Tourism
Government turns to youtube to promote Cayman
(CNS): Government will be using Youtube to promote the Cayman Islands with the help of two young Caymanians. Luigi Moxam and Kamala Murugesu have been selected as the hosts for the Department of Tourism's You Tube video series promoting the destination around the world. The project is one element of DoT's drive to enhance awareness of the Cayman Islands through the use of social media and video. Following a nationwide talent search to find young local hosts to be the "Faces of Cayman" the DoT chose Moxam and Murugesu after viewing a number of video auditions over the two-week campaign.
Filming began on 9 May and has included some of the Islands' most iconic locations and attractions, as well as highlighting the people and culture. The video series will be launched in July on the Cayman Islands You Tube Channel.
"I am absolutely ecstatic that I've been chosen as one of the first hosts to represent my country in this video series," exclaimed Murugesu, when she received the news that she had been selected. "I look forward to this opportunity to showcase all the wonderful things that the Cayman Islands have to offer and can only hope that I serve the role as ambassador with true patriotism."
Moxam echoed his co-hosts sentiments and said that the show was a brilliant way to market the Cayman Islands brand globally. “We should all be encouraged to know that they have put together a dedicated team, who are willing to showcase and highlight all that is inspiring about our beloved isles by utilizing the influential means of creative social media. I'm proudly passionate about representing everything Cayman and cannot wait to get started," he added.
Members of the local community can follow the DoT on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook to keep track of new developments with this exciting project.
www.Facebook.com/caymanislands<http://www.Facebook.com/caymanislands> and www.Twitter.com/cayman_islands<http://www.Twitter.com/cayman_islands>
Charleston risks historic status over cruise tourism
(AP): The National Trust for Historic Preservation expects to announce on June 15 whether to include Charleston on its list of the nation's 11 most endangered historic places. Trust president Stephanie Meeks wrote Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. recently that the size and number of liners "threaten the very character of this historic place." But the mayor fired back, saying it would be outrageous to add Charleston. The city is honoured for its historic preservation efforts and crafted the nation's first tourism management plan. "It would harm our city, its residents and it would not be based on truth," Riley wrote.
As the cruise industry grows, and as plans for a new $25-million state cruise terminal move forward, some opponents view the ships as bringing an endless stream of tourists, traffic and pollution.
Trippers pick Cayman for top Caribbean destination
(CNS): The tourism industry has received another welcome boost this week with the Cayman Islands being voted the number one travel destination in the Caribbean by TripAdvisor travellers. The news comes on the heels of arrival statistics that reveal both air and cruise visitors are on the increase, despite recent downtown closures of restaurants. Premier and Tourism Minister McKeeva Bush said he was delighted as the Trip Advisor awards are based on more than 10 million real and unbiased traveller reviews. He added that it was particularly encouraging and showed that visitors leave Cayman extremely satisfied with their vacation experience.
“In addition to being selected as the number one travel destination in Caribbean and Mexico category, the Cayman Islands is the only Caribbean country listed in the top 25 destinations in the world, which is extremely gratifying and exciting,” the premier said.
According to the TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Destinations Awards 2011 Cayman was touted for its pristine beaches, exciting attractions, plush accommodations, delicious dining options, and caymankind approach to life.
“We are delighted to have been chosen by travellers in this poll,” commented Shomari Scott, Acting Director of Tourism. “Winning an accolade of this calibre is a huge testament to the beauty, quality and service that visitors experience when they visit our islands. This award highlights how special our beach and resort community are, and we are thrilled that the Cayman Islands have received this international recognition.”
TripAdvisor.com represents the world’s largest travel community The Travellers' Choice Destinations Awards honour the world's top destinations, earning their distinction from those who know them best – real travellers. The winners are determined by a combination of TripAdvisor's travellers' favourite places and the destination’s overallpopularity on the popular travel review website.
Former Hyatt owner takes battle to UK politicians
(CNS): The owner of the site which was once the Hyatt hotel has taken his battle to the UK’s secretary of state for business and called on the British government to make good on its promise to eliminate corrupt business practices. Asif Bhatia, the owner of Embassy Investments which owns Grand Cayman Beach Suites and the derelict Hyatt site, has been engaged in a complex legal battle with one of his insurance firms for more than six years. The wealthy British hotelier has publicly criticised decisions made by the courts and implied that he has faced discrimination. Since the legal fight began neither the previous tourism ministernor the current premier has been able to do anything about the courtroom drama which has left the West Bay Road hotel site derelict.
Last week, speaking at a Cayman Islands Tourism Association meeting, backbench government MLA Cline Glidden said that the planning department was looking at enforcing legislation it passed last year which provided for a daily fine of up to $25,000 against owners who are not maintaining their properties. Both the Hyatt and Divi Tiara on the Brac are prime candidates, government has indicated.
Bhatia and his firm’s spokespersons have been at pains to point out, however, that the situation is not of their making and that the refusal of one insurance company to pay what the hotel claims it owes is the cause of the problem. The hotelier has pleaded with the CI government on numerous occasions to step in and assist as he claims that the fundamental issue is the refusal of one insurance firm to pay what it owes. In what has become a costly and complex legal battle, the insurance firm in question has denied it is at fault.
Following on from commitments made by former tourism minister Charles Clifford, which did not come to pass, when he took office McKeeva Bush also committed to addressing the Hyatt issue. However, the complex legal battle appears to also be beyond the ability of the current government to address.
The dispute over the hotel insurance settlement has rolled on for more than six and a half years. Although the owners quickly cleaned, dried and renovated the Beach Suites on the south side of the property in the wake of the devastating 2004 hurricane, the remaining 230 rooms on the north side of the West Bay Road has remained closed and continues to crumble.
Now divided by the West Bay road by-pass, the property backs on to Britannia residential condos and golf course, the owners of which have continued to complain about the situation with the hotel.
In light of recent revelations about the insurance firm and a US SEC investigation, in his latest attempt to publicise his own predicament Bhatia has called for openness and transparency and asked the UK government to make good on its promises to address all the problems of corrupt business practices.