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Musings From My Desk ...
On April 1, we welcomed a new destination
partner. Carib-World Travel of Antigua and Barbuda became the fourth
independently-owned destination management company to join our team. A
family owned company, Carib-World Travel was formed in 1973 on the island
of Montserrat, but relocated to Antigua in 1996 due to volcanic activity
in Montserrat. I have known and worked closely with the owner, Pamela
Arthurton for almost ten years, and we certainly looking forward to
introducing you all to the islands of Antigua and Barbuda over the next
few months.
With summer not too far away, the sequel of a
2003 blockbuster is due to hit theatres with much fanfare. I hope that
you enjoy this month's e-newsletter as we explore maritime history and the
real "Pirates of the Caribbean". Plus, if you are planning anything here
or overseas, our cross-cultural "Take a Second Look at Those Dates" is a
must-read.
Happy Passover and Happy Easter.
Simone
simone@sncdestinations.com
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Pirates of the Caribbean
When you think of pirates, the first
thing that probably pops into your head might be Errol Flynn, or perhaps
Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow in Disney's 2003 hit movie Pirates of the
Caribbean. However, whereas Captain Jack Sparrow is fictional, Port Royal
is certainly not. Located on the southern coast of Jamaica, Port Royal
provided not only safe harbor for pirates, but given its proximity to
trade routes, the location allowed them access to easy prey or launching
raids. It is believed that legendary pirate Henry Morgan launched attacks
from this harbor town. Needless to say, by the 1600's in addition to being
the wealthiest port in the Caribbean, Port Royal earned the reputation of
being "one of the wickedest cities in the world," ripe with the very
images of swashbuckling that we see in the movies. In 1692 that all
changed however when Port Royal was struck by a massive earthquake that
caused buildings to slide and disappear beneath the sea.
What remains of the infamous town today is a sleepy
fishing village with little reminders of its maritime glory. The town
draws tourists, but primary attracts divers and archeologists seeking to
explore underwater excavations of old Port Royal, the city's sunken wall,
and shipwrecks. In fact, the Institute of Nautical Archeology at Texas A&M
University has studied and archived what remains of the Port Royal of
1692.
The Caribbean's maritime history is not marked
solely by pirates and buccaneers, and several films have also been made
about heroes, such as British hero Horatio Nelson. Almost a century after
the earthquake, Nelson was stationed twice in Port Royal at Fort Charles,
and later in English Harbor in Antigua. Antigua too became a strategic
port for the colonies, known even today as the "gateway to the Caribbean".
Nelson was charged with developing the British naval facilities at English
Harbor which can still be seen today in the restored historic district of
Nelson's Dockyard National Park (the only Georgian dockyard in the
world).
With stories from their days of lore, as you
travel throughout the Caribbean you will find old naval fortifications,
lookout points, and tall ships such as the two-masted Brig Unicorn used in
the movie, that take you back to your thoughts of Johnny Depp. For
maritime history, somewhat more recent however, Trinidad boasts an old
military base at Chaguaramas, maintained by the United States as a naval
and air base during World War II. Today the site is a Military History and
Aerospace Museum.
For more information on our destinations, or
ideas and themes for your meetings, incentives, and special events, send
us an email or an RFP from our web site at www.sncdestinations.com.
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Take a Second Look at Those Dates
Are dates often not one of the primary things you
contemplate when planning a meeting, trip, or event? Do you take it for
granted that we have Saturdays and Sundays off to enjoy our weekends,
without considering that in most Muslim countries non-working days are
either on Fridays and Saturdays, or Thursdays and Fridays? Here are some
things to keep in mind when setting dates:
Which
day of the week is considered the day of rest, or the Sabbath?
In a
number of countries, places of business such as shops and museums are
closed on Sundays, while in others key attractions and restaurants may be
closed on Mondays.
What religious or national
holidays are observed in the hosting country?
Since it is near
impossible to keep track of every holiday and celebration, a great
resource to add to your favorites is Earth Calendar
(www.earthcalendar.net), a daybook of holidays searchable by date,
country, and religion.
On the other hand, what religious observances of your guests might
impact your scheduling?
For example, had you scheduled an event
this week, it would have been important to determine if you had any
participants who observe Passover so that you could make alternate
arrangements for serving kosher food. At the same time, observant
Christians may also have special dietary requirements for this upcoming
Friday (Good Friday).
To find more cross-cultural tips visit our blog, Something Extra. For more
information on our cross-cultural workshops, visit our web site.
SNC Destinations, Inc.
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