With one in 59 children
diagnosed with autism in the U.S., special needs travel is the fastest growing
family travel segment. Beaches Resorts’ new level of commitment to this
underserved market empowers its staff to confidently ensure every family can
enjoy the award-winning Luxury Included® vacation experience in a safe, fun and
comfortable manner tailored to their specific needs.
“We are proud to continue
paving the way for families with individuals who have special needs, including
children on the autism spectrum, to travel comfortably and truly live up to our
tagline – the ‘Resorts for Everyone’,” said Adam Stewart, Deputy Chairman of
Sandals Resorts International. “As a family-built brand, we want to provide all
families with a superior level of service that makes them feel the most
welcomed at our resorts. We are especially excited to further expand this
important training to our resort’s watersports program, with PADI® certified
dive professionals and other team members earning a special ‘ACAC’ designation
for each Aqua Center at Beaches, allowing children on the spectrum to safely
experience the incredible waters of the Caribbean.”
The Certification Process &
Special Services
The ACAC designation is the
next level of certification once an organization has achieved the CAC
certification. It underscores that the organization has gone above and beyond
to train its staff and provide substantial modifications for visitors with
autism or similar sensory needs, and designations are granted by the IBCCES.
The ACAC certification process
– which will come to life across different aspects of the resorts, both
pre-travel and on property – entails a variety of important aspects including:
An in-depth training of 40
credit hours on autism sensitivity and awareness, in the areas of
communication, motor skills, social skills, environment awareness, emotional
awareness, bullying, early childhood identification, transition to adulthood,
and more.
Activities and
accommodations that must be available for guests on the spectrum
An annual onsite audit and
review
Substantial changes to
protocols and physical space to accommodate various needs
Special Services include the
option of a ‘One-on-One Beaches Buddy’ – personalized, private childcare with a
buddy who is certified by IBCCES, and can be pre-booked (for a nominal fee) –
as well as:
A personalized pre-travel questionnaire
to identify requests and preferences with a dedicated Special Services team to
assist in the vacation planning process
A Culinary Concierge
program to support specific dietary restrictions and special requests
Modified check-in options
for private, in-room, check-in and the availability of sensory toys for
children during check-in
Identification of quiet
spaces during noisier times of the day and evening
Modified design and
decoration in Kids Camps and Entertainment areas to create a more sensory-friendly
environment
Since achieving the CAC
certification in April 2017, Beaches Resorts has also been instrumental in
extending training to hundreds of its travel agent partners, as well as
internal sales and marketing teams, through IBCCES’ Certified Travel Agent
Professional (CATP) in an effort to better communicate with and assist families
within this highly specialized market.
“Beaches Resorts has gone above
and beyond to lead the hospitality industry toward a more inclusive future for
all families seeking unforgettable vacations tailored to their needs,” said
Myron, Board Chairman of IBCCES. “By becoming the first resorts to achieve the
ACAC certification, Beaches is even more prepared to welcome families with
autism, and we applaud them for their ongoing commitment and leadership in
providing travel options for this underserved market.”
“Diving has frequently proven
to be a transformative and healing experience for individuals with physical or
emotional challenges and their families,” said Kristin Valette-Wirth,
Chief Marketing Officer of PADI Worldwide. “We are honored to work together
with our global network of dive centers and resorts, including our longtime
partner in Beaches Resorts, and IBCCES to offer more opportunities for those
with special needs to heal, explore and connect through diving. Together with
Beaches Resorts and IBCCES, we look forward to inspiring and enabling more
travel and shared experiences for all to create lifelong memories that have the
power to transform lives.”
The Introduction of Sesame
Street’s Julia
In September 2017, as part of
its long-standing partnership with Sesame Workshop ®, Beaches Resorts introduced the arrival of
Julia, a Sesame Street Muppet on the autism spectrum, who brought an exclusive
new activity to Beaches Resorts: Amazing
Art with Julia. During this activity, children are greeted by Julia, a
4-year-old girl on the autism spectrum, who loves to paint. Julia highlights
how people can express themselves through art, and children can explore,
experiment and create in an open-ended art activity. As part of brand-wide
efforts to increase awareness of autism, all Beaches Resorts staff underwent sensitivity
training with “Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children”
resources.
Barbados has made a huge diplomatic move, recognizing Palestine as a sovereign state, as announced by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kerrie Symmonds, according to a report from CBC News Barbados on Saturday April 20. This now aligns Barbados with other UN Member states which also recognise Palestine.
Haiti’s death toll is now up 53 percent with more than 2,500 people killed from January through March 2024, compared to the same time last year. This was reported by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), on Friday April 19. The organization expressed that gangs have changed their tactics, now targeting public institutions and important infrastructure such as the main Airport. Most of the violence is reportedly in the Capital Port Au Prince.
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) –April 11, 2024—The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, led by Commissioner Joseph Boschulte, Assistant Commissioner Alani Henneman, and Deputy Commissioner RoseAnne Farrington, traveled to Miami, Florida, to support Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and other local partners agencies for the 2024 Seatrade Cruise Global Conference.
To kick off the week-long event, the Department of Tourism sponsored the highly anticipated Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) barbecue, which was hosted by Governor Bryan.
Revered as a steady leader in the Caribbean tourism industry, the USVI delegation, which also included the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Port Authority, West Indian Company Limited, Magens Bay Authority, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Government Employee Retirement System, showcased the territory and its growing accessibility around the cruise industry to key operators and businesses.
“Cruise has been and continues to be a leading entryway for visitors into the territory, and Seatrade allows representatives from the USVI to interface with and share pertinent updates needed to continue fostering positive relationships throughout the industry,” explains Commissioner Boschulte.
Commissioner Boschulte was featured on the Caribbean Spotlight panel moderated by renowned industry leader and FCCA CEO Michelle Paige, who referenced the Commissioner being named the 2023 Caribbean Tourism Executive of the Year by Caribbean Journal and shared how exceptional the publication’s acknowledgment of his accolades are. Paige referenced Caribbean Journal’s spotlight paragraph reading, “No Caribbean destination has seen more growth in the last three years than the U.S. Virgin Islands, which kicked off a full-fledged tourism renaissance just after the onset of the pandemic and hasn’t looked back. And so much of that growth can be directly tied to the expert stewardship of Boschulte, who helped craft an innovative, flexible response to the challenges of the pandemic and has continued to drive the USVI’s performance with a data-driven, creative approach to modern tourism.”
Commissioner Boschulte and Deputy Commissioner Farrington joined Governor Bryan for meetings with leading cruise lines, including Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Corporation & plc, amongst others, to discuss continued partnerships, expansion opportunities, and industry updates.
As the global cruise industry continues to restabilize following challenges incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Thomas and St. Croix experienced a 13% growth in 2023 over 2019, with West Indian Company Dock, Crown Bay Dock, and E. Abramson Marine Facility welcoming more than 1,600,000 passengers from 495 total calls for the year. With a 58% year-over-year passenger increase from 2022 to 2023, the USVI continues to grow and is projected to experience another 5% increase in cruise passenger arrivals in 2024.
Commissioner Boschulte also highlighted the remarkable success of the USVI and Caribbean region, stating, “I am proud to see the Caribbean’s appeal continue to captivate travelers. Our collaborative efforts with partners like FCCA and the Caribbean Tourism Organization underscore the unity of our region, ensuring unforgettable experiences for visitors while highlighting the unique strengths of the U.S. Virgin Islands. With a safe, welcoming destination and a shared commitment to tourism, we embrace our role as an integral part of the Caribbean community.”