Bahamas News
Bahamas Builds on Opportunities at 2021 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Show
#TheBahamas, August 11, 2021 – “Officials from the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation (BMOTA) are actively pursuing new business opportunities for the destination while at the 2021 Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh Show in Wisconsin,” said Ellison “Tommy” Thompson, Deputy Director General, BMOTA.
“In addition to the high level of interest shown by persons wanting to visit The Bahamas at our booth, we have received so many enquiries from pilots who have attended our daily Flying to The Bahamas seminars, specifically designed for them, and who are planning a fly out to The Bahamas.”
“Four days into the seven days show, we have already held some very productive one-on-one meetings with key industry executives like Aircraft Owners Pilots Association (AOPA), on joint programs to further promote and enhance The Bahamas’ profile in the marketplace and to its 400,000 pilot- member body to further increase visitor arrivals. These programs will include joint marketing initiatives, expansion in digital communications, asset management access, among others,” he said.
“We cannot underestimate the importance of our presence at platforms such as Oshkosh or the value of working directly, face-to-face with leaders of AOPA, International Federal Partnership (IFP), EAA, our Fixed Based Operators and our Bahamas Flying Ambassadors. These relationships have helped propel The Bahamas to the top position, as the leader of General Aviation in the Caribbean,” Thompson reiterated. 
“Just as this platform provides us with unique opportunities for growth, it also alerts us to hear first-hand, of any issues or potential situations these pilots are experiencing that could hinder their decision to visit our beautiful destination.”
“At this show, we discovered that not enough notice was given to pilots on the enforcement of the Bahamas Airport Authority’s $9 security processing fee which is charged to private aircraft and each person arriving internationally. While the fee was increased recently by $2 and had existed in The Bahamas for many years, the transparency of its regulation was inconsistent, and its enforcement took effect less than a month ago. Moving forward, we will work to correct these shortfalls and provide adequate notice to these pilots, of any upcoming changes,” Thompson said.
Thompson, who is also responsible for the BMOTA’s Global Sales and Marketing operation in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Latin America, has also spent a large portion of his career leading the aviation and vertical team. He is scheduled to demit office on August 27, 2021, after more than 43 years at the BMOTA. The EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Show will mark one of his last official assignments on the job.
“Aviation is my true love, and this event culminates years of bittersweet, fond memories at the Ministry. From the creation of our Bahamas Flying Ambassadors program more than 20 years ago, to the induction of our newest Flying Ambassador, Steveo Kinevo, who VLOGs his Bahamas flights to millions of viewers on YouTube and who, we discovered at Oshkosh three years ago, it is only fitting for me to end this chapter of my career and tenure on this great assignment,” Thompson concluded.
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.
Bahamas News
The Coca-Cola Art Project Astonishes Art Lovers at The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival
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!
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.
