Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1152980
B M & T ••• July/August 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 43 R oyal Caribbean Cruise Ltd(NYSE: RCL) has been recog- nized by the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2019 World'sMost Ethical Compnies . Royal Caribbean has been recognized since 2016 and is the only honoree in the Leisure & Recreation industry category. In 2019, 128 honorees were recognized spanning 21 countries and 50 industries. The thirteenth class of honorees profoundly illus- trate how companies continue to be the driving force for improving communities, building capable and empowered workforces, and fos- tering corporate cultures focused on ethics and a strong sense of purpose. "We recognize that corporate responsibility and accountability is increasingly driving decisions made by our guests, business partners and our employees," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "This honor is a reflection of our 50- year commitment to demonstrating these shared values every day, and I know our employees take great pride in this recognition." "Today, employees, investors and stakeholders are putting their greatest trust in companies to take leadership on societal issues. Companies that take the long view with a purpose-based strategy are proven to not only outperform but last," said Ethisphere's Chief Executive Officer, Timothy Erblich. "I congratulate everyone at Royal Caribbean for earning this recognition." USVI WORKING WITH CRUISE LINES AS SHIPS MOVE FROM CUBA ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES NAMED ONE OF THE 2019 WORLD'S MOST ETHICAL COMPANIES� BY ETHISPH Recognition honors those companies who recognize their critical role to influence and drive positive F ollowing the U.S. government's renewed restrictions on travel to Cuba, the U.S. Virgin Islands government is working closely with the cruise lines to help them as they race to rework their itineraries. The State Department announced recently that the United States will no longer permit visits to Cuba via passenger and recreational ves- sels, including cruise ships and yachts, nor on private and corporate air- craft. Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of Tourism Designee, said that since news of the policy shift, the Ports of the Virgin Islands has reached out to the cruise lines to offer inconvenienced passengers the opportu- nity to visit the Territory, including the less busy cruise destination of St. Croix. "We have been in contact with the lines about making calls to both St. Croix and St. Thomas," said Commissioner Designee Boschulte, who let executives know that the Territory's ports can accommodate diverted vessels on short notice. "We have the capacity and are encouraging the lines to experience St. Croix especially - an emerging tourism destination steeped in rich culture and heritage and whose stakeholders are prepared to provide a welcoming experience for cruise ship passengers," he said. Commissioner Designee Boschulte said the Ports of the Virgin Islands will closely monitor the impact of the new policy and explore solutions. A BOUT THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to (u)VisitUSVI.com(eu). When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel - including on-line check-in - mak- ing travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citi- zens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry require- ments for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens. Kitchen, Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub and the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar are included as well. Charleston is an important part of Carnival's ship deployment strat- egy in which the line positions ships near large U.S. population bases along the East and West Coasts and the Gulf of Mexico. Carnival sails from 20 different North American homeports providing a convenient and cost-effective means for its guests to get to and from their cruise. It's estimated that roughly half of the U.S. population is within a day's drive of a Carnival homeport Carnival launched Charleston's first year-round cruise program in 2010 and the departures attract guests from across the Southeast and other regions. Carnival and other cruise operators generate $131 mil- lion in direct expenditures and account for nearly 2,400 jobs and $93 million in wages toward the South Carolina economy. With Carnival Sunshine repositioning to Charleston, Carnival Ecstasy was deployed to Jacksonville for year-round four- to seven-day cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean. In turn, Carnival Elation, pre- viously based in Jacksonville, shifted to Port Canaveral for a new four- and five-day Caribbean/Bahamas schedule from the Space Coast. To learn more about Carnival Cruise Line, planners and travel agents can visit Carnvial.com . E ERE