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CHTA announces 2025 taste of the Caribbean winners

CHTA announces 2025 taste of the Caribbean winners The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is pleased to announce that Bonaire was named the Caribbean National Culinary Team of the Year. Considered the Caribbean’s premier culinary and cultural competition, as well as food and beverage educational exchange, the event was held concurrently with the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), which took place in Barbados from November 16-18. “Year after year, we’ve seen the progression of talent showcased by the extraordinary chefs and mixologists who compete in Taste. This year, each added their own dash of destination flavor and culinary creativity to the dishes and drinks they presented,” said CHTA CEO Vanessa Ledesma. “We remain committed to encouraging and empowering culinary and hospitality professionals throughout the region to thrive. Taste of the Caribbean reflects the many professional growth opportunities and resources we aim to provide to our talented community.” This year’s [...]

By |2026-02-03T09:51:50-04:003 de February de 2026|Events|Comments Off on CHTA announces 2025 taste of the Caribbean winners

Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2026 Set for Antigua and Barbuda in May

Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2026 Set for Antigua and Barbuda in May The Caribbean’s largest travel trade conference is returning to Antigua and Barbuda next year, with registration now open for Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2026, scheduled for May 12–15. Presented by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, Caribbean Travel Marketplace is the region’s largest tourism trade forum and a year-round business platform that brings together hospitality and tourism stakeholders from across the Caribbean and key source markets. Now in its 44th year, the event is designed to facilitate direct commercial engagement between buyers and sellers while supporting broader regional collaboration. Caribbean Travel Marketplace provides hotels, destinations, and tourism businesses with centralized access to decision-makers, including tour operators, wholesalers, and travel advisors, reducing the need for multiple international sales trips. The event combines pre-scheduled one-on-one appointments with networking, destination showcases, and industry programming focused on current market conditions. According to the Caribbean Hotel [...]

By |2026-02-03T09:47:46-04:003 de February de 2026|Events|Comments Off on Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2026 Set for Antigua and Barbuda in May

Tourism Minister Bartlett Welcomes Expansion of International Hotel Chain to Jamaica

Tourism Minister Bartlett Welcomes Expansion of International Hotel Chain to Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is welcoming the expansion of Canada-based MGM Muthu Hotels Group in Jamaica, following its acquisition of the Royal Decameron Montego Beach Hotel in western Jamaica. Bartlett says the investment reflects strong international confidence in Jamaica’s tourism product and its long-term growth strategy. He added that the move is expected to create more jobs in the sector while strengthening the country’s competitiveness in the global tourism market. MGM Muthu Hotels is a privately held international hotel group headquartered in Europe, with strong roots in India. Founded by Dr. MG Muthu in 1963, the group operates more than 60 hotels across 12 countries, including Portugal, Spain, Kenya, India, France, the United Kingdom and Tanzania. The transaction between Decameron and MGM Muthu is expected to be completed shortly. Source: Caribbean Today

By |2026-02-03T09:41:37-04:003 de February de 2026|Tourism|Comments Off on Tourism Minister Bartlett Welcomes Expansion of International Hotel Chain to Jamaica

UN Tourism: the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism 2027

UN Tourism: the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism 2027 UN Tourism is leading the shift from dialogue to delivery as it begins preparations for the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism in 2027. The United Nations General Assembly mandated UN Tourism with the implementation of the International Year. Now, with its launch of its new Road Map, the Organization has taken another step towards delivering on its responsibility. The Road Map is the product of a collaborative process, and was warmly welcomed by UN Tourism's Committee on Tourism and Sustainability (CTS). UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais says: "Sustainability and resilience are not end goals, they are a continuous process. The International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism 2027 will allow UN Tourism, as the leading international tourism organization, to support our Member States in positioning tourism as a truly transformative sector within the post-2030 agenda." The International [...]

By |2026-02-03T09:37:52-04:003 de February de 2026|Outstanding news, Tourism|Comments Off on UN Tourism: the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism 2027

Cruises are booming in the Dominican Republic: more than 100 ships in February

Cruises are booming in the Dominican Republic: more than 100 ships in February The Dominican Republic is preparing for a high-impact February 2026 for the cruise industry, with the arrival of more than 100 international vessels at various ports and anchorages across the country, consolidating its position as one of the most solid and competitive destinations in the Caribbean. According to the Dominican Port Authority ( Apordom ) calendar, Puerto Plata leads by a wide margin in cruise ship arrivals, concentrating the most significant number of arrivals during the month, followed by La Romana, Samaná, and Cabo Rojo, reaffirming the strategic role of the northern zone as the main gateway for maritime tourism to the country. In February, ships from the world’s leading cruise lines, including MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Costa, and Virgin Voyages, will arrive, bringing tens of thousands of visitors who will directly [...]

By |2026-02-03T09:33:28-04:003 de February de 2026|Outstanding news, Transportation|Comments Off on Cruises are booming in the Dominican Republic: more than 100 ships in February

Havana Club relaunches its Selección de Maestros with a new image

Havana Club relaunches its Selección de Maestros with a new image A collaboration by Rachell Cowan Canino/ Photos: Havana Club social media Havana Club unveiled the new look of its iconic Selección de Maestros rum this Friday, a redesign that refreshes the bottle of this flagship product of the brand on its 15th anniversary. The launch took place at the recently inaugurated Casa del Ron Havana Club in Old Havana, at an event led by the President of Havana Club International S.A. (HCI), Michael Merolli, before a group of specialized journalists. Accompanying Merolli at the presentation were Asbel Morales, director for national sales of the product, and the five Masters of Cuban rum, responsible for the creation and quality control of these spirits. The event reaffirms Havana Club's commitment to the tradition, innovation, and excellence that characterize Cuban rum heritage. New look, same essence Experts explained that the new presentation maintains [...]

By |2026-02-03T09:52:37-04:003 de February de 2026|Outstanding news, Tourism|Comments Off on Havana Club relaunches its Selección de Maestros with a new image

Cubanacan presents the third edition of “Motivos Cubanacan” at FITUR 2026

Cubanacan presents the third edition of "Motivos Cubanacan” at FITUR 2026 Collaboration by Rachell Cowan Canino Speaking at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) 2026, which brings together more than 10,000 companies from 161 countries, Yaima Suárez, vice president of the Cubanacan hotel chain, announced the third edition of the "Motivos Cubanacan” event. This exclusive familiarization trip will explore eastern Cuba, including Santa Lucía Beach, and culminate in Varadero, offering international tour operators a complete immersion in the island's diverse tourism offers. With a 38-year history that will soon reach four decades, Cubanacan consolidates its leadership with an offering of over 17,000 rooms in strategic destinations throughout the archipelago. The company, which has grown alongside the development of the Cuban tourism sector, is taking advantage of its participation in the world's largest tourism event—where Mexico is the Partner Country—to strengthen its position and forge new alliances. Although approximately 70% of its hotel [...]

By |2026-01-26T13:42:04-04:0026 de January de 2026|Outstanding news, Tourism|Comments Off on Cubanacan presents the third edition of “Motivos Cubanacan” at FITUR 2026

Why you should work with a travel advisor for your next cruise vacation

Why you should work with a travel advisor for your next cruise vacation Planning a cruise should feel exciting, not overwhelming. Yet with dozens of cruise lines, hundreds of ships and constantly changing itineraries and promotions, booking on your own can be downright confusing. That’s where a travel advisor comes in. When you work with an advisor, you gain expert guidance, insider knowledge and personalized recommendations tailored to how you actually travel. They can help you compare options, secure added perks and avoid common mistakes—all before you ever step foot onboard—so you can relax and simply enjoy the journey with total confidence. Working with a travel advisor “removes an enormous amount of stress for the traveler,” says Jonathan Alder, who owns Jonathan’s Travels in Winter Park, Florida. “Instead of reading countless reviews and hoping they are accurate, clients have someone guiding them who understands the nuances and, ideally, has firsthand experience onboard,” [...]

By |2026-01-26T13:12:49-04:0026 de January de 2026|Tourism|Comments Off on Why you should work with a travel advisor for your next cruise vacation

“In Cuba, you feel like you’re with family”: The story of James Tafur, who found his second home on the island

“In Cuba, you feel like you’re with family”: The story of James Tafur, who found his second home on the island Collaboration by Rachell Cowan Canino / Photos: Courtesy of James Tafur With 32 years of experience in the tourism sector and dozens of destinations visited, Peruvian tour operator James Tafur doesn’t hesitate to state: “If I had to choose, I’d choose Cuba. It’s the most beautiful place I could ever set foot on.” At FITUR 2026, Tafur shared his experience as a guest at the first two editions of the “Motivos Cubanacan” event, describing a connection that transcends the professional and is rooted in the human quality. “Thanks to Cubanacan Hotels, I’ve had the honor of participating… from the first edition to the second, and surely the third,” Tafur explained excitedly. For him, the unique aspect of the Cuban experience doesn’t lie in the tangible. “Everyone sells the same bed, [...]

By |2026-01-26T12:48:11-04:0026 de January de 2026|Outstanding news, Tourism|Comments Off on “In Cuba, you feel like you’re with family”: The story of James Tafur, who found his second home on the island

The Caribbean Looks Ahead to 2026: Resilience, Regrowth and a Region Reimagined

The Caribbean Looks Ahead to 2026: Resilience, Regrowth and a Region Reimagined Few regions embody resilience like the Caribbean. As 2026 comes into view, the islands are building on a pivotal year of recovery and reinvention, using the lessons of 2025 as a springboard for long-term transformation. Breaking Travel News takes a deep dive into what defined the past year and what it signals for the future. Across destinations, the narrative resonated with unmistakable clarity: the Caribbean is reinventing what tourism can be. Tourism authorities, aviation leaders, hotel executives and community operators consistently described 2025 as a turning point, a year of regrowth fuelled by sustainability commitments, digital transformation, meaningful travel and deeper regional cooperation. As the industry enters 2026, those priorities are becoming embedded rather than experimental. Travellers are responding. Search data shows Caribbean destinations topping global lists for “world’s best beaches”, “world’s leading luxury resorts”, and “world’s leading honeymoon [...]

By |2026-01-26T12:41:18-04:0026 de January de 2026|Tourism|Comments Off on The Caribbean Looks Ahead to 2026: Resilience, Regrowth and a Region Reimagined
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