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The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter offers travel, tourism, Caribbean and global news weekly. To share stories, information or intelligence, contact us at info@marketplaceexcellence.com. | |
FCCA Cruise Conference concludes in the DR | |
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The 28th annual Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference, held in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic last week, was an overwhelming success.
Senior executives from FCCA member cruise lines kept a busy schedule of meetings with tourism representatives from across the region’s public and private sectors, all in an effort to improve cruise tourism business and develop opportunities for growth.
Delegates thrashed out numerous issues throughout the week – from supply chain issues to employment, cruise conversion and curating new tours and attractions across the length and breadth of the Caribbean.
The Dominican Republic rose to the occasion as conference host and President Luis Abinader underscored his nation’s commitment to the cruise industry during his welcome address.
FCCA CEO Michele Paige described the current climate as a “beautiful time” in the relationship between cruise industry stakeholders. “We are listening, we’re responding, and we want to make things work,” she said, explaining that win-win solutions between the lines and destinations are key.
Paige asserted that “we are going to make it happen” for those destinations that want the cruise lines to purchase needed items from their countries.
“The commitment is there. We have the mechanisms in place, and the cruise industry is even willing to spend more money because … we want the destinations to thrive. We want them to be phenomenal places for us to bring our ships and passengers,” she added.
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Cayman Islands committed to cruise tourism | |
From left: Rosa Harris, Cayman Islands’ Director of Tourism; Minister of Tourism & Transport Kenneth Bryan; Michele Paige, CEO of FCCA; and FCCA President Adam Ceserano | |
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The Cayman Islands is hailing its partnership with the FCCA as the cruise tourism rebound kicks into high gear across the region.
Kenneth Bryan, Cayman Islands’ Minister of Tourism and Transport, attended the recent FCCA conference in Santo Domingo, spending the week representing his island nation as well as the region in his role of Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization.
“The relationship (with FCCA) is so important because it’s a relationship of communication and development,” he said, adding that learning about data, trends, threats and opportunities was critically important not just for ministries and departments of tourism, but to pass on to taxi drivers and stakeholders on the ground who build regional experiences for visitors.
Minister Bryan underscored the strength of the Caribbean tourism product: “What we need to do as individual countries is remember the key focus is that we are one Caribbean, but we all have our own identities. We all have sun, sea and sand but we all have our own culture and our own heritage and that’s a product that the customer wants,” he added, calling on Caribbean countries to build new products and experiences.
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Team USVI on the move in Santo Domingo | |
USVI Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte is pictured in this photo collage participating in a busy schedule of meetings in the DR last week. | |
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The United States Virgin Islands delegation, led by Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte, had a strong presence at the recently concluded FCCA conference in Santo Domingo.
The team interacted with member cruise lines and other participants as the Territory prepares for a strong reboot of the cruise tourism sector after measuring impressive stay-over visitor results throughout the pandemic.
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Sir Royston remembered at Caribbean Travel Marketplace | |
From left: CHTA Acting CEO and Director General Vanessa Ledesma; Kyle Mais, Chairman of CAST; Janelle Hopkin, President and Managing Director of Spice Island Beach Resort; and CHTA President Nicola Madden-Greig, OD. | |
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The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) paid tribute to the family of a Caribbean legend during the recent Caribbean Travel Marketplace in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
CHTA’s leadership team presented Janelle Hopkin, daughter of the late Sir Royston Hopkin, KCMG, with a plaque announcing that her father has been named Director Emeritus of CHTA’s Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST).
Founded in 1997 under the Chairmanship of Frank Rainieri and later led by Sir Royston, CAST has a longstanding history of providing guidance and expertise in awareness raising programs, environmental management systems and best practices in accordance with the goals to achieve responsible environmental and social management of natural and heritage resources within the hotel and tourism sector.
Sir Royston’s legacy of pioneering work and leadership in the area of sustainability will no doubt inspire generations of Caribbean hoteliers to protect the region’s precious resources while providing top-notch hospitality.
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Blog Posts
Digital content consumption is increasing at an exponential rate and while short and succinct content rules social media, long-form content is great for capturing audience attention and inculcating a behavioral change. Here are some advantages of blog posts:
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Own Property: Blog posts should almost always be hosted on the website of your company’s or personal brand. This increases traffic and time spent on the website.
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SEO: If keywords are well utilized, blog posts can increase the organic search value of the website, making it more popular on Google Search results.
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Thought leadership: Vision and ideas worth sharing require a broader canvas and audience. Consistent blog content on specific topics creates resonance, respect and authority with readers.
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Data Bank: Blog posts are a great way to organize content on the website in a shareable format. Data such as case studies, trends, and event recaps are great topics for readers.
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Click-through: Bite-sized blog previews on social platforms with captivating graphics are all you need to convert your social media audience to genuine website traffic, and it takes a single click!
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World Osteoporosis Day takes place on October 20, 2022.
This year’s campaign theme, coordinated by the International Osteoporosis Foundation, is “Step Up for Bone Health”.
Worldwide, one in three women and one in five men aged 50 years and over will suffer an osteoporotic fracture.
Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and fragile, breaking easily – even as a result of a minor fall, a bump, a sneeze, or a sudden movement. Fractures caused by osteoporosis can be life-threatening and a major cause of pain and long-term disability.
Follow these recommended 5 steps to healthy bones and a fracture-free future:
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Exercise regularly. Weight-bearing, muscle-strengthening, and balance-training exercises are best.
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Ensure a diet rich in bone-healthy nutrients. Calcium, vitamin D, and protein are the most important for bone health. Safe exposure to sunshine will help you get enough vitamin D.
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Avoid negative lifestyle habits. Maintain a healthy body weight and avoid smoking and excessive drinking.
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Find out whether you have risk factors. If you do, bring these to your doctor’s attention, especially if you’ve had a previous fracture or have specific diseases and medications that affect bone health.
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Get tested and treated if needed. If you’re at increased risk, you may need medication to ensure optimal protection against fracture.
Interested individuals and groups on this day are invited to organize an event, social media campaign, scientific meeting, or launch a new publication.
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The MPE Caribbean Report team was in the Dominican Republic for the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference last week. We spoke with FCCA CEO Michele Paige about the renewed enthusiasm for cruise tourism. | | | | |
