Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy (left), presenting Chief Executive Officer of JetBlue, Robin Haines with a mahogany sculpture at Sandals Resort last night.
Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard Sealy is up-beat at the success of the recently concluded Winter Tourist Season.
In addition, he welcomed the announcement by Chief Executive Officer of JetBlue, Robin Haines, of a scheduled weekly flight out of Boston, USA, beginning November 7 this year.
Sealy welcomed these developments last night while addressing an audience which included national hero, the Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers, cricket legends, Sir Wesley Hall, Charlie Griffith, Joel Garner, Wayne Daniel and Desmond Haynes, and United States Ambassador to Barbados, Dr Larry Palmer at Sandals Resorts, Dover, Christ Church.
Speaking on the recently concluded tourist season, Sealy noted that it is now May and Barbados is still enjoying winter-type occupancy in hotels.
“There is not a hotel room available anywhere at the moment. I think this is a tribute to the good work being done by our teams in the United Kingdom, the USA and Canada,” Sealy said.
Sealy noted that visitor arrivals are 27 percent up out of the USA and six per cent up out of the United Kingdom as of April.
He however pointed out that this figure does not include the thousands of British visitors who are currently attending the third Test Match at Kensington Oval.
In welcoming the announcement made by Haines, that a weekly Boston to Barbados flight has been scheduled from November 7 this year, Sealy pointed out that the air carrier has made a substantial contribution to the success of the season.
Sealy told the gathering that Barbados will be going after the 15 000 romance niche, a favourite of the Sandals Resorts Chain.
Meanwhile, in a brief address Haines said Barbados was the first market to get their Airbus, A 321s.
Haines further disclosed that this winter JetBlue will be flying its premium product, Mint, to Barbados.
The CEO disclosed that the airline’s Mint product is the best premium product in the USA providing four private suites for its passengers.
He recalled that JetBlue’s first flight to Barbados touched down at the Grantley Adams International Airport on October 1, 2009.
Stressing that Barbados has always been seen as a second home for him, having spent 19 years with British Airways, Haines said:” We are so happy to add the Barbados to Boston flight. We just love coming to Barbados. Barbados is very much a part of the JetBlue family.” (NC)