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.
According to industry site, mimegasite, the U.S. Treasury Department has published new rules for related to meeting, event, incentive and travel expenses for companies that received TARP funds. We checked the Treasury Department’s website to see is we could read these new rules, but had no luck in locating them. If you know the specific URL for the new rules, please leave it for us and other readers in the comments below. Thanks!
Examiner.com reports that Jumby Bay Resort which closed last year for massive renovations will start taking reservations again for its November 1 reopening. Jumby Bay, located just off the coast of Antigua is said to have undergone a $28 million renovation. This is great news for us as the property has long been a favorite of clients of SNC Destinations.
SITE International Foundation has launched The Site Index – an annual analysis and forecast for the motivational events industry. Working in collaboration with the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, SITE expects that this annual state of the industry report will provide the tools necessary to budget and plan for the future.
In order for the survey to gather and render meaningful information, at least 1,000 people will need to participate. And according to a recent email I received as a SITE member, our support will help them to have the first survey out by the start of third quarter.
Consider participating today by signing up at http://siteindex.uwaterloo.ca.
USA Today reports on Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas being turned away from St. Lucia and Antigua this week over fear of the H1N1 swine flu virus. Read more …
We are still trying to get over the fact that anyone will be able to fly to St. Lucia for as little as $99 each way. What a bargain!! For those of you who missed it, Jet Blue has announced an introductory fare sale for its three newest Caribbean destinations of Barbados; Kingston, Jamaica and Saint Lucia. Daily flights from New York’s JFK to Barbados and Kingston will start in October 2009, as will flights to St. Lucia which will operate on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Read more …
A little over a year ago, a client of ours made the decision to delay committing to a program because of the gradually changing economic climate. It was at that time that I started freaking out. And things simply got worse after that, a fact to which most of you can attest. It took a few more months before the official declaration that we were in a recession, and then came the AIG fiasco. Travel, and our meetings and incentives industry was in big trouble, again!
To you all I will admit that we here at SNC made a big mistake. Just as our company started rebranding ourselves, new website and all, on this blog we went silent. Of course it is now more than ever that companies need to engage clients and remain visible, but no matter how many times I personally tried to post a new blog or write for our newsletter, the words just would not come. But finally, here they are together with an apology and a desire to get to know and serve you all over again.
Today as we relaunch our destinations blog and our open letter to you, I am hopeful that we will have the news and commentary for which you have subscribed over the years.
