CaribPR Wire

MIAMI and SANTIAGO, Chile, June 23, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Mastercard and LATAM Airlines Group announced today they have signed a seven-year agreement that seeks to enhance the travel experience for passengers around the world. As part of the agreement, the companies will introduce new credit card solutions and benefits that meet the evolving needs of frequent travelers—digitizing the travel experience with personalized, contactless, and secure technologies—and consists of two implementation phases.  The first, which begins today, expands the benefits of LATAM Pass credit cards in Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador. The second phase will begin later this year and will include other relevant markets within Latin America.

For several years, Mastercard and LATAM Pass, the most relevant frequent flyer program in Latin America, have collaborated with issuing banks to introduce co-branded credit cards and benefits to their loyal customers when flying to more than 115 destinations within the LATAM network.

“Many industries, including travel, are accelerating their digital transformation to deliver innovations across consumer touch points,” said Kiki del Valle, executive vice president of Market Development for Latin America and the Caribbean for Mastercard. “With our data analytics and ability to continuously adjust to consumer trends and market forces, we are excited to innovate in the travel space together with the LATAM Airlines Group team, which is equally passionate about evolving the travel experience for the digitally connected traveler.”

LATAM Pass VP Ralph Piket noted that, “we are sure that the partnership agreement with Mastercard will allow us to not only further accelerate our innovation, but also to improve the travel experience of our customers. As we know, the future of the airline industry is essentially being digital and seamless, and LATAM is working in that regard. In this context, the partnership with Mastercard is a very relevant step on that path and adds to the launch of our e-business unit last year.”

Both parties will begin work on the launch of new benefits and new Mastercard LATAM Pass programs, offering more mileage accrual and redemption alternatives in both travel and partner merchants, which will be communicated as soon as they are available.

About Mastercard (NYSE: MA)
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.
www.mastercard.com

About LATAM
LATAM is the principal group of airlines in Latin America present in five domestic markets in the region: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, in addition to international operations inside Latin America and between it and Europe, the United States, and the Caribbean.
The group has a fleet of Boeing 767, 777, 787, Airbus A321, A320, A320neo and A319 aircraft.
LATAM Cargo Chile, LATAM Cargo Colombia, and LATAM Cargo Brazil are the LATAM Airlines freight subsidiaries. In addition to having access to the passenger cargo holds of LATAM Airlines Group, they have a fleet of 11 freighters, which will gradually increase to a total of up to 21 freighters by 2023.
They operate on the LATAM Group network as well as International routes that are solely used for shipping. They offer modern Infrastructure, a wide variety of services and protection options to meet all customer needs.
For press inquiries write to comunicaciones.externas@ latam.com . More financial information is available at www.latamairlinesgroup.net
www.latam.com

MIAMI, Aug. 27, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Brazil’s Minister for Justice, Sérgio Moro, will give the keynote address at The OffshoreAlert Conference Latin America on Financial Intelligence & Investigations on September 16-17, 2019.

Tickets can be purchased now at oacbrazil.com, where you will also find details about our agenda and speakers.

Attendees will learn how to detect financial crime, recover hidden assets, obtain litigation funding to pursue claims, file whistleblowing claims, evaluate investment opportunities, and increase their chance of success in high-value, cross-border finance. Network with industry leaders in a stunning, five-star setting.

Moro is known internationally for his role as a judge overseeing bribery and corruption cases arising from Operação Lava Jato, a.k.a. Operation Car Wash, including the trial of Brazil’s former president Luís Inácio Lula da Silva.

He is part of a powerful and influential line-up of speakers that also includes Latin American Herald Tribune publisher Russ Dallen, Brazil’s Director of Asset Recovery & International Judicial Cooperation, Erika Marena; judges Paulo Furtado de Oliveira Filho and Moacyr Lobato de Campos Filho, prosecutors Vladimir Aras, Eronides Aparecido Rodrigues dos Santos, and Pedro Lupera Zerpa, politician Hugo Leal, whistleblower Jonathan Taylor, leading fraud and asset recovery attorneys, insolvency practitioners, journalists, and other experts on serious financial crime.

Sessions include:

• An Introduction To International Asset Recovery;
• Asset Recovery Latin America: Tips From The Experts;
• Litigation Funding: How to Get Your Multi-Million Dollar Claims Funded By Third Parties;
• How Latin American Whistleblowers Can Make Millions From US Whistleblowing Programs;
• Brazil’s Whistleblowing Laws: An Analysis of Existing & Proposed Legislation;
• The Emperor Has No Clothes: The Great Cryptocurrency Scam;
• Busting the Blockchain: How To Trace & Seize Virtual Assets & Evaluate Risk in a Pseudo-Anonymous World;
• Data Leaks: What The ICIJ’s Panama & Paradise Papers Revealed About Latin America;
• Corruption & Asset Recovery: The Brazilian Perspective;
• Allen Stanford: An Update for Latin American Victims;
• Bankruptcy Fraud in Brazil: The Duties of Trustees;
• Inside Venezuela: An Overview of Fraud & Corruption;
• Cross-Border Insolvencies: Chapter 15 & Latin American Equivalents;
• Investing in Distressed Assets & Legal Claims: What You Need To Know; and
• Corruption & Money Laundering in Brazil: Problems & Solutions.

The OffshoreAlert Conference Latin America will be held at the magnificent Palácio Tangará hotel in Sāo Paulo, Brazil, on September 16-17, 2019. Presentations will be simultaneously interpreted in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

About OffshoreAlert

Launched in 1997, Miami-based OffshoreAlert is the leading provider of investigative information about individuals and businesses operating in high-value, cross-border finance. We offer a subscription-based news and documents service at www.offshorealert.com and hold annual conferences on financial intelligence and investigations in Miami, Brazil, and London. OffshoreAlert has exposed more than 175 fraudulent schemes and helped prosecutors and regulators punish those responsible. FIFA’s top officials were exposed at our Miami Conference in 2010 – 5 years before they were indicted for corruption.

OXFORD, England and GERMANTOWN, Maryland, Jan. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON), a leader in synthetic biology, today announced its subsidiary Oxitec and Piracicaba City Hall have expanded the ‘Friendly Aedes aegypti Project’ in Piracicaba, Brazil following strong results for controlling the Ae. aegypti mosquito population, the primary vector for dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus outbreaks around the world. In preparation of this growing program and to meet increasing demand for its proprietary vector control solution, Oxitec is initiating a new mosquito production facility in Piracicaba that will have capacity to protect over 300,000 people.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130919/NY83283LOGO
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160118/323303LOGO

“We are delighted Piracicaba is encouraged by our strong results and expanding the program. Our new facility will support the roll out of our groundbreaking vector-control across the heart of the city and beyond,” said Oxitec CEO Hadyn Parry. “As the principal source for the fastest growing vector-borne infection in the world in Dengue Fever, as well as the increasingly challenging Zika virus, controlling the Aedes aegypti population provides the best defense against these serious diseases for which there are no cures.”

Following approval by Brazil’s National Biosafety Committee (CTNBio) for releases throughout the country, Piracicaba’s CECAP/Eldorado district became the world’s first municipality to partner directly with Oxitec and in April 2015 started releasing its self-limiting mosquitoes whose offspring do not survive. By the end of the calendar year, results had already indicated a reduction in wild mosquito larvae by 82%. Oxitec’s efficacy trials across Brazil, Panama and the Cayman Islands all resulted in a greater than 90% suppression of the wild Ae. aegypti mosquito population – an unprecedented level of control.

Based on the positive results achieved to date, the ‘Friendly Aedes aegypti Project’ in CECAP/Eldorado district covering 5,000 people has been extended for another year. Additionally Oxitec and Piracicaba have signed a letter of intent to expand the project to an area of 35,000-60,000 residents. This geographic region includes the city’s center and was chosen due to the large flow of people commuting between it and surrounding neighborhoods which may contribute to the spread of infestations and infections.

According to Mayor Gabriel Ferrato, “The city of Piracicaba has always sought innovative solutions to serious problems. In the case of Aedes aegypti, we looked for the tool that seemed most appropriate to help in the tough battle against this mosquito that transmits dengue, Zika and chikungunya. Based on the results presented today, we decided to extend the project in CECAP/Eldorado district for another year and also signed a record of intent to expand the project to the central area of Piracicaba. This will bring to the city a new Oxitec factory to meet demand for years to come and help protect the public’s health with this clean and innovative technology.”

Like many invasive insect species, Ae. aegypti’s territory is expanding as are the diseases it spreads, including dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus, which collectively impact over 100 countries and approximately 400 million people globally each year. Today Brazil has the highest reported incidence of dengue in the Western Hemisphere, and with both chikungunya and Zika virus having entered the country in 2014 and 2015 respectively, the Ae. aegypti mosquito has become an increasing health risk. As a result, Brazil’s Ministry of Health spent over 1.2 billion reals last year and allocated an additional 500 million reals for states and municipalities in January 2016 to combat the mosquito.

As per the recent New England Journal of Medicine publication titled “Zika Virus in the Americas — Yet Another Arbovirus Threat”, Brazil is not alone. Authors Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., and David M. Morens, M.D., from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases noted, “The explosive pandemic of Zika virus infection occurring throughout South America, Central America, and the Caribbean and potentially threatening the United States is the most recent of four unexpected arrivals of important arthropod-borne viral diseases in the Western Hemisphere over the past 20 years.”

Samuel Broder, M.D., SVP and Head of Intrexon’s Health Sector commented, “As a vector that transmits a number of serious diseases, the Aedes aegypti mosquito poses a major threat to public health and the economic welfare of nations. Brazil has been hard hit by dengue and the situation there has been aggravated by the recent introduction of Zika virus infections leading to a startling increase in the number of children being born with microcephaly.” Dr. Broder continued, “Through the responsible engineering of biology, we demonstrate a new paradigm of species-specific vector control resulting in dramatic reductions of dangerous mosquitoes, without persistence or harm to the ecosystem, representing a major scientific, environmental and clinical advance.”

Diseases spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito:

• Dengue Fever infects up to 400 million people every year with an estimated 40% of the world’s population perpetually at risk.
• Zika Virus is rapidly spreading into new countries. In 2015 it emerged in Brazil where it has been linked to a sudden increase in birth defects (microcephaly). The number of children born with microcephaly in Brazil has now risen to more than 3500.
• Chikungunya swept into Central America and the Caribbean in 2013 with an epidemic spiking to over a million cases within only a year.
• Yellow Fever remains a major health threat. There are an estimated 200,000 cases of yellow fever, causing 30,000 deaths, worldwide each year, with 90% occurring in Africa.

About Oxitec
Oxitec is the only GM insect company in the world and a pioneer in using genetic engineering to control insect pests that spread disease and damage crops. Oxitec was founded in 2002 as a spinout from Oxford University (UK), and is now a subsidiary of Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON), which engineers biology to help solve some of the world’s biggest problems. Oxitec’s self-limiting insect control targets only the one species of pest in a way that is non-toxic and pesticide-free, providing vector control that is both effective and environmentally friendly. Follow us on Twitter at @Oxitec.

About Intrexon Corporation
Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON) is Powering the Bioindustrial Revolution with Better DNA^™ to create biologically-based products that improve the quality of life and the health of the planet. The Company’s integrated technology suite provides its partners across diverse markets with industrial-scale design and development of complex biological systems delivering unprecedented control, quality, function, and performance of living cells. We call our synthetic biology approach Better DNA^®, and we invite you to discover more at www.dna.com or follow us on Twitter at @Intrexon.

Trademarks
Intrexon, Powering the Bioindustrial Revolution with Better DNA, and Better DNA are trademarks of Intrexon and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Safe Harbor Statement
Some of the statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and projections about future events and generally relate to our plans, objectives and expectations for the development of our business. Although management believes that the plans and objectives reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual future results may be materially different from the plans, objectives and expectations expressed in this press release.

For more information contact:
Corporate Contact:
Marie Rossi, Ph.D.
Senior Manager, Technical Communications
Tel: +1 (301) 556-9850
[email protected]

Investor Contact:
Christopher Basta
Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel: +1 (561) 410-7052
[email protected]

Oxitec Contact:
Chris Creese, Ph.D.
Communications Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 7972 103372
[email protected]

Media Contact:
Elana Ferrari
Edelman US
Tel: +1 (312) 233-1336
Email: [email protected]

SAO PAULO, April 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Judge Daniel Carnio Costa, of the 1^st Section of Bankruptcy and Judicial Recoveries of the Court of Justice of the State of Sao Paulo, accepted yesterday the petition for Judicial Recovery placed by nine companies of OAS Group.

According to Costa’s decision, Construtora OAS, OAS S.A., OAS Imoveis S.A., SPE Gestao e Exploracao de Arenas Multiuso, OAS Empreendimentos S.A., OAS Infraestrutura S.A., OAS Investments Ltd., OAS Investments GmbH and OAS Finance Ltd. have, from now on, 60 days to submit to the creditors and suppliers the Plan for Recovery of the debts contracted until March 31, 2015.

All debts contracted as of the month of April will be fully paid. Payments of salaries and benefits of more than 100 thousand direct or indirect employees will not be affected by the process of Judicial Recovery.

The office of Alvarez & Marsal Consultoria Empresarial do Brasil was appointed as the Court-Appointed Trustee. It is the Court-Appointed Trustee’s responsibility to inspect the operations of the companies under Judicial Recovery, verify the list of creditors, chair the General Creditors’ Meeting and, finally, inspect compliance with the Judicial Recovery Plan approved by the creditors. Alvarez & Marsal will have no administrative role in any of the companies of OAS Group.

The initiative to go into Judicial Recovery was the best path found by OAS Group to negotiate its debts with creditors and suppliers due to the intense credit restriction observed since the end of last year for the companies in the infrastructure sector due to investigations at Petrobras.

“With almost 40 years of existence, OAS is compelled to take measures which allow it to continue operating in a healthy debt renegotiation process, preserving thousands of direct and indirect jobs,” said Fabio Yonamine, chairman of OAS Investimentos.

According to Diego Barreto, director of Corporate Development of Construtora OAS, the Group “will take to the negotiation of this process contributions which are very different from the ones observed in other Judicial Recoveries. A company with resources to maintain its activities, valuable assets and a team of professional managers provides clients, creditors and suppliers with a much safer environment for negotiations.”

OAS will sell some of its assets in the process of Judicial Recovery to provide safety to the investors who will take no risk of having their business contested by the creditors of the Group. The disinvestment in assets is also caused by the decision to concentrate efforts on what is its main vocation, heavy construction.

The participation of OAS S.A. in Invepar, the participation in Enseada Shipyard, OAS Empreendimentos, OAS Soluções Ambientais, OAS Oleo e Gas and OAS Defesa will be offered for sale. Arena Fonte Nova and Arena das Dunas will also be traded.

Construtora OAS goes into Judicial Recovery for technical matters, as it is already the guarantor of the Group’s loans, rather than for lack of liquidity.

“Construtora OAS bets on a professional governance, a corporate remodeling, revision of its management processes, strengthening of the compliance and internal audit areas, besides tough guidelines for reducing risks in the business conduction. The aim is making the company leaner, more agile, more competitive, focused on productivity and costs,” said Yonamine.

OAS – Comunicacao+
+ 55 11 3874-2020

The group will sell assets to pay off debts and capitalize on their core business, heavy construction

SAO PAULO, March 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ – OAS Group has filed this Tuesday (31) an application for Judicial Recovery of nine of their companies to the Judiciary of the State of Sao Paulo. The initiative was the best path found by the Group to renegotiate their debts with creditors and suppliers in view of the intense restriction of credit observed since the end of last year. OAS also decided that it will concentrate efforts on what is its primary purpose, heavy construction.

“The infrastructure sector depends on intense capital financing for the development of projects that support the economic growth of the Country. Since the beginning of the investigations at Petrobras, the financial institutions have systematically restricted the access of enterprises to the resources necessary for the maintenance of projects. With almost 40 years in operation, the OAS has been compelled to take measures that will enable it to continue to operate in a healthy process of renegotiation of debts, while preserving thousands of direct and indirect jobs,” says Fabio Yonamine, OAS Investments president.

OAS will bring to this case’s table very distinct contributions from those observed in other Judicial Recoveries. A company having the resources to maintain their activities, valiant assets and a team of professional managers provides the customers, creditors and suppliers a much safer environment for negotiations.

“We will sell our assets in a Judicial Recovery case in order to give safety to the investors so that they are not at risk of having their business disputed in Justice by OAS creditors. The divestment of assets is motivated also by the decision to prioritize the core business of the Group, which is our heavy construction arm, Construtora OAS,” says Diego Barreto, Construtora OAS Corporate Development director.

Assets that will be put up for sale are the participation of OAS S.A. in Invepar (24.44% of the business), the slice of Enseada Shipyard (17.5%), OAS Empreendimentos (80%), OAS Soluçoes Ambientais (100%), OAS Oleo e Gas (61%) and OAS Defesa (100%). Arena Fonte Nova (50%) and Arena das Dunas (100%) will also be traded.

Barreto also emphasizes that Construtora OAS is applying for Judicial Recovery for technical reasons, since it is a guarantor of the funding of the Group, not because of a lack of liquidity, which is a problem that has reached the other companies included in the application (OAS S.A. , OAS Imoveis S.A., SPE Gestao e Exploracao de Arenas Multiuso, OAS Empreendimentos S.A., OAS Infraestrutura S.A., OAS Investments Ltd., OAS Investments GmbH and OAS Finance Ltd.).

After the granting of the recovery application by the Judiciary, OAS will have 60 days to submit the plan for the restructuring of debts to creditors and suppliers, who will have 120 additional days to discuss and approve the proposal. Debts incurred up to today’s date (March 31) will be frozen and renegotiated. All debts made from the month of April will be fully complied with. Payment of salaries and benefits of employees are not affected by the Judicial Recovery process. Directly or indirectly, there are more than 100 thousand employees involved.

The Judicial Recovery application does not include the Special-Purpose Societies (SPEs – “Sociedades de Proposito Especifico“) of OAS Empreendimentos, which are responsible for the development and construction of real estate ventures in several Brazilian States. This way, no purchasers of the properties will be affected by any agreement established within the Judicial Recovery.

Also excluded from the Judicial Recovery are Arena das Dunas, Arena Fonte Nova, OAS Solucoes Ambientais and OAS Oleo e Gas, in addition to OAS holdings in the Porto Novo dealership, in Enseada Shipyard, in OAS Logistica, in OAS Energy and OAS Defesa.

The difficulties for OAS began in November, from the investigations on Petrobras, which resulted in the termination of credit lines. At the same time, customers briefly suspended their payments and new contracts. As a result, rating agencies have lowered OAS’s grade, which has led to the early maturity of its debts.

With the aggravation of the situation, OAS has decided, at the end of 2014, to temporarily suspend the payment of debts maturing in January. The immediate goal was to continue the operations, maintain the payroll up to date and fulfill tax commitments.

Construtora OAS is investing in a professionalized governance, in the corporate remodeling, in the reviewing of their management processes, in the strengthening of the compliance and internal audit departments, in addition to strict guidelines to reduce risks in conducting business. The goal is to make the company leaner, more agile, more competitive, focused on productivity and costs.

Contact
+ 55 11 3874-2028/2040

LONDON, Aug. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — UBM Aviation and the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) have announced the launch of a major new event for the region’s airline engineering and maintenance community. The Latin America & Caribbean Engineering & MRO Summit 2012 will take place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on October 17-19, 2012 and will bring together senior representatives from the entire MRO spectrum from across the region, and their international counterparts.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120816/554747-a )
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120816/554747-b )

Through this new partnership ALTA and UBM Aviation will work together for the benefit of the region’s aviation industry. UBM Aviation’s CEO Phil Callow said that "with regional MRO growth rates exceeding 5% annually over the next decade, this collaboration is the perfect marriage of ALTA’s leadership in this rapidly-developing region and UBM Aviation’s expertise at facilitating knowledge-sharing and networking in this industry."  He added, "We look forward to working with ALTA to create a summit which will serve as the region’s meeting place for airlines, MROs, OEMs, lessors and other suppliers from around the world."

Alex de Gunten, ALTA´s Executive Director, noted, "ALTA is delighted at the opportunity of working together with a world-class organization, like UBM, with expertise in such a broad range of aviation related services.  This will allow us to apply our know-how and relationship-building experience in the Latin America and Caribbean, leveraging our leadership, expertise and presence in the Region to continue promoting a safer and more efficient industry."   ALTA recently held the long-standing and highly successful Aeronautical Material Procurement Committee (CCMA by its Spanish acronym), an event that hosted over 800 attendees and sold out nearly one month before the conference.

The region’s airline community is supporting this new event which is expected to act as a catalyst for the development of cutting-edge maintenance and engineering services in one of the world’s fastest – growing aviation regions. The high-profile conference will take place over two days and will feature a high level summit, closed airline sessions, a gala dinner and a host of other networking and learning opportunities. 

For full programme information and to register please visit http://www.alta-ubma-mrosummit.com

About UBM Aviation
UBM Aviation, a UBM plc company, is the pioneer of innovative market leading aviation solutions. Our instantly recognisable brands provide the data, analysis, events, media and consultancy services that drive route development and financial growth for our customers’ businesses.
For more information, visit http://www.ubmaviation.com

About ALTA
ALTA (Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association) is a private, non-profit organization, whose more than 40 member airlines represent over 90 percent of the region’s commercial air traffic. ALTA coordinates the collaborative efforts of its members in order to facilitate the development of safer, more efficient and environmentally friendly air transport in the Latin America and Caribbean region for the mutual benefit of the association’s members, their customers and the industry.

For more information, visit http://www.alta.aero

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Last week, Stephon Scott, of the On Deck Pub at the Tradewinds Hotel in Trinidad & Tobago, was announced as the 2012 DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Global Final held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120718/FL42274)

"We were truly impressed by Stephon’s performance in Brazil. He is the perfect embodiment of the passion, flare and zest that represents Trinidad & Tobago so well, and we are delighted to call him the 2012 DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year for our region," said Randy Millian, President, DIAGEO Latin America and the Caribbean. "As Latin Americans continue to embrace the cocktail culture, DIAGEO remains committed to growing local talent like Stephon and further establishing bartending as a serious profession."

15,000 bartenders from 50 countries have shaken, stirred and poured their way through national heats, until only the most talented remained to compete over the final four days of WORLD CLASS challenges. Throughout the Global Final, competitors used the luxury spirits from the DIAGEO RESERVE portfolio – KETEL ONE®, CIROC®, TANQUERAY® No.TEN™, DON JULIO®, ZACAPA®, JOHNNIE WALKER® Gold Label™ and JOHNNIE WALKER® Blue Label™ – in WORLD CLASS challenges, testing their ingenuity, skill and knowledge.

This year’s finale featured eight distinct challenges – Tropical Journey, Hollywood-Bollywood-Hong Kong, Cocktail Mastery, Retro Chic, Food Matching, Rio Street Market, Cocktails Against the Clock, and Signature Specials – which were judged by eight internationally renowned bartending experts and industry gurus, including: Arturo Savage, Aristolis Papadopoulos, Steve Olsen, Salvatore Calabrese, Peter Dorelli, Gary Regan, Hidetsugu Ueno and Daniel Estremadoyro.

"It has been an honor to participate in this event and to be judged by some of the most recognized names in the industry," said Scott. "I can’t wait to take home some of the flavors, skills and trends I have seen over the past week in Brazil and introduce them to my fellow bartenders and clientele."

For Scott, bartending is a passion which he has pursued from the time he first entered the industry in 2006. Since that time, he has made his way up the bartending ranks, with the hopes of one day owning his own cocktail lounge and being an inspiration to others in the field.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Feb. 3, 2012: Find out this June when the second Invest Caribbean Now power forum returns to New York City.

 “The first Invest Caribbean Forum in June 2011 was a pivotal moment in developing interest in a new era of entrepreneurship and investing in the Caribbean. This year’s forum promises to be even more significant in advancing U.S. and worldwide interest in emerging opportunities throughout the Caribbean,” said Felicia Persaud, the convener of Invest Caribbean 2012 for the Caribbean Tourism Organization, in announcing this year’s forum.

Coming on the heels of an ultra successful event in 2011 that featured over 300 money managers, investors, hoteliers, ministers of governments and real estate developers, the Invest Caribbean Now power forum will return to New York City this June as part of Caribbean Week in New York.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization will again partner with digital media company, Hard Beat Communications, to present the second investment forum on June 6, 2012 in New York City.

The event earned rave reviews in its inaugural years in 2011 and secured significant media coverage for its impassioned appeal from Hard Beat CEO, Persaud, and presentations from Wendell Dave Dowrich, Vice President, Goldman Sachs; David Brillembourg, Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Brilla Group and Martin Mohabeer, Managing Director, Spackman Group and CEO of Spackman Capital.

2012 is set to be more exciting as the event will feature private equity investors in the region, telling their “Why Caribbean” story to other investors and attendees. This year’s confirmed speakers are CEO and founder of the award winning firm, McKinney Rogers, Damian McKinney; President and co-founder of Solamon Energy Corp, Jay Yeo; and Chairman and Managing Director of Blue Equity, LLC., Jonathan S. Blue. 

In just ten years McKinney, a former British Royal Marine has built a global organization with offices on every sub-continent. Today, McKinney Rogers is a premiere global consultancy, specializing in business execution. The firm has delivered tangible and sustainable results for such respected global organizations as Walmart, Bacardi, Grohe and Diageo. McKinney was also the winner of the coveted Executive of the Year Award for 2011.

Solamon Energy Corp is a renewable energy developer providing Caribbean and Central American clients with cost effective and reliable RE power generation solutions. Jay and his team work recently announced plans to build the Caribbean’s largest solar power plant in Jamaica. It is expected that the program, estimated to cost 450 million dollars, will enhance and improve Jamaica’s energy infrastructure, as well as help attract additional investment in the ICT and green tech sectors.

Blue Equity is a private equity firm with a diverse and innovative portfolio of business enterprises, with concentrations in oil and gas, media, healthcare, defense, financial services, real estate, manufacturing, art commerce, and sports and entertainment. Jonathan and Blue currently are already investing in the Caribbean through Cool Petroleum Limited, the licensed user of Shell brands in Jamaica and Island Ice & Beverage Company Limited, which manufactures and distributes packaged ice in the Caribbean. Blue Equity LLC says it will be expanding the network of gas stations in Jamaica under the Cool Petroleum brand and also hinted at another acquisition later this year, saying it remains optimistic about Jamaica’s prospects as an investment destination. 

“The Caribbean Tourism Organization is proud to team up with Hard Beat to present this event for the second year, since in these tough economic times, investment in the Caribbean and Latin America is critical and the CTO believes strongly in continuing to boost the tourism sector of this vibrant region by presenting investment opportunities for its members,” said Sylma Brown Bramble, director of CTO-USA Inc.

Partners to date include the PR Newswire, WSEE TV, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now, Damoola Inc and The Affiliated Lawyers of the Americas (”ALTA“).

For partnership and exhibitor opportunities log on to the sponsorship section of http://investcaribbeannow.com/ or call 646-820-5694.

Carib PR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, Sat. Feb. 26, 2011: Get ready for News Americas, newamericasnow.com.

Executives of Hard Beat Communications have rebranded their CaribWorldNews wire to fit the company’s new goal of covering a larger demographic and capturing the emerging interest in the Americas, especially Latin America.

NewAmericasNow.com will replace CaribWorldNews.com, though readers will still be able to access the site through domains: CaribWorldNews.com, CaribbeanworldNews.com and Hardbeatnews.com.

The company’s new aim is to focus more on the top news, entertainment, business, sports and lifestyle and cuisine of the Americas and the content will be syndicated across over 50 sites and via EBSCO publishing.

The brand new website featuring web 3.0 technology will also allow for live feedback from readers who can view a live weather forecast, translate stories to suit their language need, listen to a Caribbean audio newscast right on the site and check out the preview of the latest bold move by HBC executives – a Caribbean entertainment newscast that will be presented weekly by a swimwear-clad anchor.

The video cast pioneers a new look and feel in the presentation of Caribbean news that is targeted specifically to the news service’s growing Internet followers globally.

Known for their spirit of innovation and originality, HBC CEO Felicia Persaud says 2011 is all about upping the ante – expanding into the Americas while still keeping the sexiness of the beach and the Caribbean’s beauties – with the video news of Caribbean-born celebrities.

The V-cast is being produced in collaboration with Mark Wright of Flatbush TV and will feature both male and female hosts. Wardrobe will be provided by popular Caribbean designers, including Guyana’s own, Roger Gary.

Persaud added that the company will, however, keep its weekly audio news cast focused on the Caribbean, given the BBC’s pull out from the region. The cast is aired across the U.S. on 13 radio stations and podcasted on 32 African-American and Caribbean websites.

For more log on to NewsAmericasNow.com.