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Source: Jamaica's Ministry of Tourism

 KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 30, 2017:   Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett leaves the island today (January 30, 2017) to attend an important meeting of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Council of Tourism Ministers and Commissioners in the Bahamas. 

 During the high level meeting, Minister Bartlett will engage his colleagues in discussions on issues including: public/private partnership for marketing the Caribbean in 2017; the creation of an Executive Council of the CTO Council of Ministers and Commissioners; and the Caribbean Leaders Tourism Summit.

Source: http://www.theverge.com/

A story that’s been circulating over the past week — “Hotel ransomed by hackers as guests locked in rooms” — should be taken with a little more than just a pinch of salt.

According to a report (since amended) by The Local, the computer system at the four-star Austrian hotel, the Seehotel Jaegerwirt, was hacked and its electronic key system hijacked. Guests were reportedly locked in their rooms by hackers until a Bitcoin ransom worth €1,500 was paid. As a result of the hack, the hotel’s managers have decided to change from electronic locks to good old-fashioned keys.

It’s a juicy story, but not entirely correct. Speaking to The Verge, Christoph Brandstätter, the hotel’s managing director, confirmed that not only were guests not locked in their rooms, the rooms were not remotely locked at all. “We were a little bit surprised about that press really because nobody was locked in their room,” said Brandstätter. “We had a cyber-attack but the only problem was that we could not program keycards for the guests checking in on the same day.” He added: “The keycards and the computers were affected, but the doors were not.”

SOURCE:  SOUTH FLORIDA CARIBBEAN NEWS

Kingston, Jamaica – Jamaican sauce manufacturer Pedro Plains, has much to celebrate this year as the company’s products are available in two of the United States’ major retailers, Winn Dixie and Kroger.

The export only company, which sells products to the US, Canada and Europe, has been exporting into their seventh year, and is now present in many states.

Source: www.caribbean360.com

WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao, Monday January 23, 2017 – has become the third Caribbean destination to sign a deal with homestay network Airbnb.

Following on the heels of Aruba and Jamaica signing agreements late last year, Curaçao officials last week inked a deal that will help promote the island as a world-class vacation destination and create a framework to allow Airbnb and the government to address issues such as taxes, host accommodation standards and regulations, as well as share aggregate data and support Curaçao’s tourism marketing campaigns.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett signed an agreement with representatives of the Excellence Group of Luxury Hotels and Resorts to build two hotels in Oyster Bay, Trelawny, which will add over 700 rooms to the island’s room-stock.

The Excellence Group, which is renowned for its award-winning luxurious properties, plans to begin construction on their first property in Jamaica in February 2017.

The first hotel will be built at a cost of US$110 million. It will have some 325-rooms and is expected to open its doors to guests in the first half of 2018. The second property, which will have some 400 rooms, will open at a later date. The project is expected to generate some 2,000 new jobs in the construction and operation phases.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 16, 2017:   Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett today (January 16, 2017)  signed an agreement at the Palacio Neptuno in Spain, to host a major global conference to commemorate the 2017 United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

The event, which is a collaborative effort between the Government of Jamaica, international development firm Chemonics International and the UNWTO, will be staged from November 27 to 29 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James.

Source:www.iipt.org

IIPT Caribbean together with the IIPT International Community Tourism Network and Countrystyle Community Tourism Network will be celebrating the launch of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism on January 18 at the Mandeville Hotel, Manchester, Jamaica as the official UNWTO launch takes place in Madrid, Spain. Community Tourism will be the focus of the Mandeville event.

Negril, Jamaica, W.I. (January 1, 2017) The first ever Negril's Womb-man Only Health & Wellness Retreat slated for January 27 - 29, 2017 at Negril Escape Resort and Spa, West End, Negril, Jamaica, has a new production date of October 2017, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The event was designed to explore the many Stages of Womb-men (women) aged 35 yrs. –80 yrs. at a three-day weekend Retreat.  The Retreat would have patrons meet and consult with female Medical, Paramedical, and Wellness Professionals in a relaxed, environment that facilitates sharing and personal introspection. The event is the brainchild of Debra Barrett, Cosmetologist & Spa Director at Negril Escape Resort & Spa, and will now be a two-day Retreat for women by women.

For further information, contact Debra Barrett at 876-574-6777 /591-1980 and via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Thank you.

Source: Caribbean360 

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Friday December 30, 2016 – Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica’s cruise passenger arrivals are expected to increase to two million in 2017.

This, he said, would put the country in the number-three position in the region, after Mexico and the Dominican Republic, in terms of visitor arrivals.

Negril, Jamaica (December 18, 2016). The opening ceremony, Friday, December 9, 2016, of the second staging of the annual Rastafari Rootzfest, got underway with Nyabinghi drumming and chants led by Ras Iyah V, founder & CEO Rastafari InInity and Master of Ceremonies, Barbara Blake Hannah, Author & Co-coordinator, Jamaica Film Academy/Reggae Film Festival.

Mark Golding, former Minister of Justice, paved the way for Rastafari RootzFest to stage the first ganja-exempt festival held over three days. His opening remarks follows and is nothing short of impressive. “It is an honor to support the first Ganja-exempt event under Jamaica Ganja reformed laws… I was very much looking forward to being here again this year. This industry is [a] regulated lawful industry around Medical, Therapeutic and Industrial Hemp; it is on the cusp of greatness, but we still have work to do. We have to push out more effort.  The framework is there and it is for those administering it to do so with the right heart and mind, to make it real, and make it work to deliver what it can for the people of this country.  It is a billion dollar industry. We have the brand, music and Rastafari culture that projects it to the world in a righteous way.”

He further said to Minister Chuck: “This thing that me drop you inna… I’m not sure what you had in mind, but continue to work with it, as it has great potential and some great people are here to work with. Learn from them, they have a lot to teach us…I will be happy to collaborate in any way.” Minister Chuck responded by saying “A lot of the credit for the opening up of the ganja industry was done by Mark Golding over the years and the new legislation just passed went further than I thought…I will do my very best so that it is balanced and all players can benefit and does not breach international treaties…In reference to transporting the ganja sacrament, Minister Chuck further stated that “I will give you all the exemptions needed, approved within hours.”

WESTERN BUREAU - December 14, 2016.

The University of Technology (UTech) 'ganja lab' emerged as arguably the most outstanding participant in the 2016 Ganjamaica Cup, which was one of the major highlights of last weekend's Rastafari RootZFest, which unfolded at the Long Bay Beach Park, in Negril.

The UTech ganja lab, which has a license from the government of Jamaica for medical marijuana research, won four of the 14 categories, which featured local and international entries. UTech won the Best Sativa for its Apple Candy (A), Best Indoor Sativa for its Candy Apple (1), Best Oil (solvent) and Best Innovation.

NEW YORK, United States, Friday December 9, 2016 – Conde Nast Traveller has chosen the 20 Best Hotels in the World for its 2017 Gold List, and the Caribbean has secured a place with GoldenEye in Jamaica, the luxury resort built around the former home of James Bond creator Ian Fleming.

Goldeneye was in good company amid such famous properties as Anassa in Cyprus and Six Senses in Oman, but succeeded in attracting a very favourable review from the prestigious travel publication.

Here’s what Conde Nast had to say about the winning Jamaican hotel:

GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND, The Bahamas, Tuesday December 13, 2016 – With drastic changes to the island’s topography and its tourism economy as a result of Hurricane Matthew, one might begin to wonder whether or not the ‘Grand Life’ still exists in The Bahamas’ second city.

Known for its diverse offering of soft adventure experiences from east to west, appealing to a cross section of travelers, the resilience of Grand Bahama Island’s nature tourism product remains a force to be reckoned with.

To assure travelers and tourism stakeholders of this truth, the Ministry of Tourism’s Sustainable Tourism Unit set out on an extensive assessment to see, first-hand, the state of many of the island’s most frequently accessed nature trails and beach access points.

World Tourism Day in Bangkok concluded yesterday. The last night was a night to remember for delegates to the UNWTO event.

One prominent delegate impressed with Thai Hospitality offered a toast during the Gala Night in Khon Kaen. He was Dr. Walter Mzembi who is running as a candidate to becoming the next UNWTO Secretary General.

Dr. Mzembi said:

MIAMI, Florida (August 5, 2016) - Gerard "Jerry" Inzerillo, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, known and esteemed for his innovations and relationships in the tourism, hospitality, and entertainment communities, will be the keynote speaker opening up the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association's (CHTA) Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) in Puerto Rico from September 30 to October 2, 2016.

Inzerillo, who has a deep well of experience upon which to draw, will address the role the Caribbean plays in global tourism.

During his extensive career, Inzerillo helped to develop some of the world's most famous hospitality brands such as Atlantis, One&Only Resorts and Ian Schrager Hotels, and held leadership roles with Four Seasons and Hilton Hotels & Resorts.