Miami, Fl, May 12, 2025 – As the cruise tourism industry navigates global economic recalibration and rising geopolitical uncertainty, the Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence is doubling down on its mission: training Caribbean destinations to deliver exceptional guest experiences, no matter the climate.

At Seatrade Cruise Global 2025, Aquila Managing Partner Melanie Colpitts emphasized the growing importance of workforce development as a strategic advantage. “When travelers are more selective with their spending, it’s the destinations that consistently deliver excellence that will stand out,” said Colpitts.

With the energy on the show floor buzzing, Aquila led strategic conversations focused on future-proofing the Caribbean’s tourism product through long-term training investments. From cruise line executives to destination decision-makers, the message was clear: quality training pays off.

Aquila, a leading training partner for the cruise industry for more than 15 years, unveiled new initiatives at the conference, including immersive VR-based programs developed in collaboration with Winged Whale Media. The team activated a dynamic takeover of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) booth, hosting live demonstrations, mini-training sessions, and interactive activities that illustrated how technology can enhance both the visitor experience and community capacity.

Product development and sustainability were front and center in this year’s training dialogue. “Destinations want to build experiences that are not only memorable but meaningful and sustainable,” said Colpitts. “It’s about enriching the guest journey while protecting and celebrating the culture and communities that make the Caribbean so special.”

With global economic uncertainty on the rise, Aquila is urging destinations not to retreat but to double down on service delivery. “Even if arrivals dip, we must exceed expectations for guests. That kind of experience drives powerful word of mouth – and training is the foundation,” added Colpitts.

As the official training partner of the FCCA, Aquila remains committed to raising performance standards across the Caribbean and Latin America, equipping destinations with the skills and tools to compete – and win – on the global stage.

PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

SPORTS COMMISSION

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – The future of sport in the Turks and Caicos Islands took a major leap forward in March with the official launch of the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) Frameworks, a strategic roadmap designed to guide young athletes from grassroots participation to elite performance.

After years of development, specialised LTAD frameworks have been developed for basketball, football, cricket, swimming, athletics, rugby, along with a general provision that supports other sports. These frameworks provide science-based models to ensure athletes train and compete according to their stage of physical, mental, and emotional development.

This initiative was developed in collaboration with Dr. Colin Higgs, Professor Emeritus at the School of Human Kinetics and a nationally renowned consultant in coaching and athlete development across Canada and the Caribbean. Dr. Higgs’ extensive expertise has been instrumental in shaping a model tailored to the unique context and ambitions of TCI sport.

“We started three years ago with the Long Term Athlete Development Symposium…following that, I have been working with six of the national sport governing bodies to develop their own LTAD plan,” says Dr. Higgs. “Since then, I’ve come back and I’ve been working with the National Sport Governing Bodies (NSGBs) on two things. One is strengthening their administration and being more effective. Then with the sports that I had been working with, developing their LTAD plans, working with them on how they are going to implement those plans to make it a reality, not just a document that sits on a shelf.”

Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Social Services, added:

“This has been a three-prong approach as it commenced 3 years ago. We had the framework development that took place and what I like about it is that we have been able to use some of the material to assist in the development and improvement into the Physical Education curriculum within our schools from grade 3-6.”

Hon Taylor explains, “This speaks specifically to long-term development in athletes, so we have a framework in place for each of the sport disciplines. In discussion with Colin, he has highlighted the importance for us to ensure that we focus on grassroots sports and what we want to do is ensure that our children have the opportunity not just to focus on one sporting discipline in their life, but to start very early, giving them the opportunity to be exposed to the various disciplines. At a later stage, they will identify their niche in sports.

There is much more that can be done in terms of developing our facilities. But we are on a mission to bring up, bring about the necessary change.”

The LTAD documents serve as critical tools for National Sport Governing Bodies, equipping them with clear direction and consistent strategies for long-term success. Each framework outlines key components such as:

• TCI’s Seven Stages of Long-Term Athlete Development
• Stage-by-stage guidance on training, competition, and recovery
• Podium Pathways to identify and support high-performance talent
• Sport-specific considerations and factors influencing success

These frameworks represent a bold commitment to excellence and sustainability in sport. By applying LTAD principles, the TCI sports community is investing in a future where young athletes are nurtured properly and positioned to thrive on the regional and international stage.

For more information and to apply the framework to your sport body, contact Compliance and Support Manager, Mrs Joddy Harvey at jcharvey@gov.tc.

Photo Captions: 

1st insert: Dr Colin Higgs meeting withNational Sport Governing Body Executives

2nd insert: L-R: Director of Sport Jarrett Forbes, Hon. Rachel Taylor and Dr Colin Higgs

Expanding global reach to meet growing client demand in a dynamic market 

March 17, 2025 – Dentons, the world’s largest global law firm, is announcing today its intention to combine with a leading law firm in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Griffiths & Partners. The combination would further strengthen Dentons’ presence in Latin America and the Caribbean and enhance the Firm’s ability to serve clients in the region’s rapidly growing economy.

With this addition, Dentons will become first and only global law firm to establish a presence in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Griffiths & Partners is a leading provider of legal services, and coupled with Dentons’ global reach, the combined firm will be able to deliver services to clients not only in the Turks and Caicos Islands but across more than 160 locations in over 80 countries worldwide.

Griffiths & Partners has been involved in the jurisdiction’s most high-profile civil and commercial litigation over the past decade. Its expertise spans key practice areas, including Banking and Finance, Corporate and Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Family Law, Real Estate and Trust and Private Client Services.

“Our combination with Dentons represents a new chapter for our firm and our clients,” said Conrad Griffiths KC, Senior Partner of Griffiths & Partners. “The combination will enhance our ability to serve clients with the same dedication and local expertise they trust while also providing them access to Dentons’ unparalleled global reach.”

“Griffiths & Partners’ strong reputation and deep-rooted expertise make them an ideal combination partner for Dentons in this important market,” said Kate Barton, Global CEO of Dentons. “Their commitment to client excellence aligns perfectly with Dentons’ approach. This combination will enable us to offer clients insights into the business landscape of Turks and Caicos, ensuring we meet their needs both locally and globally.”

Griffiths & Partners is a leading full-service law firm in the Turks and Caicos market. The firm’s lawyers are consistently highly ranked in Chambers and Legal 500.

“Dentons’ strategy focuses on partnering with firms that share our commitment to excellence and our client-centric approach,” said Paloma Gomez, CEO of Dentons’ Latin America and the Caribbean Region. “Our combination with this outstanding firm in Turks and Caicos strengthens our unmatched coverage in Latin America and the Caribbean, allowing us to provide seamless, high-quality legal services to our clients wherever they do business. With their deep local expertise and our global reach, we look forward to delivering even greater value to our clients across the region.”

In Latin America and the Caribbean, Dentons now has offices in:

Following approval by the partners, the combination with Griffiths & Partners is expected to launch in the coming months.