The government of the Bahamas has sold the Grand Lucayan to a partnership between Royal Caribbean International and Bahamas Port Investments. Authorities hope to reinvest $250 million in the hotel and the redevelopment of the cruise port.

Having successfully hosted the World Travel Awards earlier this week, Bahamian minister of tourism, Dionisio D’Aguilar, tells Breaking Travel News what benefits the international spotlight will bring to the destination.

The elite of the travel industry assembled for the World Travel Awards Caribbean Gala Ceremony 2020 to find out who amongst them had been crowned best of the best.

Joy Jibrilu, director general of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation, joins Breaking Travel News in London to tell the global hospitality community that the destination is open for business following the impact of a deadly hurricane.

Under the agreement, Carnival Corporation will develop a new cruise port destination primarily for Carnival Cruise Line on Grand Bahama, and construction of a new addition, including a pier, on the Bahamian island of Little San Salvador, home to Holland America Line’s Half Moon Cay port.

The 2020 Caribbean Travel Marketplace has opened for registration. The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, producers of the Caribbean’s largest and longest-standing tourism marketing event, has started its countdown for the 38th marketplace.