This is not goodbye

It’s been quite a while since I have posted to our blog, yet today ! want to share that we are heading in a new direction as it relates to our business. I am not leaving the incentive travel industry behind, but it is with regret that I share we are closing SNC Destinations and The SNC Group. In fact, Pamela Arthurton of Carib World Travel, Antigua, a former client and friend of over 10 years, has retained my services as she focuses on the growth of her company’s incentive travel business.

I am delighted to be joining Pam’s team, and truly excited to be representing not only Carib World Travel, a family-owned travel company that has been in business for almost 40 years, but also representing their island home of Antigua. I remain in Florida and you may continue to reach me directly at 954-762-7795.

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, so short of inviting you to visit Antigua to experience it for yourself (you would of course be more than welcomed), I hope you will take a look at the photographs that we have posted online at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sncdestinations, to see for yourself what clients such as American Express, Bain Capital, First Data and Geopost have experienced firsthand in Antigua. I also invite you to learn more about Carib World Travel at http://caribworldtravel.com.

So, this is not goodbye. I look forward to our continued relationship, and serving you in the beautiful island of Antigua.

Simone

Airline Mergers in the Headlines

As reported in The Washington Post, markets are cheering the new $3 billion merger between United Airlines and Continental Airlines. The move will turn this partnership into the world’s largest airline. According to the same report, shares of both companies rose more than 2 percent in trading on Monday.

The sentiment was quite different in the Caribbean this weekend when Air Jamaica’s Lovebird took it’s last flight as Jamaica’s national carrier. Ownership of the carrier changed hands on May 1 when Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines took over its operations. According to The Miami Herald, the transition through which Caribbean Airlines will phase out the Air Jamaica brand will take place within 12 months.

Sandals Resorts acquires Four Seasons in the Bahamas

Sandals Resorts International has purchased the recently-shuttered Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma at Emerald Bay for an undisclosed sum. Read more at http://www.travelweek.ca/sandals-resorts-international-purchases-four-seasons-in-great-exuma-bahamas/.

The Caribbean on Sale

With the resorts offering reduced rates and value-adds, the Miami Herald reports that American Airlines has added or will be adding additional flights this fall from Miami to Antigua, Curacao, Grand Cayman, Provinciales, St. Croix, St. Maarten and St. Lucia.

SNC Sponsors Site Nite

We are pleased that together with our Caribbean DMC partners, we are one of the sponsors for Site Nite 2009. Taking place the night before the Motivation Show’s opening, Site Nite is becoming the leading social networking event of the week as well as a major fundraiser for the Site International Foundation. We invite you to join us and other industry colleagues at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago on Monday, 28 September 2009. Tickets available at http://www.siteglobal.com/Experience/SiteNite/tabid/169/Default.aspx.

Martha Stewart and Sandals team up for Weddings

The Jamaica Observer reports that Sandals Resorts has signed a multi-year agreement to partner with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Beginning in October, Sandals guests will be able to book a Martha Stewart Wedding at any of Sandals and Beaches 16 branded properties throughout the Caribbean. As the article states, the partnership comes at a time when destination weddings are on the rise.

Jamaica leads among Top 25 Resorts in the Caribbean

As South Florida Caribbean News reports, Jamaica for the fifth year in a row has the most resorts on Travel + Leisure magazine’s 14th annual World’s Best Awards readers’ survey. Ten of the island’s resorts appear on the list of Top 25 Resorts in the Caribbean, Bermuda and the Bahamas. Read more at http://www.sflcn.com/story.php?id=6819.

Reported: New owners for Air Jamaica

As reported in today’s Jamaica Gleaner news, Indigo Partners and Oaktree Capital have bought Jamaica’s struggling national carrier, Air Jamaica. Private equity fund, Indigo Partners and private investment firm, Oaktree Capital Management are known for their strategic investment in Spirit Airlines.