Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - (Page 47)

The most important three days for Caribbean tourism in years I like just yesterday that I attended my first Caribbean Week in New York City. It was my second day on the job with Travel Agent, and I was introduced to perhaps one of the most hectic trade shows the region can muster up, but also the most newsworthy. More than two years later, and under a different name, the Annual Caribbean Tourism Summit (ACTS) is still considered one of the Caribbean’s most influential trade conferences of the year. And during a time of substantial flight suspensions to the region and, of course, rising fuel costs, one can argue that this might be the most important Caribbean conference since the aftermath of 9/11. Travel Agent staff used to walk to the former Caribbean Week in New York City, but this year we flew to the revamped conference’s new venue, The International Trade Center at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. The good news is that we returned with just as much—if not more—Caribbean news to share with you. Here’s a roundup of everything a Caribbean specialist should know about the first ACTS. T SEEMS of flights by such carriers as American Airlines and American Eagle in September will result in a 20 percent reduction of seats (or 1.4 million) to the Caribbean. New Air Lift The biggest flight news came from Puerto Rico (www.gotopuertorico. com). The Puerto Rico Tourism Company announced more details about a plan to replace about half of the flights Puerto Rico will lose when American Airlines’ and American Eagle’s suspension of flights takes effect this fall. Airlines, including JetBlue, Air Tran, Continental and Delta, have added service to Puerto Rico from such major cities as New York, Boston, Newark, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. The dates of the flights haven’t been announced yet, but some are slated to begin in September, overlapping with the date of the suspended flights by AA and AE, Puerto Rico Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila says. The September suspension of flights by some major carriers represents a 20 percent reduction (1.2 million seats) to Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has also been in talks with Spirit Airlines to reach an agreement that will result in additional flights between San Juan, Orlando and New York. Alphabet Soup Montserrat (www.visitmontserrat.com) Okay, before we start throwing out acronym made a splash at ACTS by announcing the after acronym, allow us to first provide agents addition of Carib Aviation Limited flights from with a quick Caribbean tourism refresher. Forgive Antigua. The new daily service was officially us if you’re a seasoned Caribbean specialist who slated to start on July 1. Flights depart V.C. Bird knows this already, but we figured we’d avoid any International Airport in Antigua as early as 8:20 confusion. a.m. and will return from Gerald’s Airport in The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Montserrat as late as 5 p.m. and the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) previDominica (www.discoverdominica.com) ously held events separately and never worked also announced the addition of new flights together in coordinating a trade show or conferfrom St. Lucia. The daily service would connect ence. However, this event was hosted by the St. Lucia’s Herwanorra Airport and Dominica’s recently formed Caribbean Tourism and DevelopCanefield Airport. Flights will depart Dominica —ENRIQUE DE MARCHENA KALUCHE ment Company (CTDC), which comprises both at 12:10 p.m., arriving in St. Lucia at 12:55 PRESIDENT, CHA p.m. The return flight will leave St. Lucia at the public and private sectors, and members of the CTO and the CHA. 4:05 p.m., arriving at Dominica at 4:50 p.m. The new flights will allow connections to and from various major hubs Caribbean Asks Congress to Lift Travel Restrictions such as Miami, New York, Atlanta, Toronto and the UK. Perhaps the biggest news to come out of the summit came from the event’s closing press conference during which Sen. Allen Chastanet, New CHA President Enrique De Marchena Kaluche chairman of the CTO, told media that delegates had met with Congress We’ve tried long and hard to score an interview with new CHA President and asked it to waive the $40 requirement Caribbean travelers currently Enrique De Marchena Kaluche and as luck would have it, he eventually incur when vacationing. Delegates also asked that duty-free allowances came to us. The newly sworn-in president was conducting an interview be raised, and that there be more pre-clearance facilities in the Caribin the pressroom of the International Trade Center. bean. The last request was perhaps the most significant, because it De Marchena Kaluche, who was officially sworn into office on the first would shrink crowds at airports and in turn may result in more flights day of the conference (after being elected roughly a year ago), told us, “It’s to the region. This is important considering that anticipated suspension CONTINUED ON PAGE 48 “” been a “It’scoming. long time Now, I’m ready to do what needs to be done ” July 21, 2008 TravelAgent | 47 http://www.gotopuertorico.com http://www.gotopuertorico.com http://www.visitmontserrat.com http://www.discoverdominica.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - July 21, 2008

Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor Europe Pacific/Asia Tanzania South Pacific Pacific Northwest Las Vegas Florida Mexico The Caribbean Comes to D.C. Cruises Tours Hotels Agenda Luxury Travel Expo Global Destination Update Small Luxury Hotels Expands into Asia ASTA is Changing, and Growing Carnival Reduces Direct Business In the Spotlight Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - July 21, 2008

Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 (Page Cover1) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 (Page Cover2) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 (Page 1) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Online Now (Page 2) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Online Now (Page 3) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 6) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 7) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contributors (Page 8) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contributors (Page 9) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 10) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 11) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 12) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 13) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 14) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 15) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Europe (Page 16) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Europe (Page 17) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Europe (Page 18) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Europe (Page 19) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 20) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 21) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 22) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 23) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tanzania (Page 24) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tanzania (Page 25) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tanzania (Page 26) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tanzania (Page 27) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - South Pacific (Page 28) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - South Pacific (Page 29) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific Northwest (Page 30) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific Northwest (Page 31) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 32) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 33) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 34) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 35) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Florida (Page 36) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Florida (Page 37) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Florida (Page 38) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Florida (Page 39) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 40) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 41) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 42) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 43) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 44) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 45) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 46) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 47) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 48) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 49) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 50) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 51) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 52) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 53) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 54) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 55) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 56) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 57) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 58) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 59) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 60) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 61) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tours (Page 62) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tours (Page 63) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tours (Page 64) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tours (Page 65) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Hotels (Page 66) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Hotels (Page 67) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Agenda (Page 68) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Agenda (Page 69) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Agenda (Page 70) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Luxury Travel Expo (Page 71) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Global Destination Update (Page 72) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Small Luxury Hotels Expands into Asia (Page 73) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - ASTA is Changing, and Growing (Page 74) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Carnival Reduces Direct Business (Page 75) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 76) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Classified Marketplace (Page 77) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page 78) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page 79) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page 80) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page Cover3) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page Cover4) 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