The concert by the five-time Grammy Award winner will launch the resort’s 2024 Music Making Waves concert
series. In the past 20-plus years, Atlantis Paradise Island has
hosted such A-list artists as Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars,
Ricky Martin, the Jonas Brothers, Pitbull, Doja Cat, Kesha and Lizzo.

Jackson will perform songs from her musical catalog of 11 studio albums, which includes hits like “All For You,” “Got Til It’s Gone,” “That’s The Way Love Goes” and “What Have You Done for Me Lately.”

Preshow festivities at the Music Making Waves Concert Village include pop-up experiences, activity zones and food trucks.

Tickets start at $149 for bronze seating to $349 for diamond seating. A portion of concert proceeds will support the nonprofit Atlantis Blue Project Foundation, dedicated to saving sea species and their habitats throughout the Bahamas and surrounding Caribbean seas.

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The much-anticipated Tulum Airport saw its first domestic flights on Dec. 1, with international flights expected at the end of March. This news comes in tandem with the launch of the first portion of the Maya Train project, which debuted on Dec. 15.

The first phase of airport operations includes daily Aeromexico and Viva Aerobus flights originating from Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, Tijuana and Toluca. It is expected that the airport will welcome 700,000 arrivals in its first month of operation. 

Future airlines that will begin operations in 2024 into Felipe Carrillo Puerto Airport (TQO) or Aeropuerto Internacional de Tulum, include Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines and, most recently, JetBlue. Delta is expected to begin service between Atlanta and Tulum on March 28. American Airlines will fly twice daily from Dallas/Fort Worth and daily from Charlotte and Miami in March, as well. United Airlines has announced routes from Newark, Los Angeles, Chicago O’Hare and Houston. JetBlue will begin service from JFK on June 13. Spirit will fly from Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. 

Part of the airport facilities include a runway that is longer than two miles as well as a terminal with a capacity for 5.5 million annual passengers. The airport is 15 miles from downtown Tulum, connected by road to Highway 307, the main artery that runs from Cancun south toward Chetumal. This access to the highway gives the airport easy access to the Tulum station that will be part of the Maya Train.

Maya Train starts chugging

The nearly $30 billion passenger railroad has been a passion project for President Manuel Lopez Obrador since he took office at the end of 2018. It was the cornerstone of his larger vision to stimulate the economy of Southern Quinana Roo. The train has been the topic of controversy since before ground was broken, calling into question the environmental effects, its imppact on remote villages that will soon be exposed to tourism at unprecedented volumes and the unprecedented cost for an infrastructure project.

Still, the first leg of the 1,500-kilometer route launched, connecting Cancun to the city of Campeche. Tickets for this leg cost $68, and the journey takes six hours, which is roughly how long it takes to drive the same route by car. It is expected that the entire train route will be in operation by February.

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Among the updates were those made to the resort’s entrance pavilion, which received new landscaping, and to its central tranquility ponds, with new lounge furniture and wooden backgammon and chess board games.

The main restaurant received a full interior renovation that includes new art pieces, lighting and furniture. The resort’s casual eatery, the Beach Club, has been upgraded with multilevel decking shaded by new pergolas and has introduced a new drinks menu.

The resort also announced that it will debut kosher-accredited preparation areas next year.

Three of the resort’s luxury private villas have undergone renovations. The lakefront Villa 14 has been fully refurbished, with the addition of a private pathway leading directly to a new yoga pavilion and a meditative water fountain. Villa 8, a four-bedroom Tranquility Villa, has also undergone a complete refurbishment of the interior living space and expansive outdoor terrace space with a hot tub and fire pit.

Amanyara’s signature villa, the Artists Villa, now includes a private fitness and wellness area. The Artists Villa is the resort’s largest and most exclusive residence, with five bedrooms and three acres of private gardens; a recording studio; a steam room and cold plunge pool; and a private, 108-foot infinity swimming pool overlooking the sea.

The three- to six-bedroom villas come with the services of a private chef. All villas and rooms include a dedicated host.

Amanyara is part of the Aman portfolio, which includes 34 luxury resorts, hotels and private residences in 20 countries. Its other Caribbean property, Amanera, is in the Dominican Republic.

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These swings are located 1,000 feet above sea level and offer spectacular 360-degree views of the ocean and Dominican countryside — I heard the term “Instagrammable” more than once. Photos give the illusion of gravity defiance high above in a precarious position, although the swings are far enough from the mountain’s edge that safety is not an issue. Guests young and old took turns getting on the swings, many handing cameras to friends to capture the moment but a few others others just living in the experience.

The swings themselves are pretty much the kind you’d find on any playground. Guests can give themselves a push start, but there also seemed to be employees on hand to help get you going. They’re free to use, although you do have to pay to get up there: Because of the rocky and steep terrain going uphill, a specialty vehicle takes passengers up the mountain.

There are many other activities for guests at Montana Redonda, as well, including four-wheeling, horseback riding and ziplining; there is a charge for each of these experiences. For the less adrenaline-inclined, a restaurant at the top of the mountain offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, with dishes including seafood, BBQ and pasta served with panoramic views. Excursions vary in length and price. Various area resorts and tour operators offer excursions to the mountain, including transportation.

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The latest figures from Tourism Analytics reveal that 748,373 people visited St. Lucia from January to September; that’s an increase of 68% from the number of arrivals for all of 2022 (444,618). U.S. visitors accounted for 56% of stayover arrivals through the first three-quarters of this year.

Paul Collymore, president of the St. Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association. credits part of those rising numbers to the return of events like the St. Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival and St. Lucia Carnival, both which had been on a three-year pandemic hiatus. Increased airlift to the island also pushed numbers up, he said.

With numbers expected to continue an upward climb in coming years, the island is preparing to add at least 1,000 new hotel rooms by 2025, including 351 from the Secrets Saint Lucia Resort & Spa, slated to open next year, and the Cas en Bas Beach Resort, the first Destination by Hyatt-branded resort and residences in St. Lucia, which is also eyeing a 2024 debut. In addition, a 140-room Courtyard by Marriott-branded hotel at Pointe Seraphine Castries is slated for a 2025 opening.

“We hope this level of business activity continues to come to the island, and all of our businesses, and our 15,000 tourism workers,” said Collymore, who is also CEO of The Landings resort and spa.

The number of B&Bs and vacation rentals on the island is also on the rise, Collymore said. With that in mind, St. Lucia launched its Collection de Pepites program last year to assist travel advisors and visitors with finding small and boutique properties, including villas, bed-and-breakfast accommodations and inns with 35 rooms or fewer that may otherwise go unnoticed. All included properties are accredited by the Ministry of Tourism and the St. Lucia Tourism Authority.

“It’s a growing segment,” Collymore said. “We have also seen an increased level of satisfaction from visitors who come to stay at alternate accommodations. There are some who like the formal hotel accommodation and there are others who are looking for [alternate accommodations].”

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Last week, Alaska Air Group, parent of Alaska Airlines, reached an agreement to buy Hawaiian Airlines in a $1.9 billion deal.

The news conference was a celebration, billed as the merging of two ohana (families). But I can’t help but feel a little sad, even though Hawaiian will continue to exist as a separate brand. After all, it was Hawaii’s last major, local airline — and with this acquisition, it’s no longer local. 

Hawaiian Airlines has deep roots in the Islands, going back to 1929 when it was founded. Prior to the airline’s existence, Hawaii residents and visitors were traveling by steamships. The carrier provided interisland service first, taking passengers between islands and slowly introducing them to the novelty of flying. Then in 1941, it connected Hawaii to the Continental U.S. 

Since then, generations of Hawaii residents and visitors have flown Hawaiian Airlines, and generations have worked for the carrier. In the Islands, Hawaiian has always been a visible brand, sponsoring some of the state’s largest events; it’s awarded large grants to local nonprofits; it extended its operations to help evacuate people out of Maui after the fires earlier this year. It’s always been in tune with what was happening in the Islands and acted on its instincts in a way that only a local carrier could. 

In Hawaii, where the coastlines are covered with resorts owned by foreign entities and large swaths of land — and an entire island — are bought by the superwealthy, strong ties are easily formed, with longtime businesses that were born and grew in the Islands. It’s a source of pride, and when a longtime local business like this shuts down, or is acquired by an out-of-state entity, there’s a little bit of heartbreak that goes along with it. 

Yet, it isn’t the same kind of loss as when Aloha Airlines shut down. The local carrier had been a mainstay in the Islands too, flying for 61 years when it closed in 2008, laying off 1,900 people. In Hawaiian Airlines’ case, it is not a complete goodbye — maybe prevented by this acquisition — but it still brings with it some uncertainty.

What to know about the deal

Since the acquisition isn’t expected to close for 12 to 18 months more, it’s too soon to know how the merger will affect Hawaiian Airlines’ more than 7,000 employees, or if its leadership will be able to connect to the local community in the same way that it has in the past. But we do know that the company’s headquarters will be moved to Seattle, where Alaska Airlines is based, and there will be a regional headquarters in Hawaii.

Nothing will change for guests immediately. Customers can continue to book and manage flights on Hawaiian’s website. For now, earning and redeeming mileage will be handled the same as usual, too. Later, the loyalty programs of both airlines will merge into one, but earned miles won’t be lost. More about what the combination of these carriers could mean can be found here and on the airlines’ FAQ page. 

As a frequent flyer of both Alaska and Hawaiian, I hope that the change is as positive as its executives make it out to be — and though it’s no longer local, I hope that flying Hawaiian Airlines will still feel Hawaiian.

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“We’re the world’s largest boat rental and boat charter booking platform,” said Val Streif, marketing manager for the international booking platform GetMyBoat. “We’re curating all the different options in one area, so you can kind of shop around and compare prices all in one place.” 

A recent search of GetMyBoat offerings in Hawaii brought up 88 listings, with the majority on the island of Oahu, but there are also rentals available on Maui and the Big Island. The website also lists a range of different boat types and experiences that include yachts, catamarans, sail boats, fishing boats, gondolas, paddleboards and kayaks.

The majority of the listings are from “brick-and-mortar charter companies who use our app as like a booking platform to get customers,” Streif said. It also isn’t unusual to run across a charter boat on this platform that is used for group tours. 

Each captain and owner sets their own rates and terms, so it’s important to read each description. Some will allow one-hour charters, while others require a three-hour minimum. Streif said the most common rental is four hours or a half day.

Once you find a boat you like, the next step would be to click “send an inquiry,” through which you can describe the hours and dates you’re interested in. This is also where you can mention if you require any special accommodations, such as letting the boat owner know that it’s for a proposal or even a family reunion.

The owner or captain will respond with an offer, and then you can either accept it and confirm payment or cancel the inquiry altogether. GetMyBoat also has a 24/7 customer service team, which can help with questions along the way.

Many of the boats offered provide a captain, and Streif recommends these. “It keeps everyone safe, and it’s a lot more fun to boat when you don’t have to worry about driving,” she said. Captains go through a vetting and verification process prior to being added to GetMyBoat. 

If the renter prefers to captain, however, they must follow Hawaii’s laws and regulations, and ensure that they have the appropriate certifications.

Travel agent commissions are available at $50 per booking by joining GetMyBoat’s affiliate program via [email protected].

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Starting with a location in Monaco nearly 20 years ago, Beefbar offers meats including American and Australian black angus and Japanese wagyu and Kobe beef. Beefbar also offers Kobe prosciutto, an exclusive Beefbar menu item developed by founder Riccardo Giradu, as well as seafood and Redefine Meat plant-based options. Signature dishes include the Bao Bun (Korean buns, smoked Kobe beef and Jasmine tea), Gyozas (Kobe beef and chorizo dumplings served with a jalapeno-vinegar sauce) and Wagyu Bolognese (pappardelle pasta with a homemade Wagyu beef ragu and 101-month-matured parmesan cheese).

Beefbar joins restaurants Fouquet’s by Pierre Gagnaire and Shellona at the luxury resort, which offers 21 rooms, suites and bungalows and sits on a hill above the port of Gustavia, the capital of St. Barts.

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That was one of the trends that had tour operators and destination officials talking at the 20th Alaska Media Road Show in November. The Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA) hosted the event at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

“The tourism industry made some good strides in 2023. While there are still some businesses digging themselves out of debt from the pandemic, and we aren’t seeing independent traveler numbers come in as strong as we’d like, the season had some positive impacts … there is optimism for 2024,” said ATIA president and CEO Jillian Simpson.

Winter 2022-23 TSA counts were up 9% over the same time in 2021-22 at Ted Stevens Anchorage Airport and matched or exceeded arrivals for the prepandemic portion of the 2019-2020 winter. In recent years, local operators say they have been adapting summer products for all seasons and introduced specialized winter glacier walks, fat-tire bike tours and aurora (northern lights) experiences.

In Fairbanks, aurora viewing is driving occupancy and airport arrivals between October and April, according to Explore Fairbanks, which noted that those visitors often stay in town longer than summer sightseers in order to maximize their chances of spotting the northern lights.

• Related: New and updated tour and stay options in Ketchikan

John Hall’s Alaska is addressing that growing off-season demand by launching five- to seven-day aurora packages in winter 2025. The Fairbanks-focused tours provide shorter alternatives to existing aurora, Iditarod and winter sports adventures, for those who might be planning to visit multiple destinations during their stay.

“Guests can book roundtrip flights with accommodations in Fairbanks and Borealis Basecamp and travel above the Arctic Circle,” said Elizabeth Hall, the company’s COO.

Officials say ridership on the Alaska Railroad’s Aurora Train has ticked up since the pandemic, and the Mat-Su CVB reported expanded interest in northern lights tours and seasonal activities.

Mat-Su Valley tourism officials expect an additional winter boost this season from the 2024 Arctic Winter Games, a gathering slated to draw 2,000 international athletes as well as their families, spectators and media in March.

Alaska Helicopter Tours added heli-ice skating to its winter roster, and the Alaska Glacier Lodge (formerly the Knik River Lodge) will open for its first winter season in 2024-25.

Summer heats up, too

As winter traffic expands, Alaska’s summer cruise numbers are also climbing. The state saw nearly 1.7 million cruise passengers in 2023, up from an estimated 1.2 million in 2022, ATIA said. That’s also above the 1.33 million prepandemic passengers welcomed in 2019. In 2023, Alaska cruises started about 2 1/2 weeks earlier than last year and extended past mid-October.

Anchorage reported summer 2023 traffic approaching 2019 levels. Sitka’s estimates show 540,000 cruise passengers, nearly double its prepandemic record. Mat-Su Borough set a record for bed tax collection in fiscal year 2023 (from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023), and it’s off to a strong start in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (July through September), with numbers on track to surpass last year’s record performance, according to the Mat-Su CVB.

• Related: Alaska Airlines relishes its Condor connection in Europe

Businesses say they see signs of that momentum carrying into 2024, as well. The Alaska Railroad’s 2023 ridership exceeded 2019 numbers, with a 4% increase expected next year. Juneau Food Tours had its biggest season ever in 2023, and some 2024 excursions have already sold out.

Though independent travel data for 2023 isn’t yet available, ATIA officials saw that segment soften. Still, some destinations recorded increases.

Sitka’s hotels and short-term rentals were full all summer, and 2024 bookings are already strong. Anchorage continues welcoming noncruise travelers interested in nature and wildlife.

Mat-Su Valley operators are responding to demand with ziplining, glamping and guided hiking, heli-hiking and paddleboarding tours.

“Since the pandemic, when we didn’t have the cruise market, we’ve seen more independent travelers looking for adventure. We’ve seen active millennials who want an authentic Alaska experience,” said Casey Ressler, Mat-Su CVB president and CEO.

Youth movement?

The Mat-Su Valley, Anchorage and Alaskan Dream Cruises were among road show participants reporting a shift in average guest ages.

Alaska Railroad representatives will have final summer numbers later this year, but overall they said they saw more millennial-age travelers than usual. With bookings by working-age adults on the rise, John Hall’s Alaska estimates its average guest age has fallen to between 45 and 50. That audience is driving interest in new, shorter six- to eight-day experiences.

“The shorter tours will focus on individuals and families who are taking a week off for vacation or spring break and will also draw a more adventurous clientele,” said Hall.

• Dispatch, Fairbanks: Bundle up for the nightlife

ATIA’s most recent numbers, from its 2022 study, show that baby boomers still represent the largest generational group (38%) of Alaska visitors. But officials say that they suspect that millennial traffic (33% of visitors) as well as Gen X (24%) and Gen Z (5%) are up from previous years. (ATIA did not do generational breakdowns in its studies prior to 2022.)

Officials say things like the pandemic and the 2008 recession seem to be shaping that shift.

“Millennials are all about experiences,” said ATIA marketing director Wendy Swenson. “They’re saying, ‘We don’t want to wait until we’re retired, because we’ve seen what can happen.'”

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Resorts across the region are livening up the holidays with an array of festive events to end the year and start another.

• Bahamas: Atlantis Paradise Island will hold a weekend lineup of events, featuring a Dec. 30 performance by Maroon 5, and the New Year’s Eve “Party Like a Royal” celebration on Dec. 31 at The Royal Deck, to be hosted by actor Neil Patrick Harris. Slated to perform are producer and artist Timbaland and a surprise musical act, followed by fireworks and a DJ set by Webstar until 1:30 a.m. The events conclude Atlantis’ yearlong 25th anniversary celebrations. Tickets for the Maroon 5 performance start at $109 per person, and early bird prices for the New Year’s Eve event start at $293 per person.

• Puerto Rico: The Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico will hold a weeklong celebration from Christmas until New Year’s Eve, when it will hold the Timeless Countdown 321 party, with Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling artist Luis Enrique headlining. The event, which costs $225 and is open to locals and resort guests, includes dinner, Champagne and other live performances. From Dec. 27 to 29, the resort will hold a winter feria (fair) complete with the carousel that was featured in Bad Bunny’s music video for “Callaita” that will be installed on the beach for the event.

Also on the island, the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino will host a Christmas Market Craft Bazaar every weekend during December and a cookie-decorating workshop on Dec. 22. The resort will also be extending complimentary limber de coco frozen treats as well as coquito and sorbet in various locations in the hotel throughout the month, and it will host Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve dinners, live holiday entertainment and a New Year’s Day brunch.

• Jamaica and Turks and Caicos: Beaches Resorts will hold various Elf on the Shelf happenings. Every Tuesday throughout December, the resorts will hold activities including a holiday-themed build-your-own cookie bar, arts and crafts stations and festive-themed karaoke; all are included in a stay. Guests in Butler-level rooms will be offered activities such as Moonlight Milk & Cookies, Marshmallow Bubble Baths, Festive Trail Mix and a Holiday Movie Night-In.

• St. Lucia: Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort will be holding its annual New Year’s Eve Gala. The carnival-themed event will kick off with a poolside Champagne reception, followed by live music, fire dancers, carnival performers and a fireworks show,with a DJ after-party at the resort’s Club Jalousie to follow. The cost is $500 per adult and includes Champagne, dinner and a midnight toast.

• Anguilla: The Malliouhana will hold a series of complimentary events for resort guests, including portraits with Santa and holiday movie screenings and will serve up festive island s’mores. The resort is also holding a Christmas breakfast and dinner as well as a New Year’s Eve celebration and a New Year’s Day breakfast and brunch; all will take place at the resort’s Celeste restaurant.

Cap Juluca, a Belmond Hotel on Anguilla, will hold a Hanukkah celebration at the Main House on Dec. 19 and 25, Christmas caroling with steel pans and a children’s choir on Dec. 24, a Christmas dinner at Pimms on Dec. 24 and 25 and a New Year’s Eve party with a Champagne toast and fireworks. The Christmas dinner and New Year’s Eve party carry an additional cost.

• St. Eustatius: The Golden Rock Dive and Nature Resort will observe Boxing Day on Dec. 26 with a barbecue brunch at its Bobbie’s Beach Club included in the stay. A New Year’s Eve party at Breeze Restaurant, which includes dinner, a Champagne toast and fireworks at midnight, is priced at $150 for adults, and $75 for children ages 4 to 11).

• St. Barts: The Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth will hold a series of events from Christmas Eve until New Year’s Day. On Dec. 24, the resort will present an open-air Christmas market, followed by a Christmas Eve dinner at the Beach House St. Barth. The next day, the resort will hold a Christmas Day beach barbecue, with Santa Claus in attendance. The dinner and the barbecue are each priced at $230 per person. For New Year’s Eve, the Gold and Bubbles Soiree at the Beach House St. Barth will include a festive dinner and wine selections curated by the resort’s chef and sommelier. Cost is $974 per person. The following day, the resort will hold a New Year’s Day BBQ Lunch ($230 per person).

• U.S. Virgin Islands: The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas will hold festive offerings all month long, including a Holiday Market and a Ritz-Carlton Elf search, both from Dec. 14 to 25, and a Christmas Day Parade on Great Bay Beach from noon until 2 p.m. On Dec. 24, the resort will hold A Bleu Christmas Bleuwater buffet-style dinner ($185) and a Sicilian-style Sevenfish Dinner at Alloro ($149).  Other events include the Dec. 25 Caribbean Christmas Carnival dinner ($175) on Sails Beach and a complimentary New Year’s Eve Countdown Carnival at the resort’s infinity pool.

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