crisis is now costing you.  Who is responsible?  I still await a detailed response to my letter.

If you are not prepared to force executive changes at LIAT then you should gracefully step down and take responsibility for the crisis, and let someone who thinks they can make a difference step up.  If I am managing a business in crisis, and I do not feel I can put things right, that everything that goes wrong is beyond my control and ability to improve, then I am in the wrong place, and I need, for the benefit of the business and its customers, to step aside.

Your statement below is interesting: “I hope that when your turn for judgement comes you find a judge with more milk of human kindness than you seem to demonstrate.”  If you, your CEO and your chief commercial officer had such human kindness, you would step aside out of consideration for your customers.  Where is your kindness to them?  As for my kindness, I had a lot of it, more than most, until LIAT sucked it out of me – consistently, dependably and ruthlessly.

My telephone number is below for future communication if you wish to speak, or meet.  I am more than willing.  This is not personal.  I simply believe that the people of the region, and our visitors to the region, deserve better – much better.  It is time that LIAT’s management is held accountable.

Gregor

1 767 XXX XXXX

From: Jean Holder

Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 2:32 PM

To: Gregor Nassief

Subject: RE: Letter to the LIAT Board of Directors

Dear Mr Nassief

Let me begin as is proper to express my sincere regret for the experiences of your wife and family and I very much hope that they have reached home. I understand your concern and even your anger.

We are not in any disagreements about the broad principles of management and holding staff at any level accountable. There is a lot of work to be done at LIAT and changes to be made. More work is going on in this area than you seem to know.

I also know the value of encouraging staff and not publicly bashing them, especially when they are being attached on every side.

We  seem, howeve, to have some difficulty agreeing on what situations are, and what are not, caused by incompetence and at what level.

Let us examine a real and existing case. An LIAT airline with brand new engines and 68 seats arrived in Barbados on Sunday. That airline can move 68 persons at a time and is programmed to do 6 sectors. It is quite capable therefore of making a significant contribution to reducing the backlog of passengers all over the system-north and south- caused by other breakdowns.

When it lands there is a puff of smoke in one engine and oil is leaking. An examination by experts  reveals that a new   engine is needed. It has to be flown into Barbados and the plane cannot be ready for re-entering the operation until next Saturday 17^th August. Incompetence? No. Very bad luck.

LIAT does everything in its power to deal with the backlog , including wet leasing aircraft. Even this proves difficult as all airlines are stretched at this time.

The impact of this, added to less traumatic incidents,  is that several people remained stranded both at Barbados and at other destinations. The struggle to move them continues but there is progress being made.

Once people are stranded you seem to judge the cause as major incompetence by LIAT’s management and wish the axe to fall.

I hope that when your turn for judgement comes you find a judge with more milk of human kindness than you seem to demonstrate.

Have a Good Day

Best Regards

Jean Holder

From: Gregor Nassief

Sent: Monday, August 12, 2013 1:12 PM

To: Jean Holder

Subject: Re: Letter to the LIAT Board of Directors

Dear Mr. Holder,

Thanks for your reply.  At this moment, my wife Sandra, and our two Children Gaston (8) and Manuela (6) are stuck in St. Marteen as the flight (LI 509) was cancelled last night.  Just a moment ago, LIAT informed her that she could travel tonight to Antigua, and then hopefully to Dominica on Tuesday.  What should have been a 1 hour flight is unfolding into a 36+ hour journey.  This is happening every day, day after day to hundreds, possibly thousands of passengers.

My letter to you and the board deals with executive incompetence at LIAT and the issue of accountability.  This is the matter I would like addressed by you and the board.  The issues are specifically outlined in the letter.  Do you hold your management accountable for the current situation as well as the PR blunders?  And if so what will be done about it?

I am not questioning the decision to buy new ATRs nor am I discussing whether Dominica and LIAT are better off with or without each other.

As long as the board and the executive believes that LIAT’s problems are beyond their control, and that the region on balance is better off with LIAT, then we will get nowhere.  We need a board and an executive team that feel that they can make a difference and they can operate an efficient airline that provides great customer service.   We all understand weather delays, and the fact that safety trumps all else.  We do not understand executive incompetence like what has been demonstrated over the past 8 weeks.  This is what I would like addressed.

My choice should not we whether I want to live with LIAT or without it, it should be whether I want to live with an airline that provides disastrous service or one what provides great service.  I along with the entire Caribbean of course choose the latter.

As you know, any turn around at any organization, private or public, begins at the top.

I would be happy to speak with you as well to discuss the issues.

Regards,

Gregor

From: Jean Holder

Date: Monday, August 12, 2013 9:19 AM

To: Gregor Nassief

Subject: RE: Letter to the LIAT Board of Directors

Dear Mr Nassief

I wish at this time to acknowledge receipt of your email of 11 August 2013 and the letter attached.

I intend to reply to it in some detail in the very near future.

First, however, I wanted to apologize without delay for the problems faced by you and your customers and to any one who has been inconvenienced by LIAT’s present difficulties.

Having been in this business first for 15 years as Head of the Caribbean Tourism Research and development Centre, then another 15 as Head of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and almost 10 as Chairman of LIAT, I appreciate that the customer is always right and I apologize if for any reason whatever LIAT has not been able to deliver what it promised. WE are hard at work to deal with the present difficulties and to deliver a better service.

I mention my experience because I am no stranger to Dominica’s challenges over some 40 years with tourism and air transportation and am willing to have either a private or a public discussion about it with you.  In experiencing the difficulties you mention it is easy to forget that LIAT has stuck with Dominica whence all others have fled for many decades and that in more recent times as American Eagle has left LIAT has supplied the connection to San Juan thus helping to maintain the connection with the students-  a lifeline to Dominica.

The arguments you presented about the ATR and the timing of its introduction sound very familiar to me and this is not the first time nor you the first source from which I have heard them, almost word for word.  There are other technical arguments for a contrary position.

Moreover, unless you are dealing with these matters every day, it is impossible to fully understand the chaos which is caused in a complicated network like LIAT, if at the beginning of every day 3 or 4 planes of your relatively small fleet break down and throws out the schedule. Recovery is difficult. This has happened consistently at LIAT. I noticed that in your letter there is no mention of the times that our pilots who make the very challenging landings at Dominica have to contend with weather and sometimes have to divert to another airport for the safety of the passengers. I agree that in the circumstances our PR has not been as effective as it should be.

The question to you is, would you take the responsibility of waiting until there is a major disaster and people die, to replace the old planes? You fortunately do not have to make the choice.

Finally, If LIAT did not fly to Dominica at all would you be better off?

Let us continue to speak, privately if you wish, or in  public. I believe you will find that on balance LIAT has done Dominica more good than harm.

Best Regards

Jean Holder

From: Gregor Nassief

Sent: Sunday, August 11, 2013 9:30 PM

To: Jean Holder

Subject: Letter to the LIAT Board of Directors

Mr. Holder,

Please find attached a letter to the LIAT Board of Directors.

It is being forwarded to the media.

The damage that has been done to the region and especially to Dominica over the last 2 months is extensive.

It is a call to action for you and your Board to hold your executives accountable for their actions and I hope it is taken seriously and acted upon.

Best Regards,

Gregor Nassief

Owner/Director – Secret Bay

Executive Chairman – Fort Young Hotel

EDITOR’S NOTE: Gregor Nassief is involved in the tourism business in Dominica and the technology business in Latin America.  He is the Owner and Director of Secret Bay, the Executive Chairman of the Fort Young Hotel and the CEO of Tecsys Latin America.

- Ask Caribbean locals to keep their eyes open

OSLO, Norway, Aug. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – The story of the high-tech 30 feet long message-in-a-bottle, which uploaded pictures while crossing the Atlantic, has gained attention world wide, but last Sunday the bottle lost its satellite connection. Now the bottle is in the proximity of the Caribbean islands and the company behind the project is asking people in the area to keep a look out.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130814/634061-a )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130814/634061-b )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130814/634061-c )

The giant bottle was released to the ocean currents outside of Tenerife on March 15th. Besides its own twitter account (@solosoftdrink) it comes with state-of-the-art tracking equipment allowing fans to follow its progress across a world map online, along with a 360 degree camera taking photos every eight hours. But after last week’s heavy sun storms, the satellite connection is down and the company is for the moment not able to get updates on the bottle’s whereabouts.

“We are asking for people in the area to keep a lookout and notify us with any information,” says Joakim Sande, CEO of Solo, the Norwegian soft drink that is behind the project.

“As soon as the bottle drifts ashore and the finder gives us a call, we will come right down and throw him or her a celebration party,” says Sande.

Safety precautions

All kinds of security measures have been taken to ensure that the bottle will not be of danger to others at sea. It has AIS, navigation lights and is built in radar reflecting material that cannot sink.

“We believe Solo is the best soda in the world, but unfortunately not enough people outside of Norway have had the chance to taste it yet. Deciding who should be the lucky ones to get a taste was too heartbreaking, that is why we decided to leave it to the ocean currents in the first place. With the satellite connection lost, it has become an even more authentic message-in-a-bottle and it will definitely be interesting to see where it comes ashore,” says Joakim Sande.

On Solo.no/en people can guess where the bottle ends up. The winner receives a bottle of Solo per nautical mile the bottle drifts, which at the moment of disappearance was a whopping 3539 bottles.

Lost contact

If you have any relevant info about the bottle’s whereabouts please call +47 22069480 or notify Solo on their Facebook page.

“It has been one week since the last position relay. Now we hope to hear back from passing ships or someone spotting it from the air – or indeed if someone should find a big yellow bottle on their local beach,” says Sande.

The world’s largest message-in-a-bottle was launched five months ago and was consequently voted the world’s best PR-stunt by adsoftheworld.com in April. It was expected to cross the Atlantic in about 70 days, but has taken its time – more than 150 days have passed so far.

For more information, contact Joakim Sande, CEO of Solo: [email protected] // (+47)95-43-92-87.

Free video and photos can be downloaded here: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/58710-solo-worlds-largest-message-in-a-bottle

CaribPR Wire, PORSTMOUTH, Dominica, Mon. Aug. 12, 2013: Dominica hotelier Gregor Nassief has issued an open letter to the Board of Directors of regional airlines LIAT calling for an executive shake-up, insisting that “heads must roll.”  The letter complains of disastrous customer service over the past two months as well as disastrous public relations and the damage this is causing to the region and to fragile economies of island states like Dominica so dependent on tourism and the airline’s service. The public complaint is enclosed for publication.

August 12, 2013

Board of Directors

Dear Directors:

Re:  Heads must roll

I respectfully ask you, on behalf of the people of the Caribbean, and the people that visit the Caribbean, and especially on behalf of the people of Dominica who depend on LIAT for their travel and also for their tourism industry, to enforce significant change in the executive ranks at LIAT.

This request is being made first because of 8+ weeks of disastrous customer service which continues to this day due to lack of foresight and planning on the part of LIAT’s executives, and second because of LIAT’s disastrous public relations which has revealed the depth of your executives’ indifference to your customers.

It is your duty to hold your executives accountable for their actions and performance.

Disastrous Service

There has been a complete breakdown in service for over 2 months now, which I and most persons traveling LIAT have experienced.  Here is a list of incidents:

20+ incidents in less than 8 weeks related to one island and connected to one person (the affected passengers include me and those known to me).   And none of these are related to Tropical Storm Chantal or bad weather.

LIAT introduced the new ATR aircraft in early July.  Your executives were well aware that pilots operating the new ATRs could not also operate the Dash 8.  LIAT also knew that before the ATRs began operating, pilots would have to be taken off line for training.  LIAT also returned Dash 8s that were on lease before the ATRs were operational.  LIAT went into their peak summer season with the implementation of new aircraft and with the full knowledge of what they were doing and of the risks involved.  There were no contingency plans, and everything fell apart.  The result is too few pilots and too few aircraft to adequately meet the demand and cover the routes.  The results have been a disaster for the region, and especially for Dominica (68% of our arrivals by air are on LIAT).

The inability to properly plan such a major event and to put the airline and its employees and especially its customers through such chaos, further damaging the reputation of LIAT and that of the tourism industry which it serves is, in to my mind, gross negligence. Who pays for the damage done to each customer, and for the damage to Dominica and its tourism industry, and to the region?  Who is accountable?

Do you believe a visitor traveling to the region for a hard-earned vacation can separate LIAT’s disastrous service from the rest of their experience?  Do think they will return or encourage others to come?

So many that work so hard to bring visitors to our region and to our island cannot and should not continue to the pay the price for the incompetence and actions of your executives.

Disastrous Public Relations

Your CEO has gone on record only once, as far I can see, explaining the crisis as follows: “an increase in unscheduled maintenance at a time when our schedule calls for maximum aircraft availability; crew shortages; bad weather; airport limitations; and delays in obtaining licences for operating our new ATR aircraft in some territories”.

Your Chairman has focused on maintenance issues with the old Dash 8s being the heart of the problem.

This is only part of the truth – poor planning and implementation is the crux of the matter.  It is a great disservice to your ultimate shareholders – the people of the Caribbean – to not deal with the crisis truthfully and clearly and to ensure swift correction action.  Who is accountable?

In the most baffling public relations event that I have ever witnessed, your Chief Commercial Officer responded via a YouTube video to a customer complaint letter which was publicized by Richard Branson.   Your executive said that “LIAT is second only to Virgin to receive the funniest complaint letter every written” and challenged Branson to a race to Necker Island saying that “the loser can wipe the other airline’s tail” or Branson can dress up as a flight attendant for LIAT.

This is your top marketing, commercial and PR executive, the face of your organization, the depth of your indifference to what customers suffer, and for me, the lowest point in my perception of what LIAT stands for.  Who is accountable?

Your customer-facing staff, who through this crisis have had to work incredible hours and deal with an unimaginable number of irate clients, are clueless as to what is happening operationally on a day to day basis.  They are typically unable to answer customer questions as to when or if a scheduled flight will arrive or depart.

Your customer-facing staff are your public relations link to your clients and are your best hope of lifting clients up in their moments of despair, yet your executives give them no information and no tools to manager your most important asset – your customers – through this crisis.  Who is accountable?

In Closing

A friend once said to me that the secret to a stress-free life is simply to lower your expectations, that way you are never disappointed.   I didn’t have to lower them, LIAT’s service to me and several people connected to me, did that for me.  LIAT did it consistently, dependably and ruthlessly.  Through a crisis like this, LIAT could have recovered at least to some extent the understanding and trust of its customers, through clear, honest and appropriate communication and public relations, followed with decisive action, all of which would have demonstrated that LIAT cares, that you care.

But do you care? Do you care about LIAT’s customers who get on and off its planes every day?  Do you care about the disruption to their personal and professional lives caused by LIAT’s incompetence and indifference?  Do you care about the damage LIAT’s poor service and reputation does to the fragile economies of island states like Dominica so dependent on tourism and the airline’s service?  Do you care that your customers are not getting what they pay for?  Do you care that your customers do not travel LIAT by choice, but because they have no other choice?  Caring for your customers is the first step and the raison d’être – the reason for existence – of a business.

It is time to care.  It is time for change.  Heads must roll.

Respectfully Yours,

Gregor Nassief

Owner/Director – Secret Bay

Executive Chairman – Fort Young Hotel

EDITOR’S NOTE: Gregor Nassief is involved in the tourism business in Dominica and the technology business in Latin America.  He is the Owner and Director of Secret Bay, the Exeuctive Chairman of the Fort Young Hotel and the CEO of Tecsys Latin America.

See more at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFPNSAVt9qY and http://www.scribd.com/doc/159417966/Letter-to-LIAT-Board-of-Directors

CaribPR, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. April 2, 2013: Jamaican-born, Caribbean-raised jazz great and Grammy-nominated artist, Monty Alexander, is in high demand this year, with performances that has him globetrotting and city-hopping on the heels of his new album and his 51^st year as a musician.

Alexander, whose 50^th anniversary album, “Harlem-Kingston Express: Live!” was nominated for a Reggae Grammy and won rave reviews from The Wall Street Journal, The London Evening Standard and Jazz Times among dozens of other media houses, is set to take his brand of stirring jazz to the Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland from Tuesday, April 16th to Saturday, April 20^th.

The performance comes as Alexander’s new album release “Uplift 2” on the JLP label, sits at #2 on the Jazz charts.

The stellar musician will then return to the U.S. to share a similar kind of joy with his fans at Boston’s legendary Scullers Jazz Club on April 26^th and New York City’s famous Birdland Club Jazz Club from May 7^th to 11^th.

Jamaica’s Commander of Distinction and ‘Luminary Award’ 2012 recipient, then returns to the U.S. for performances in Boston and New York City, before heading to the nature isle of Dominica for the first time, where he will headline the increasingly popular, Dominica Jazz ‘n Creole Festival on May 19^th at the Cabrits National Park.

“For many years I have harbored the desire to be able to visit one of the beautiful island if the Caribbean – Dominica,” commented Alexander. “I have had friends of Dominica heritage, including Connie Kay, the great drummer from the great Modern Jazz Quartet.  To be able to bring a musical offering to Dominica makes my visit extra special.”

Dominica’s jazz fans are sure to experience a different kind of jazz from Alexander – the kind that will have them putting on their dancing shoes on and keeping them on.

And his Grammy-nominated band, The Harlem Kingston Express, will add to the experience that combines traditional jazz with the rocking rhythms of Jamaica which results in a sound that is uniquely Alexander’s and The Harlem Kingston Express!

Tickets for his Boston and New York performances are $30 per person. For Scullers, get tickets at http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3466214&pl=scullers and for Birdland, log on to http://www.birdlandjazz.com/event/243141-monty-alexander-harlem-new-york/

Following his Dominica debut, Alexander, will again join his Harlem Kingston Express to bring his brand of jiving jazz to Washington, D.C.’s popular Blues Alley from June 20th to 23^rd and Pittsburgh, PA on June 28^th at the South Park Band Shell.

He and his band will wrap up the first half of 2013 in Rochester, NY with a scintillating performance at the Rochester International Jazz Festival on June 29th. For more see http://www.rochesterjazz.com/artist_lineup/?artist_id=934.

2013 Performance Dates:

Switzerland – Bern Jazz Festival – April 16-20^th.

Boston, MA – Scullers Jazz Club  – April 26^th.

News York City – Birdland Club Jazz Club- May 7^th to 11^th.

Dominica, W.I. – Dominica Jazz ‘n Creole Festival -  May 19^th.

Washington, D.C. – Blues Alley – June 20^th to 23^rd.

Pittsburgh, PA – South Park Band Shell – June 28^th.

Rochester, NY – Rochester International Jazz Festival – June 29^th.

About Monty Alexander

Over his stellar career, Alexander, whose influence combines that of Oscar Peterson, Gene Harris and Nat “King” Cole, has performed with international stars including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry, Quincy Jones, Ernest Ranglin, Barbara Hendricks, Bill Cosby, Bobby McFerrin, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare.

In fact, it was Sinatra and his best friend Jilly Rizzo who hired Alexander after he moved to the United States in 1961 at the age of 17.  And it was at Jilly’s famed New York City nightclub that this Jamaican teen caught the ears of Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Milt “Bags” Jackson.

Bags introduced him to the great bassist Ray Brown, and the rest as they say, is history, including Alexander’s 1976 Montreux (Switzerland) Jazz Festival performance with drummer Jeff Hamilton and bassist John Clayton, which has become one of the most celebrated live recordings in contemporary jazz.

For more on the Caribbean’s greatest jazz pianist and his music visit www.montyalexander.com.

Caribbean’s Next Top Model Emerges With Lifestyle Brands

CARIBEPRWIRE, NEW YORK – MARCH 26, 2013 – Caribbean’s Next Top Model, a new model competition series created in collaboration with CaribeNTM, Inc. emerges across 25 Caribbean countries with partner brands to promote 11 episodes of the most popular and first of its kind reality television.   The show debuted on Monday, February 18, 2013 on free-to-air – various Caribbean local TV stations, CaribVision and One Caribbean Television, WSEE TV in Puerto Rico during primetime.

Mark Rowen, President of Blue Collar Productions said, “We have been able to partner with CaribeNTM, Inc. to custom design and tailor television production content which highlights the unique attributes of the respective host countries.”

This one hour Reality TV program, co-produced by Blue Collar Productions, one of the leading producers of creative content for licensed television shows, provides a comprehensive look at eleven contenders competing individually and in teams for the chance to be Caribbean’s Next Top Model.  Miss Universe ‘98, Wendy Fitzwilliam serves as the celebrity host and judge, along with associate judges Pedro Virgil, International Photographer, Richard Young, Runway Coach and Creative Director of Trinidad and Tobago’s Fashion Week, and other special guest appearances from experts in the fashion industry and related fields.

Mr. Rowen adds, “We are excited to have had the opportunity to work with Caribbean’s Next Top Model television show.  We have plans to continue working together to produce leading international content with a focus on television production, distribution, marketing and syndication.  Our combined companies have the ability to broaden the future scope of entertainment television.”

The partner brands are included in the episodes in ways that range from product placements, credits, mentions in lines of dialogue, to numerous endorsements on the screen.  “If you are watching the show, chances are you aspire to emulate the lifestyle of the CNTM program’s cast,” said Wendy Fitzwilliam.  “So we want to align with those partner brands that add competitive value and reach.”

Brands such as bMobile, SACHA, and CHI were heavily featured to establish the reality of the worlds the girls lived in.  Beverly Morrison, CEO of Caribbean CHI Ltd., and Juliana Fermin, Director of Ansura Wholesalers in Trinidad and Tobago are excited to be official hair sponsors of the first season.

Beverly Morrison says, “We remain committed to the Caribbean aesthetic and we look forward to the refinement of the contestants as the imagination and execution of CaribeNTM, Inc, beauty with CHI Biosilk exceeds expectations.”

Making brand connections that were organic to the characters became the signature for show.  Juliana Fermin said, “We saw Caribbean’s Next Top Model as a vehicle for the enhancement of many industries that span; fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and television…week after week.”

Executives at SACHA Cosmetics have helped to position our footprint from the beginning to predominantly celebrate women.  “As the official cosmetics of the inaugural season and leader in the cosmetics industry in the Caribbean and as we continue on our drive toward global expansion, we recognize that partnerships like these truly complement our journey,” said Kamla Regrello, Marketing and Retail Manager.

KCL Capital Market Brokers Limited, a licensed full service investment firm based in Trinidad became involved to provide authenticity in the television series financing.  As stated by the company’s CEO Kerwyn Valley, “KCL is committed in its support for creative industries across our region.”

Other partners include Caribbean Airlines, The Carlton-Savannah, Lime Trinre, Factor Women, Caribbean Belle, Blue Waters, Kalloo’s, and Micles.

The CNTM series airs for 11 episodes and is midway through its inaugural season. The show is broadcast in over 25 Caribbean islands on terrestrial and cable television.

For a complete review of CNTM, our broadcast details, to share your thoughts on the show and to become a member fan, like us at www.facebook.com/caribbeansnexttopmodel or log on to: www.caribbeansnexttopmodel.com. Follow us  @CaribeNTM on Twitter.

About Caribbean’s Next Top Model

CARIBBEAN’S NEXT TOP MODEL was founded in July 2011. CNTM’s mission is to unleash island beauties and the enchantment of the Caribbean.  Executive Producers are Wendy Fitzwilliam and Dionyse Fitzwilliam of CaribeNTM, Inc., a production company created in association with AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL under license by CBS International, and Mark Rowen, CEO of Blue Collar Productions (USA).

About America’s Next Top Model

AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment in association with The Tyra Banks Company.  The executive producers are Ken Mok (“Making the Band”), Tyra Banks and Laura Fuest Silva. The series was created by Tyra Banks and developed by Mok and Kenya Barris. Tyra Banks also hosts the series, which will soon begin airing its 20^th cycle in the United States. Currently, AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL is under license in over 100 markets around the world and has 20 international versions in production.  AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL and the AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL format are licensed internationally by CBS Studios International.

About Blue Collar Productions

Blue Collar Productions, is one of the leading producers of creative content for studio released motion picture films and licensed television shows, amassing a high caliber library that includes the production of Caribbean’s Next Top Model.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Insel Air International B.V., Willemstad, Curacao, has joined the UATP Network as a Merchant and now accepts all UATP corporate cards, a move which will provide their corporate travelers their desired form of payment.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081118/NETU022LOGO )

Insel Air’s mission is to generate greater connectivity within the Pan-American region. Accepting UATP for payment will help achieve this vision by giving their corporate clients more choice when traveling to one of their 16 international destinations.

“Partnering with UATP allowed us to address the needs of our growing corporate client base while simultaneously providing Insel Air with the payment solutions needed to remain competitive in this market,” said Jurgen Lippinkhof, chief commercial officer, Insel Air. “Building UATP into our business plan will support our focus on successfully capturing market share.”

“The corporate travel market is quickly expanding, increasing the need for additional payment options,” said Ralph Kaiser, president and CEO, UATP. “Accepting UATP positions Insel Air to capture the growing corporate client market.”

Insel Air is an IOSA certified airline and member of ALTA. They began operations in 2006 with the focus of connecting the Pan-American region, while concentrating on safety, on-time performance and customer service. Insel Air has a fleet of 11 aircrafts that operate approximately 46 flights a day.

UATP is the low cost payment network privately owned by the world’s airlines. For more information, visit http://uatp.com or http://www.fly-inselair.com/

About UATP

UATP is a global payment solution owned and operated by the world’s airlines and accepted by thousands of merchants for air, rail, hotel, cruise and travel agency payments. UATP offers easy-to-use tools, DataStream ^SM and DataMine ^SM which provide comprehensive data to Issuers and Corporate Subscribers for accurate travel management.

UATP accounts are accepted as a form of payment for corporate business travel worldwide by airlines, travel agencies and Amtrak^®. UATP accounts are issued by: Aeromexico; Air New Zealand (ANZFF.PK); American Airlines (AAMRQ.PK); Austrian Airlines; China Eastern Airlines (NYSE: CEA); Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL); EL AL Israel Airlines; Etihad Airways; GOL Linhas aereas inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and Bovespa: GOLL4); Hahn Air; Japan Airlines (9201:JP); Malaysia Airlines; Qantas Airways (QUBSF.PK); Shandong Airlines; United Airlines (NYSE: UAL); and US Airways (NYSE: LCC).

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Nov. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Three Caribbean nations have joined forces to offer an unprecedented Black Friday through Cyber Monday deal that is sure to attract a large audience of US travelers.  Through cooperation between the public and private sectors, the tourism boards and hotel associations of Barbados, St. Lucia and Antigua are offering 20% off virtually any hotel or resort when booked through their official websites.  This is the first time that Caribbean nations are working together in a unified promotion to attract visitors.

"When the words ‘fiscal cliff’ are uttered on television every 30 seconds it tends to affect consumers’ propensity to plan their vacations," said Ashwin Kamlani, President of Regatta Travel Solutions. "To combat this, these three Caribbean countries are working together in a way never seen before to attract US travelers.  I applaud these Destination Marketing Organizations for working with the suppliers in their destinations to put their entire countries on sale.  The US has never seen an offer like this out of the Caribbean in history."

This blowout sale will launch on the morning of Black Friday and consumers will have until midnight Monday night to get 20% off any participating hotel or resort in all 3 countries when booked on the official DMO or Hotel Association website.  The discount is available for any participating hotel on stays through December 15^th, 2013, without any blackout dates.  Consumers can book on the following sites:

Barbados: www.bookbarbadosnow.com or www.visitbarbados.org
St. Lucia: www.bookstlucianow.com or www.stlucianow.com
Antigua: www.bookantiguanow.com

About Regatta Travel Solutions Inc.
Regatta Travel Solutions provides specialized online booking technology and marketing tactics for DMOs (Destination Marketing Organizations).  DMOs that use Regatta to book travel on their sites can increase revenue for their destination, lower the cost paid by suppliers per booking, and increase membership and participation for their organizations. Visit www.regattatravelsolutions.com for more details.  Regatta Travel Solutions is an Alliance Partner of DMAI.

Salutes the Government Retirement System of the Virgin Islands 

Seaborne to operate more seats in the Virgin Islands than any other carrier by April, 2013

SAINT CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands, Oct. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Seaborne Airlines, the regional carrier based in St. Croix, USVI, today announced its capacity plans to and from the US Virgin Islands (USVI) for Spring, 2013 and beyond.

Starting in February 2013 Seaborne plans to introduce new equipment to the USVI on select flights – - the 34-seat Saab turboprop – - to both Cyril E. King Airport at St. Thomas and Henry Rohlsen International Airport at St. Croix from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport at San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Saab operates with two pilots, a flight attendant, in-flight service and a lavatory.

 Effective April 1, 2013 more flights will be added between St. Thomas’ Cyril King International Airport and St. Croix’s Henry Rohlsen International Airport with 17-seat Twin Otter aircraft. Combined with existing Twin Otter Seaplane service between the seaplane bases in Charlotte Amalie and Christiansted, Seaborne plans to operate 300 weekly flights with over 10,000 seats into and out of the USVI – becoming the Virgin Islands’ largest carrier in terms of capacity.

 USVI travelers will also have access to Seaborne’s premium lounge at San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marín International Airport. The lounge offers comfortable seating, work areas, charging stations, light refreshments, WIFI access, and Direct TV. Additionally, Corporate Seaborne customers have access to FasTrak SJU security access, which allows travelers to go to the head of the TSA line. This new capacity to and from San Juan International as well as continued seaplane equipment upgrades have been made possible by the expanded business partnership between Seaborne and the Government Employee Retirement System (GERS) of the US Virgin Islands, according to Gary Foss, Seaborne Airlines President. "As we move forward with this historic expansion – we want to thank GERS and the Government of the US Virgin Islands for their support and confidence in the Seaborne business model and growth plan. We also want to thank our customers who have supported us for over 17 years. As one of the largest private employers in the USVI, we understand the importance transportation plays. In concert with the GERS investment that makes possible additional capacity with larger aircraft, we will enhance tourism and commerce, while adding more jobs in the USVI as we move forward through 2013."

Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty concluded, "We are extremely pleased about Seaborne Airlines plans to increase service to the Territory and between our islands. She said, "The added capacity and equipment upgrades encourage more inter-island travel and ensure that travelers enjoy improved access to the Territory, better connections, and greater comfort. This news is especially welcome from a locally-based airline that is uniquely positioned to bring additional employment and revenue to the Territory."

 About Seaborne Airlines:
Seaborne Airlines – named Best Small Air Transport serving the U.S. Virgin Islands every year since 2007 – operates over 350 weekly departures between San Juan, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Vieques and starting December 2012, Tortola and Virgin Gorda. Operating for 17-years in the Caribbean, Seaborne has carried more than 2 million customers since 1995. With both seaplane and Airport airshuttle operations, all aircraft operate with two pilots under US FAR Part 121 flight rules. Flights can be reserved via the Internet at www.seaborneairlines.com or calling 866-359-8784.

Daily Nonstops Begin December 8

SAINT CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands, Oct. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Seaborne Airlines, the regional carrier based in St. Croix, USVI, and the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board in collaboration with the BVI Airport Authority today announced daily round-trip flights between San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport and Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport, serving the British Virgin Islands. The new service will operate with 17-seat Dehavilland Twin Otters with twenty four (24) flight segments per week starting December 8, 2012. Starting in February, the market will be operated with 34-seat Saab turboprop equipment with two pilots, flight attendant, in-flight service and a lavatory.  By April 2013 Seaborne plans to operate 49 weekly round-trip flights with over 3,300 weekly seats into and out of the market.  Service is scheduled to begin December 8.

Additionally, on December 8, Seaborne plans to operate new service from San Juan non-stop to Virgin Gorda, with twelve (12) flight segments weekly with 17-seat Twin Otter service. Seaborne also plans to introduce special promotional fares for BVI residents traveling to San Juan and beyond.

“We’re pleased to introduce the first scheduled Saab service to The British Virgin Islands from our connecting complex in San Juan, Puerto Rico,” said Gary Foss, president, Seaborne Airlines.  “This schedule will allow customers from throughout the United States and Canada easy connections to the beautiful and upscale British Virgin Islands, renowned for their powdery white-sand beaches, lush green mountains and sheltered yacht filled harbors.  We are especially eager to provide nonstop service directly from San Juan to Virgin Gorda, home of Little Dix Bay, the Bitter End Yacht Club, Biras Creek, other upscale resorts, villas and small locally owned properties.  And of course, there are The Baths, a national park where granite boulders create mysterious grottos in the sea”.

BVI travelers will also have access to Seaborne’s premium lounge at San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport. The lounge offers comfortable seating, work areas, charging stations, light refreshments, WIFI access, and Direct TV. Additionally, Seaborne customers have access to FasTrak SJU security access, which allows travelers to go to the head of the TSA line.

Here is the schedule December 8 – February 1 (all times local):

San Juan to Tortola

Flight          Departs   Arrives      Frequency

11:45     12:35    Daily. Except

4546              a.m.      p.m.         Wed

7:00      7:50    Daily, Except

4602              p.m.      p.m.         Wed.

Tortola to San Juan

Flight          Departs   Arrives      Frequency

6:10      7:00    Daily, Except

4503              a.m.      a.m.        Thur.

1:00      1:50    Daily, Except

4557              p.m.      p.m.         Wed.

San Juan to Virgin Gorda

Flight          Departs   Arrives      Frequency

1:00      1:55    Daily, Except

4556              p.m.      p.m.         Wed.

Virgin Gorda to San Juan

Flight          Departs   Arrives      Frequency

2:30      3:25    Daily, Except

4569              p.m.      p.m.         Wed.

About Seaborne Airlines

Seaborne Airlines – named Best Small Air Transport serving the U.S. Virgin Islands every year since 2007 – operates 337 weekly departures to San Juan and Vieques in Puerto Rico and St. Thomas and St. Croix in the USVI.  Operating for 17-years in the Caribbean, Seaborne has carried more than 2 million customers.  With both Seaplane and Airport operations, all aircraft operate with two pilots.  Flights can be reserved via the internet: www.seaborneairlines.com or calling 866-359-8784.

SAINT JOHN PARISH, Nevis, Oct. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Cancer Cleared Clinics, a Nevis LLC, announced today that it is waiting for approval to operate it’s Breast Cancer Clinics in thirty countries. Cancer Cleared Clinics has a unique and tested combination of therapies that are more effective and less harmful to the body than the current methods of cancer treatment used in the United States. This treatment is not available in the United States.

Eugene Steele, cancer historian, said, “I have a personal war against cancer and those that prevent better treatments. The Standard American Diet is the major cause for the two largest killers: heart disease and cancer. Every person has cancer created in their bodies everyday. Our bodies are equipped with an immune system which attacks and destroys these cancer cells. When we eat a Standard American Diet we weaken the immune system and it cannot destroy the cancer cells. This can all be reversed and has been available for over 100 years.”

The Cancer Cleared Clinics’ method is to remove the protection the breast cancer cells have, and let the body destroy these cancer cells in seven days. Cancer Cleared Clinics offers a money back guarantee and a fixed fee of $3500. No other clinics in the world will make this offer. “There have been many developers of cancer therapies that have been blocked or ignored,” stated Mr. Steele. “The United States lags behind many other countries in delivery of ground-breaking advances in quality medical care.”

Steele adds, “There are more effective treatments for cancer, but because of the politics and restrictive laws in the United States, doctors can only make quiet suggestions to their patients because these doctors do not want to incur the wrath of the FDA and the medical establishment, and jeopardize their license to practice medicine.”

Cancer Cleared Clinics is in the last phase of financing. Each Clinic costs $200,000 to establish. They have a new concept of cancer medical tourism. Each clinic will be located in a resort making the treatment a vacation. The treatment only requires 45 minutes a day for seven consecutive days. The rest of the day the client is free to enjoy their vacation with their family. There is no chemotherapy, surgery or radiation.

www.cancercleared.com

NASSAU, Bahamas, Sept. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — As Albany nears its second anniversary, the luxury resort community is expanding by starting construction on its first phase of Marina Residences.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120903/FL66681-a )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120903/FL66681-b )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120903/FL66681-c )

The groundbreaking of the first three buildings occurred earlier today with all three buildings slated for completion throughout 2014.

“This important second phase of construction at Albany is a terrific vote of confidence for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” said Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie. “The sales success that Albany has experienced is also a resilient validation of The Bahamas and its international appeal.”

Twenty-four of the 35 residences have already been sold through Albany’s preconstruction sales program that launched during the first quarter of this year. The three six-story towers, totaling 275,000 square feet, were designed by leading architects Morris Adjmi Architects, Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman & Associates Architects and HKS Architects.

Albany’s Marina Residences combine the best in waterfront living with unparalleled luxury and extraordinary views across Albany’s marina and out to sea.

Offering both modern and classic profiles, the floor plans range from two to six bedrooms with movie theaters to large penthouses with private swimming pools. Two of the three marina buildings will offer ground floor office space.

“We are very excited to begin construction of this important phase of development at Albany, and we are gratified at how well-received the Marina Residences have been,” said Christopher Anand, Albany’s managing partner.

The Marina Residences at Albany overlook one of the finest marinas in the Caribbean with 71 slips and state-of-the-art floating concrete docks that can accommodate boats from 50 feet in length up to 300 foot mega-yachts. Each slip offers electric, cable and internet connectivity, while marina attendants are available seven days a week to provide docking assistance to vessels. Albany marked the sale of its 40th marina slip this quarter.

“Albany Marina is one of the finest deep-water marinas in the world and has been designed for the most demanding yacht owners,” said Todd Turrell, principal of marine, environmental and coastal engineering firm Turrell, Hall & Associates. “The Marina Residences at Albany are a wonderful complement to this already majestic harbor.”

Jointly owned by Tavistock Group, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, Albany is becoming recognized as the ultimate yachtsman’s retreat highlighted by a modern mega-yacht marina, Ernie Els championship golf course, a luxury boutique hotel, a fitness center and spa, an adult pool and bar, a family water park, a kids’ clubhouse and casual and fine dining restaurants.

Albany Marina enjoys a prime location amidst The Bahamas’ 700 islands. Pristine beaches, world-class fishing destinations and an international airport lie minutes from Albany Marina.

ABOUT ALBANY – THE BAHAMAS
Albany, located in The Bahamas, is a luxury resort community jointly owned by Tavistock Group, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els. Opened in 2010, Albany is nestled along approximately 600 oceanfront acres on the southwestern end of New Providence and conveniently located seven minutes and five miles from Nassau’s international airport. Albany features an array of residential offerings and amenities for all members of the family, including a well-appointed boutique hotel, a 71-slip mega-yacht marina, an Ernie Els-designed golf course, a fitness center and spa, an adult pool and bar, a family water park, a kids’ clubhouse and casual and fine dining restaurants. Albany’s deep-water marina is being designed and built to aesthetically rival the great resort ports of the world. For more information, visit www.albanybahamas.com.

ABOUT TAVISTOCK GROUP
Tavistock Group is an international private investment organization founded by Joe Lewis. With investments in more than 200 companies across 15 countries, Tavistock Group’s investment portfolio includes: life sciences, sports teams and sporting events, manufacturing and distribution, oil, gas and energy, financial services, restaurants, commercial properties, private luxury residential properties, resort properties and master-planned real estate developments. For more information, visit www.tavistock.com.

ST. GEORGES, Grenada, Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The Grenada Board of Tourism (GBT) and the Grenada Hotel & Tourism Association (GHTA) have jointly launched a new, and improved, booking engine on their respective websites www.grenadagrenadines.com and www.gogrenada.gd  which, it is expected, will bolster the island’s tourism industry. 

The implementation of Regatta allows hotels, villas and other activity providers in Grenada to use the websites of the tourism board and hotel association to exhibit control as to exactly how they are promoted. It also comes with the capacity to attract a much higher volume of bookings through the various channels that are available.

“We have every intention of maintaining close relationships with our Online Travel Agency (OTA) partners as well as our hotels,” commented Simon Stiell, Director of Tourism for Grenada.  “But we are seeing impressive results from other Caribbean destinations that have implemented Regatta and this change in our online sales and marketing strategy makes perfect sense for us.  Regatta’s powerful booking engine and destination marketing expertise is an attractive combination for any destination.”

Commenting on this development, Executive Director of the GHTA, Mrs. Pancy Cross noted that “Our hotels are very excited about this project.  Regatta has made itself very accessible and we are pleased about having a partner that can finally help us reach consumers at a reasonable cost.”

President of Regatta Travel Solutions Mr. Ashwin Kamlani stated that “There is much potential in Grenada where the tourism industry is hungry for growth and waiting to take advantage of all of the new marketing tactics that are available on the internet.  We are proud to have been chosen for this project.”

About Grenada Board of Tourism

The Grenada Board of Tourism’s objective is to market and promote Grenada as a preferred year round Caribbean tourist destination, while providing technical and managerial support to the travel trade, tour operators, industry partners and airlines. For more information on Grenada, contact the Grenada Board of Tourism at 416-595-1339, email at [email protected] or visit www.grenadagrenadines.com

About Grenada Hotel & Tourism Association

The Grenada Hotel & Tourism Association’s purpose is to advocate and lobby on behalf of its members.  In addition, the association assists members with the marketing of their businesses through its website and its printed medium, the Grenada at a Glance magazine.  For more information on the GHTA call 444-1353, email [email protected] or visit www.gogrenada.gd

About Regatta Travel Solutions Inc.

Founded by Ashwin Kamlani, Regatta Travel Solutions provides specialized online booking technology and marketing tactics for DMOs (Destination Marketing Organizations).  DMOs that use Regatta on their sites can increase demand for their destination, lower the cost paid by suppliers per booking, and increase membership for their organizations. Visit www.regattatravelsolutions.com.

LANDOVER, Md.,  Oct. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation launches its final mission of coral reef research in the Bahamas, concluding the first year of its ambitious Global Reef Expedition. Having completed research in Cay Sal Bank, Hogsty Reef, and the Inaguas earlier this year, the Foundation now turns to Andros and Abaco islands to study sites that were last surveyed more than a decade ago.

The Global Reef Expedition is the first world-wide mapping and research assessment of coral reefs. The chairman of the Living Oceans Foundation, Prince Khaled bin Sultan, said an expedition of this scale “will greatly assist the world in understanding coral reefs, their health and critical role in the environment. Our research will produce maps of previously uncharted areas and provide management recommendations urgently needed to preserve these valuable ocean resources. We are involving local scientists in all of our research and exploration. ”

Andros contains the longest barrier reef in the Bahamas and the third largest in the world. The Foundation’s science team, joined by Bahamian researchers, will identify the abundance, size, and health of reef building coral species as well as discovering how the reef has recovered from coral bleaching events in 1998.

The Foundation’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Andrew Bruckner, said “Our research will lead to improvements in existing habitat maps and will help recent efforts to develop a land and sea use plan for the entire island including zoning of sensitive areas.”

The Foundation will survey unstudied sites around the central Abaco islands as well as some that were last surveyed in 1999 which will yield important time-change information.  The reefs of central Abaco are near areas of high population density and high user pressure which contrasts sharply with other reefs the Foundation has surveyed in the Bahamas, helping to further understand human impacts on reef health.

Commenting on the six months of coral reef research in The Bahamas the Foundation’s Executive Director Captain Philip Renaud, USN (ret), said, “The successful and productive coral reef survey and mapping missions we have accomplished during our first year of the Global Reef Expedition could not have been possible without the committed support for our work from the Minister of the Environment, the Department of Marine Resources, Bahamas National Trust, and The Nature Conservancy.”

Eric Carey, BNT Executive Director added “The Bahamas, as a nation, is extremely fortunate to have been chosen as the first country in the world-wide study of the health of coral reef environments by the Living Oceans Foundation.  Young Bahamian scientists from the Department of Marine Resources , Bahamas National Trust and College of The Bahamas have had the opportunity to join the Living Oceans Foundation research team – a once in a lifetime experience.  The final leg of the Bahamas Voyage will assess the Andros Barrier Reef and the reefs of the Abaco’s.  Both of these areas are critical for the health of Bahamian Fisheries and our larger marine environment.  The information generated from the Global Reef Expedition will feed directly into the management of our national parks and marine protected areas.”

Bahamian researchers include: Indira Brown, Jared Dillet, Agnessa Lundy, Lindy Knowles, Olivia Patterson, Krista Sherman, and Tavares Thompson.

About the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation

Founded by HRH Prince General Khaled bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia, the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation was incorporated in California as a 501(c)(3), public benefit, Private Operating Foundation in September 2000. With its headquarters in Washington DC, the Living Oceans Foundation is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of oceans of the world, and champions their preservation through research, education, and a commitment to Science Without Borders®. For more information, visit http://www.livingoceansfoundation.org

Science Without Borders® is registered to the Foundation for financial sponsorship of marine conservation programs and scientific research and to promote public awareness of the need to preserve, protect and restore the world’s oceans and aquatic resources.

MIAMI, July 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA) has endorsed the recent launch of the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association’s OTA (Online Travel Agency), and has implemented the Regatta booking engine on VisitBarbados.org, the official government sponsored destination website for Barbados.  The Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA) announced the launch of the OTA Software on May 31st and has seen an increasing number of bookings since.

“It just makes perfect sense,” said David Rice, President & CEO of the Barbados Tourism Authority.  “It is a huge added convenience to our visitors, the hotels and attractions love it since they retain more of the net earnings from bookings, and it helps the economy of Barbados.  It’s a win-win all around.”

 ”We are excited that the BTA is collaborating with us on this important project,” said Sue Springer, Executive Vice President of BHTA.  “The hotels are very enthusiastic, VisitBarbados.org has a high amount of targeted traffic, and Regatta has been wonderful to work with.  It’s the perfect recipe for success.”

 Since launching on May 31st, Regatta has released a new layout of the booking engine that includes their innovative Concierge tool which allows customers to find their perfect hotel by selecting their desired criteria.  In July, they will launch Activities allowing customers to search and book a variety of tours and attractions.

About the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA)

The BTA’s mission is to provide leadership in the sustainable development of  Barbados’ tourism industry through the formulation of policy, the provision of timely and quality research; the development and maintenance of industry-wide standards and the facilitation of appropriate product development whilst ensuring maximum economic benefits to  Barbadians.

About the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA)

The Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association was established in 1952.  Their mission is “Bringing people, research knowledge and technology together to resolve challenges of business and to stage a world class experience and performance.” 

About Regatta Travel Solutions Inc.

Founded by Ashwin Kamlani, Regatta Travel Solutions provides specialized online booking technology and marketing tactics for DMOs (Destination Marketing Organizations).  DMOs that use Regatta on their sites can increase demand for their destination, lower the cost paid by suppliers per booking, and increase membership for their organizations. Visit www.hotelinternethelp.com.

HYANNIS, Mass., June 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Beginning on December 22, 2011, Cape Air’s service to Anguilla will be augmented by a new third round trip flight to and from San Juan on peak days. This 29% increase in capacity complements Cape Air’s existing two daily flights.

 Enhanced Anguilla – San Juan Schedule effective December 22, 2011

 Anguilla to San Juan

                                       Days of

  Depart       Arrive    Flight #     Operation

                                      Mon, Fri,

  8:30 AM      9:50 AM     1454*       Sat, Sun

  9:45 AM     11:05 AM        1450      Daily

  3:05 PM      4:25 PM        1452      Daily

 San Juan to Anguilla

                                   Days of

  Depart    Arrive   Flight #     Operation

  1:25 PM  2:45 PM       1451      Daily

                                  Thu, Fri,

  3:55 PM  5:15 PM     1455*      Sat, Sun

  5:55 PM  7:15 PM       1453      Daily

   *denotes new flight

 Cape Air inaugurated Anguilla service on December 22, 2010 and it was an immediate success. “The Cape Air model of high-frequency flights and easy connections with the mainland is a needed service on Anguilla,” said Andrew Bonney, Cape Air’s Vice President of Planning. “We are thrilled to be at a point already where it makes economic sense to add capacity on Anguilla. With a fleet of 66 aircraft Cape Air can add as many seats as Anguilla needs, in an economically rational and sustainable way,” he added. Cape Air’s Anguilla service neither needs nor receives subsidy.

 Cape Air’s partnerships with JetBlue and Continental Airlines have allowed for widespread distribution, increasing access to Anguilla as a tourism destination. Customers can book flights to Anguilla on the website of San Juan’s largest airline, JetBlue Airways. Cape Air’s codeshare with Continental Airlines puts Anguilla on Continental’s route map. In addition, Cape Air has for more than a decade interlined with American, Continental, Delta, US Airways and United.

About Cape Air:

Now in its 22nd year, Cape Air is one of the largest independent regional airlines in the United States annually flying over 650,000 passengers to destinations around the world including New England, New York, the Caribbean, Florida, the Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest and Micronesia. With a fleet of sixty-four Cessna 402s and two ATR-42s, the employee-owned company operates up to 600 flights per day. Based in Hyannis, Massachusetts, Cape Air also operates flights under the Nantucket Airlines brand. Cape Air is a codeshare partner with Continental Airlines in the Caribbean and American Airlines in the Midwest. In Micronesia Cape Air operates as Continental Connection or United Express. In addition, Cape Air has ticket and baggage agreements with most major airlines. Cape Air’s unique brand of customer service, MOCHA HAGoTDI,* has earned the airline accolades as ‘Best Airline’ on Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and in the United States Virgin Islands. The airline has been recognized for outstanding philanthropy in the communities it serves and Founder/CEO Dan Wolf was recipient of Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year™ Award.

 * Make our Customers Happy and Have a Good Time Doing It
866-CAPE-AIR
CAPEAIR.COM

Plans call for new jetties and increased depth, along with state-of-the-art container terminal facilities to be jointly developed

 PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, March 16 /PRNewswire/ — Responding to the desperate need for new and expanded port infrastructure to serve earthquake recovery efforts, as well as to address the long-term shipping needs of the country, Haiti-based WIN Group and South Florida-based Sante Holding today announced having reached an agreement to re-develop Terminal Varreux, S.A. in Port-Au-Prince, the largest privately-owned shipping terminal and port facility in Haiti.

 The fourth generation WIN Group is one of the Caribbean’s largest conglomerates, with stakes in multiple industries.  Sante Holding is headed by Charles Towsley, former director of the Port of Miami, and one of the maritime industry’s most respected professionals.

 Sante’s team is partnering with the Rovirosa family, well renowned marine port operators, who currently operate terminals in the Port of Miami and Port Everglades, Florida.  The Rovirosa’s will ensure that all areas of expertise are represented in this new U.S.-Haiti private sector partnership, and will develop, manage and operate the new modern container shipping terminal facility at Terminal Varreux. 

 Terminal Varreux currently consists of multiple berths connected to liquid and dry bulk pumping pipelines. The facility was damaged during the recent earthquake, but quickly repaired in order to allow crucial tanker shipments of fuel to Haiti, as Terminal Varreux receives and stores more than 70% of Haiti’s fuel.

 The redevelopment plans include a new port, additional jetties and a state of the art 150 acre terminal open to all maritime lines looking to efficiently service Haiti.  The expansion will include a modern container and break-bulk shipping terminal and ancillary facilities to service both the short and long-term shipping needs of Haiti.  The agreement also includes remediation and expansion of existing piers. 

 Under the terms of the agreement, WIN Group will retain control of the dry bulk, liquid bulk and petroleum operations, while the new facilities will be operated by the new joint venture.  Feasibility plans are currently being completed with specific project time-frames due to be announced shortly.  

 ”Once completed, this project will not only support Haiti’s ongoing relief efforts, but lay the foundation for the overall modernization of the country’s shipping industry,” said Youri Mevs, managing partner of WIN Group.

 ”The creation of the new port facilities will greatly increase the capacity of Port-au-Prince to accommodate the on-going demand for relief and recovery cargo into Haiti,” adds port development expert and Sante Holding CEO & Chairman, Bruno E. Ramos, AIA.  “Long-term, this is an ideal facility to serve projects such as the West Indies Free Zone, WIN Group’s $45 million industrial park to be developed along with the Soros Economic Development Fund near Port-au-Prince’s impoverished Cite Soleil neighborhood, a project temporarily halted because of the earthquake.

 ”We are extremely pleased to have entered into this agreement with Sante Holding,” concludes Mevs.  “WIN Group’s localized expertise, coupled with Sante’s vast experience in port development and operations, along with the pro-business, pro-private sector movement orchestrated by the Haitian government and encouraged by international finance institutions, creates the ideal launching pad for addressing Haiti’s long-term infrastructure needs.” 

  About WIN Group

The Haiti-based, Mevs family-held WIN Group is one of the Caribbean’s largest conglomerates with stakes in diverse industries such as warehousing and storage, port operations and ethanol processing. WIN’s holdings include SHODECOSA, the largest privately-owned industrial and commercial park in Haiti , Varreux Terminal, the largest privately-owned general cargo shipping terminal, WINECO, the largest liquid bulk storage facility and now, the under-construction West Indies Free Zone, a $45 million, 1.2 million square feet manufacturing park in northern Port-au-Prince , among other enterprises. The fourth generation family has always had a significant impact on the country through its social service-based endeavors, and actively supports numerous organizations providing both immediate relief, and long-term infrastructure development. For additional information, visit www.wingrouponline.com.

 About Sante Holding Corp.

Sante Holding Corp., a Florida based company, along with its subsidiaries and affiliate companies  are  a diversified marine transportation company. The company services and operations encompass expertise and experience in port design, development, management and ship operations at major port facilities world wide. Their container shipping company Sante Shipping Lines offers quality container shipping services for our customers while following established port requirements and maintain dependable transit schedules. Customer satisfaction is our first priority, realizing this can only be accomplished by conducting our business with reliable service, attention to documentation and security. We also regard the protection of the environment as a guiding principle.