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Tourism Director General regards Routes Americas 2025 conference delegates, key to the future of air travel in the Americas

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By LINDSAY THOMPSON
Bahamas Information Services


ATLANTIS, Paradise Island, The Bahamas — Director General of Tourism Latia Duncombe said The Bahamas remains committed as a leader in visitor experience, as more than 1,000 participants were welcomed to Routes Americas 2025 at Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island.
It is said to be the largest gathering of industry partners and stakeholders since Routes Americas 2012, which was also held in The Bahamas
More than 1,023 attendees from 63 countries have registered for the conference, which provides an opportunity for aviation, airport and destination stakeholders to meet with key airline targets, and is projected to bring tens of millions in direct spending to the country.

Director General Duncombe, regarded participants as the future of air travel in the Americas.  “Routes Americas provides an important platform for us to share insights and forge partnerships that will shape future air travel in our region,” she said in her Opening Remarks on Monday, February 10, 2025 in the Imperial Ballroom.

She said that she was honoured to welcome the participants, while underscoring the importance of connectivity and collaboration in driving economic growth across the region.
“Routes Americas provides an important platform for us to share future air travel in our region,” she said, adding that The Bahamas is the ideal place for key players in tourism and aviation to meet.
“As Bahamians, we pride ourselves on the fact that The Bahamas has been in the business of tourism longer than any other country in the Western Hemisphere, and we are unrelenting in providing top notch service to our guests as hosts,” she said.
She added, “By diversifying airlift and strengthening strategic partnerships, The Bahamas will remain resilient, adaptable, and future-proofed against economic uncertainties. The Bahamas remains committed to its role as a leader in visitor experience.”
The director general noted that The Bahamas is located just 50 miles southeast of Florida, and as a multi-island destination provides unique experiences creating tourism livelihoods for many.
However, none of this is possible without aviation – which the Ministry regards as “the very oxygen that allows our industry to breathe, to grow, and to thrive,” she said.
The director general also shared that the 16 international airports, and other tourism infrastructural development, are essential to the growth and sustainability of any destination.  In this vein, a number of upgrades are ongoing to meet the growing demands of international and regional travel.
“For The Bahamas, airlift is the lifeline that connects our people, our culture, and our economy to the world. We understand that behind every route, every new service, and every strategic decision, there are real impacts – on businesses, on communities, and on the travellers we serve. That is why we remain unwavering in our commitment to building a world-class aviation industry that supports our premier tourism industry.”
Routes Americas 2025 is hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board, and Nassau Airport Development Company.
The countries represented include: The Bahamas, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bon Aire, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Bonaire, Curacao, Cayman, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Germany, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Latvia, Martinique, Mexico, Netherlands, St. Maarten, St. Martin, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turks and Caicos, UAE, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.
(BIS Photos/Mark Ford)

Bahamas News

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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Bahamas News

 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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Bahamas News

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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