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Soft Opening of Carnival’s Ocean Medallion Project in Grand Bahama

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#Bahamas, October 14, 2017 – Grand Bahama – Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator the Hon. Kwasi Thompson expressed excitement for the opportunities available for the island and its residents as a result of Carnival Corporation’s Ocean Medallion Project, during their soft opening on Friday, October 13.

Describing technology as the future of Grand Bahama which is happening now, Minister Thompson added that he is very excited about Ocean Medallion.   Ocean Medallion is a wearable device designed to enhance the overall cruising and service experience of the passenger. It enables a personal digital concierge for passengers, eliminating long check in lines, cabin keys and credit cards.

A detailed description of Ocean Medallion and what the Freeport facility will do was given by John Padgett, Chief Experience and Innovation Officer of Carnival Corporation and Marcelo Freire, Director, Global IT PMO Guest Experience and Innovation of Carnival Corporation, to Minister Thompson along with other senior officials from government, the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce.

While making a statement to the media immediately after, Minister Thompson said, “This Ocean Medallion project is the first-of-its-kind wearable device that enables a personal digital concierge by bridging the physical and digital worlds (technology) to deliver a new level of personalized service not previously considered possible.   With this type of interactive technology, not only does it change the cruise industry but for Grand Bahama, it diversifies our economy, allowing aspiring entrepreneurs and small Bahamian companies to take advantage of these opportunities.

TOURING THE TECH FACILITY“Through our Business to Business Initiative industrial corporations and others like The Grand Bahama Shipyard and Buckeye agreed to open their inventory and purchasing needs to the small business community.   This opportunity was used to empower businesses to be able to supply those needs at a better rate or faster delivery service.

“Further to this, Bahamian companies such as the GB Shipyard and Freeport Ship Services have taken advantage of this opportunity to do business with Carnival Corporation.   Grand Bahama is positioned as the perfect fit for industry and innovation where industry connects with technology.”

With the government’s focus on Grand Bahama becoming an offshore technical hub, the advanced technology of Ocean Medallion is welcomed as it is playing an integral role.   It is anticipated that eight to 10 Grand Bahamian IT/Electronic Technicians will be hired and trained to assist with programming and installing the Ocean Medallion systems onboard Carnival’s fleet.

According to Minister Thompson, in rebranding the island for industry and technology, the GB Tech Summit will be launched next week.   The tech summit is expected to attract some of the best and brightest, including Bahamians who are making strides worldwide.

“The message our government wishes to articulate to the innovation team at Carnival and all of the technology companies who are a part of this project, Hughes Systique Corp you are truly welcome and we believe this is only the beginning of any exciting and prosperous partnership.”

The government believes Grand Bahama has the potential to be the Silicon Valley of the Caribbean, said Minister Thompson, and hopes to empower the island through foreign direct investments, particularly those investors needing IT engineers, technicians, specialists and project managers on the ground to monitor and manage their projects.

“I assure you, the government is focused and committed to simulating the local business environment because a healthy and strong Grand Bahamian economy is vital to the growth and development of the entire Bahamas.”

By: Robyn Adderley (BIS)

Photo captions:

SOFT OPENING – Carnival Corporation held a soft opening for their new technology facility in Grand Bahama on Friday, October 13, 2017; Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator the Hon. Kwasi Thompson, along with other senior officials from government, the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce were present. Shown from left are: Ajay Gupta, Sr. Vice President and Head of Business Development and Sales, Hughes Systique; Ian Rolle, President, Grand Bahama Port Authority; John Padgett, Chief Experience and Innovation Officer, Carnival Corporation; Minister Thompson; Iram Lewis, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Works; Rev. Frederick McAlpine, Chairman, Hotel Corporation of The Bahamas; Harcourt Brown, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Grand Bahama; and Mick Holding, Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce.  (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

TOURING THE FACILITY – Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Grand Bahama, Senator the Hon. Kwasi Thompson, was on Friday taken on a tour of the newly established tech facility of Carnival Corporation where they are assembling their state-of-the-art Ocean Medallion. This device is expected to enhance the cruise experience by providing a more personalized experience for passengers. Minister Thompson is seen discussing some of the networking equipment with: Rev. Frederick McAlpine, Chairman, Hotel Corporation of The Bahamas; Iram Lewis, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Works; John Padgett, Chief Experience and Innovation Officer, Carnival Corporation; and Ian Rolle, President, Grand Bahama Port Authority.  (BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)

 

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Twist To Win Ends in a Grand Style with Four $5,000 Mall at Marathon Shopping Sprees  

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Twist To Win grand finale winners (l-r) Brian Bethel, Taraceta Neely, Ashia Demeritte and Merlin Adams posing along with their winnings from the shopping spree.

NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products concluded their 10 weeklong Twist To Win campaign with four $5,000 Mall at Marathon shopping sprees.

The campaign which was available throughout the entire Bahamas allowed consumers to enter by purchasing a 20oz bottle with a yellow cap from the following brands: Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola No Sugar, Sprite, Fanta Orange, or Fanta Grape. Each yellow-cap had a unique alpha numeric code underneath which they submitted to the Twist To Win WhatsApp number.

With each qualifying purchase, participants residing in The Bahamas were entered to win instant prizes and into a grand prize draw to win one of four $5,000 shopping sprees at the Mall at Marathon.

Participants also enjoyed exciting instant prizes such as: Airpods, JBL Speakers, premium Coca-Cola merchandise, $500 Visa gift cards and Amazon, Spotify and Apple Music digital gift cards.

Out of 76,000 plus submissions, Brian Bethel, Ashia Demeritte, Merlin Adams, and Taraceta Neely won the coveted Mall at Marathon shopping sprees at the following select stores, Kelly’s House & Home, The Sports Center, John Bull, Brass & Leather, and BTC.

Leading up to the grand finale shopping spree, Coca-Cola hosted a Trivia Showdown with the eight finalists to determine the four winners. Finalists were tested on their knowledge of World History, Pop Culture, Caribbean Bottling Company and Coca-Cola Facts!

After a few rousing rounds of trivia, the four winners were declared after each winning their spot in the shopping spree by answering their questions correctly and choosing the “Grand Prize” Coca-Cola labeled bottles at random.

The morning of the shopping spree Coca-Cola gave the winners exclusive access to the Mall at Marathon and its participating stores before their usual operating hours. Grand prize winners were greeted with wide smiles from Coca-Cola brand representatives and morning bites before the big event.

At the start of the thirty-minute clock the grand prize winners along with each of their Coca-Cola shopping assistants ran to the various stores collecting items in their arms and carts.

Merlin Adams, a husband and father of four was proud to have executed his game-plan at the end of the shopping spree. With toys, a new phone and materials for his home from Kelly’s, Adams felt accomplished in what he gathered.

Taraceta Neely, a winner from Eleuthera collected beautiful bags for herself and relatives from Brass and Leather and Brian Bethel bought matching athletic and outdoor wear from The Sports Center for his family.

The final winner Ashia Demeritte bought linens and household items in addition to a new phone from BTC right in time for Christmas.

Caribbean Bottling Company is proud to share the real magic of Coca-Cola with the grand prize winners and the may instant prize winners across the Twist To Win campaign. For more updates on new products, promotions, and events follow www.cbcbahamas.com.

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 The Coca-Cola Art Project Astonishes Art Lovers at The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival  

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NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products displayed their astonishing Coca-Cola Art Project (CCAP), during Baha Mar’s five-day Culinary & Arts Festival.                                                                                                                                                                              Earlier this year, Coca-Cola partnered with The University of The Bahamas’ Visual Art and Design Department for a culturally rich art competition. UB’s art students were challenged to create pieces surrounding the theme, Bahamian music.

As a result, 20 student works of art were made, with four students declared as winners at the CCAP exhibit opening in Baha Mar’s ECCHO: Art Gallery in August. To recreate the culturally stimulating magic felt at the exhibit’s premiere, the CCAP was featured at the FUZE Art Tent during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival.

Nine incredible pieces of art lined the walls of the Coca-Cola Art Project, four of which included the winning pieces from Jhanaisia Cole, with ‘Gaulin Bride’; Alyssa Pinder, with ‘Shotgun Wedding’; Nelson Gray, with ‘Untitled’; and Jaela Bowe, with the piece ‘Whims of Obeah, a Folktail’.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Additionally, an intimate listening room was built. It displayed students’ artistic processes, UB Visual Art and Design representatives, and a recap of the exhibit opening for audiences.

Art enthusiasts also enjoyed premium limited-edition CCAP keepsakes at the booth. Journals which featured a collage of all 20 student submissions on the front and back cover, postcards with an art piece on the cover along with the student’s name, title, dimension and materials on the back and pens designed with the CCAP’s dynamic logo.

Throughout the art festival diverse groups of people visited the art tent taking in the displays while enjoying the artistic insights from the listening booth.

Community and culture are always at the forefront of Caribbean Bottling Community, and it was boldly showcased during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival for the third consecutive year.

For more details on the Coca-Cola Art Project, events and new products visit www.cbcbahamas.com today!

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CWS Brings a Galore of Bubbles at Annual Jollification Festival  

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Caribbean Wines & Spirits team members smiling behind one of the company’s two bars at Jollification

NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ premier wines and spirits distributor delighted Jollification attendees with bubbles from their Bottega and Bouvet Ladubay sparkling wines and Besserat de Bellefon champagne lines.

Located in the Monument Circle on The Retreat grounds, CWS transformed The Retreat Garden into a lush lounge with Besserat, Bouvet and their latest product addition, Bottega, during the two-day affair.

The festivities kicked off Friday during BNT Member’s Night. Guests enjoyed exclusive offerings from CWS’s catalogue, offered exclusively to members.  Complimentary mixes or glasses on the rocks included El Tequileno tequila, Hard Truth whiskey, House of Angostura rum, Cross Keys gin, Nemiroff vodka and a slew of wines such as Fonesca Bin, Bottega and Besserat.

Guests also savored the ‘Jolly Paloma’ cocktail, an instant favorite made with El Tequileno tequila, Schweppes Grapefruit and Domaine de Paris rose wine.  To end the night, guests were treated to branded limited-edition wine tumblers as keepsakes.

On Saturday and Sunday, Jollification attendees delighted in glasses or bottles of champagne and sparkling brut or rosé wines while taking in the comfort of the chic lounge.  In addition to purchasing bottles for onsite consumption, consumers were also able to purchase bottles as gifts whether for themselves or someone special.

The sophisticated “bubble lounge” lounge was decked with velvet couches, gold rimmed cocktail tables, blue and pink pillows, and a white floral branded backdrop created for capturing the perfect picture.

Caribbean Wines & Spirits, a historic partner of the Bahamas National Trust was pleased to support Jollification 2025 to kick off the festive season and share their expansive range of spirits.

To keep up to date with all CWS products and events, visit their website at www.cwsbahamas.com today.

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