travel - Haiti Observer Blog

If there is one sector of hope in Haiti, we all have to agree it is in its Hotel. After Oasis Hotel, Best Western Premier hotel which opened in Port-au-Prince's Petion-Ville suburb in the spring of 2013, Marriott hotel which is set to open in 2015, now it is the turn of a major hotel chain to announce that it is also interested in Haiti. Hilton has signed an agreement to open its first hotel in Haiti.

Tedd Middleton, vice president of development for Hilton World Wide America, signed an agreement on Thursday to open a 150 rooms Hilton Garden Inn in Port-au-Prince. The Haiti Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe, who was present at the signing ceremony, took the opportunity to invite other business people around the world to come to Haiti and invest as well. As he often stated, the prime Minister said that "Haiti is moving forward to attract investment". Hilton Garden is expected to be open in Haiti in 2016.

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It was near the end of summer when news of North Miami Police Chief Marc Elias being called into question about various trips he had made to his native Haiti since 2012 using public funds. Elias had said at the time his trips had been official, the last being to act as part of a security detail for North Miami Mayor Lucie Tondreau. While six of his 7 trips over the two-year period have been verified by the necessary documents, warranted compensation from the city, his last trip with the Mayor in August of 2013 did not follow suit. This, consequently, has led to his resignation from the post.

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On February 10, 2014, Sunrise Airways and BVI Airways have announced that they have entered a 'Subservice Flight Operations Agreement'. It is an agreement that gives contractors necessary flexibility in rendering services. It gives them permission to increase working capacity and authority to enhance skills and knowledge. A subcontractor can employ additional workforce or expand business on fixed term basis. Sunrise Airways has obtained the BVI Foreign Operators Permit with 'Seventh Freedom Rights' approval. 'Seventh Freedom Rights' is the right to carry passengers or cargo between two foreign countries without any continuing service to one's own country.

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Haiti is not just open for business, but tourism as well, showing that the frequent trips made by members of the government, especially as it relates to those in the tourism ministry, have not been a waste of money. Adding to the recent roster of new tourism opportunities being introduced to the steadily pushing-forward country, is the announced planned increase in seat numbers being offered by Air Canada's shift in carriers.

Air Canada announced on January 27, 2014 that their subsidiary leisure carrier, Air Canada rougeTM will be expanding Air Canada's carrying capacity to Caribbean destinations for the summer following the conversion of former Air Canada Toronto and Montreal routes to Air Canada rouge. The changed routes include that from Montreal to Haiti's Port-au-Prince, previously charted by the company's mainline carrier.

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The Best Western Premier Hotel in Petion-Ville is enjoying a successful first year. Opened in April 2013, its occupancy rate has averaged over 70%. Corporate travelers make up approximately 85% of accommodations, and are pleased Port-au-Prince can offer them a first-class experience.

Regional Director for Best Western, Tom Osborn, reports operations have had a few bumps in the road, generally with training the staff. But he added this is to be expected, and has not harmed the brand, because media coverage has been positive, especially in regards to the indigenous art incorporated into the hotel's amenities.

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Based on a study done annually, today.com publishes an annual list of countries to go to enjoy or or to avoid, last year Haiti was listed among the countries in the world to avoid. Guess what! this year Haiti is on the "To Go" list.

What are the reasons for Haiti to move from the list of the countries to avoid to the countries to go to within just one year?

The main reason is that Haiti has become a country with the capacity to welcome foreign visitors

The recent efforts in the area of tourism start paying dividend for Haiti and its economy

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JetBlue Airways has announced its brand new routes into Haiti. The popular airline will conduct a series of three flights between Haiti and the United States, with one leaving out of the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York and two departing from the Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale.

Both destinations will land at the Port-au-Prince, Toussaint L'Ouverture Airport in the venture that has been described as a wonderful new opportunity for both countries. The new speculation has, thus, been celebrated by JetBlue and the Hollywood International Airport and the festivities were complete with a water cannon salute for the first passengers who departed on the inaugural flight #1709. The flight departed from gate F2 of Terminal 3 at just before 1 p.m.

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After the sudden suspension of flights from Haiti Aviation, it appears that the CEO of the company, Charles Voigt, is trying to convince the public that Haiti Aviation is not dead or at least not yet. According to Mr. Voigt, people who have purchased an airline ticket with them recently should contact their credit card companies for a complete refund. In addition, the cost of the ticket has been refunded to several hundreds of people already.

The problem with Haiti Aviation has to do with money supposedly owed to their Aircraft leasing company, Falcon Aircraft Express (FAE). The leasing company stated that Haiti Aviation owes them money; in the meantime Charles Voigt said that they do not owe them money and that Haiti Aviation is working tirelessly to resume flights. He hopes to announce a date when Haiti Aviation will resume its flights to Haiti very soon.

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Travel insurance has become a must-have in recent years. Consumers pay higher retail prices for goods and the increasing costs of medical care are making it a more of a necessity.

Here are some guidelines for travel insurance:

• Find out what travel insurance covers. It could be a trip cancellation, death or dismemberment, medical and dental services, medical transport services, luggage loss, and indemnity against cruise liner bankruptcies.

• Check your homeowner/renters' policies for what travel coverage they provide. Also your auto/life insurance policies' coverage for travel outside the country.

• Credit cards routinely offer travel coverage for accidental death and dismemberment, so check it out.

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Moulin Sur Mer Resort is a magnificent colonial style beach resort in a large sprawling property located in Montrouis-- one of the best beach tourism destinations in Haiti. The resort is situated by the side of a vast beach along the clear turquoise waters of La Cote des Arcadins. It offers 68 comfortable rooms with superb views, decorated in Haitian art and crafts, modern bathrooms, wardrobe, safe deposit box, free Wi-Fi, well groomed gardens, sandy beach coves, water fountain, children playground, enormous outdoor swimming pool, bars and restaurant.

The restaurant serves local and international cuisine all along the day. Some of the rooms are equipped with television and mini-bar. The sunset over a nice sand beach is really awesome. You can experience free Kayaks ride offered by the resort and enjoy the ride all up and down the coast for a couple hours. If you want to explore beautiful coral reefs, relax, the management hires cool scuba diving equipments to its guests. There is a museum in the area that worth a visit.

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