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SANDALS® RESORTS’ JULIANNA MUSGROVE WINS 2023 RISING STAR AWARD CARIBBEAN

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May 29, 2023— Julianna Musgrove, the newly minted regional learning and development manager, Northern Caribbean for Sandals Resorts International (SRI) is on the receiving end of another meritorious win after copping the 2023 Rising Star Award Caribbean.

Musgrove accepted her accolade from Andrea Belfanti, Chief Executive Officer, International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) and Jonathon S. Zink, Chief Operating Officer, The Burba Hotel Network (BHN) Group at the Caribbean Hotel and Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) held at the Loews, Coral Gables Hotel in Florida. Also in attendance was the Group Chief Executive Officer of SRI, Gebhard Rainer.

Co-sponsored by the ISHC and The BHN Group, the Rising Star Award Caribbean recognizes an emerging leader, age 35 and under, currently living and working in the Caribbean. Open to nominations, the candidates are screened based on achievement, impact and recommendation.

James McAnally, general manager for Beaches Turks and Caicos (BTC), spared no words in endorsing the 28-year-old Turks and Caicos Islander who started at his resort in 2013.  “As a regional manager, Julianna coordinates the learning & development initiatives for BTC, Sandals Royal Bahamian, and Sandals Emerald Bay. She works closely with various leaders from each resort to achieve their mandates, execute bespoke training, conduct audits and other special projects. We unreservedly support Julianna’s selection as the 2023 Rising Star Award Caribbean recipient. She epitomizes the ultimate team member and leader that any organization would desire to have on their team. Her journey from an intern to regional manager is testament to her determination, humility, tenacity and passion. Her stellar record of growth and development is not only in her story, but within the stories of the thousands of people across the Caribbean she has inspired along their career paths. I believe that Julianna’s story is where destiny meets determination, she is the true embodiment of the term Rising Star,” he stated emphatically.

 Right there celebrating the evolving hospitality trailblazer are the committed team members employed to the Sandals and Beaches brand. Offering congratulations to Musgrove on behalf of the over 18000-strong cohort of Sandals professionals was SRI’s Executive Chairman Adam Stewart, “it is such a wonderful recognition of your passion, dedication, hard work and focus as you live the Sandals purpose and values every day. We are all extremely proud of you being recognized with this prestigious award. Keep up the good work,” expressed Stewart to Musgrove.

Musgrove’s win was both a humbling and symbolic experience for her, “as a young professional who didn’t know what career path to take, I chose hospitality because it was the leading industry in the Caribbean. My journey with Sandals allowed me to train in different areas until I found my passion. Following such an enriching experience, I knew I wanted to build a career helping to provide the same opportunities and growth I received to upcoming professionals. I am committed to the continuous mentorship and development of future hospitality leaders and I will use this award as a testimony that there are meaningful and impactful careers within hospitality. When you love what you do and you do it with passion and purpose, everything else will fall into place. I am most grateful to everyone who has been invested in my development and that of the people of the Caribbean,” she shared.

Press Release: Sandals Resorts

Caribbean News

Barbados recognizes Palestine as sovereign

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

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.

 

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Caribbean News

Haiti death toll rises

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

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.

 

 

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Caribbean News

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS SHINES AS A PREMIER DESTINATION AT THE 2024 SEATRADE CRUISE GLOBAL CONFERENCE

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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.”
For more information about the U.S. Virgin Islands, please visit https://www.visitusvi.com/.

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