Victoria Campos is the new Director of Sales and Marketing of Mahekal Beach Resort. Having grown up in Mexico City and lived in the United States and Brazil, she brings an international approach and view to her new position. Campos has 25 years in the industry.

Excelencias Group had the pleasure to talk with Maya Lomidze, president of the biggest Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), about the work of the group she leads, the interests of Russian travelers and the most attractive areas for the tourists of that nation. Lomidze spoke as well about Russia’s domestic tourism, its peculiarities and hurdles, the increase in the flow of Russian tourists towards the Caribbean and South American, and the presence of the country in tourism fairs.

During the recent Caribbean Travel Marketplace, CND had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Mario Gonzalez, Puerto Rico’s tourism minister and member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. He told us about the priorities of that group and the main working guidelines for the sector in his country, including the goal of becoming a hub country for the region in the airline industry.

The Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2012 was his first appearance as Jamaica’s new Minister of Tourism and Entertainment. The Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment surely peaked the interest of the media and the general delegates. Unfortunately he was there for only one day, but he gave several interviews to the international press. 

The Caribbean Travel Marketplace celebrated its 30th anniversary at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas from January 22th to 24th. The following interview is with Lelei LeLaulu, a well-seasoned travel media specialist, advisor for tourism destinations, sustainable tourism and one of the founders of the Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx).

One day prior to the opening of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace we caught Evelyn Smith, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association on the fly, while attending an executive meeting of the Ministers of Tourism in Nassau. We spoke of the 50 years of the JHTA and its community relationship and its advisory role within the Jamaican government.