Perched at 800 feet above sea level on the Northern Range overlooking Caroni Plains and Port of Spain, Trinidad is the Caribbean's oldest and largest Benedictine Monastic community. Established in 1912 after monk’s fled the Abbey of San Sebastien Bahia, Brazil, Mount St. Benedict has served as a monastery, farm, an apiary, and even as a school during World War II. The monastery still functions today with the monks farming, baking breads, making jams and jellies, and tending to the apiary while maintaining their contemplative way of life.

Compared to other sites throughout the region, the monastery may seem somewhat young being less then 100 years old. Rightly so, there are structures that are still standing that tell the story of people who also fled religious persecution over 350 years ago. Take for example the Sephardic synagogue in Bridgetown, Barbados, which is said to be the oldest synagogue in the Caribbean having been built in 1654. The original structure was destroyed by a hurricane, rebuilt in 1833, and through renovation in 1988 continues to be used today. Although many Jews arrived in the region a few years after Columbus, it was not until after 1655 and the English Conquest that the colonies actively set out to welcome the settlement of Jews. In Jamaica the Neveh Shalom Synagogue was built in Spanish Town (formerly known as St Jago de la Vega) in 1704 by Jews of Portuguese and Spanish ancestry. A few years later a second synagogue was establish for a congregation of English and German (Ashkenazi) descent. Today most of the island’s synagogues and Jewish cemeteries lie in ruin as archeological efforts are being undertaken. What remains in use today is what was rebuilt in 1912 after the Great Kingston Earthquake, The Sharei Shalom Synagogue which serves the United Congregation of Israelites which brought together both the Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews.

Sun, sea, and sand – the history of the islands may all seem the same, but when we look a little deeper we will see how each island has its own rich history thanks to the first inhabitants and the diversity of the people who came. Montserrat for example is the only other country besides Ireland (and perhaps the U.S.) where St. Patrick's Day is a national holiday. In Trinidad, Indian Arrival Day is celebrated on May 30 celebrating the arrival of the first indentured laborers from India in 1845. And in Jamaica the Maroons who are the direct descendants of slaves freed by the Spaniards in the 17th Century hold an annual celebration commemorating the signing of a peace treaty with the British in 1738, a century before Emancipation.

For more information or to incorporate these and other sites and celebrations into your program, send us an email or an RFP from our web site.

Newsworthy Tidbits Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has relaxed its rules for carry-on items allowing airline passengers to carry travel-sized toiletries, of three ounces or less, if they are contained in one quart-sized, clear plastic zip-top bags. U.S. Congress has passed legislation extending the deadline for implementation of new personal identification requirements (passports) for entering the United States by land or sea. The Jan. 8, 2007, deadline for air has not changed. Read about St. Lucia being named by Meetings & Conventions Magazine as the next big thing in this month's issue. The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association and its members will undergo cross-cultural training with The SNC Group in preparation for the influx of visitors from diverse nations over the next few months. Barbados will play host to World Cup Golf in December and Cricket World Cup 2007. Cross-Cultural Tips & News Celebrity Cruises, the Miami-based cruise company, in committing a cultural faux-pas has had to pull an ad with a statue of King Kamehameha holding a champagne glass. Offending many Hawaiians, the campaign is another example of what happens when there is a lack of understanding of culture and traditions. After canceling the advertisement and acknowledging its poor judgment in running it, Celebrity Cruises in turn the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau’s offer to provide cultural training for its marketing staff. Certainly one cannot be expected to know every tradition and cultural mores, and mistakes do happened. However, in entering a new market or destination, launching a new campaign, or establishing a new partnership, there are steps that you can take to ensure that you do not make mistakes that may be detrimental to a campaign, relationship, or company image. 1) Use the Internet Imagine that not too long ago we would have had to take a trip to the local library to find information when today it is just at our finger tips. A web site such as Executive Planet is a great resource that provides tips on foreign culture and etiquette. 2) Speak with local experts Who else can know it better than someone who actually lives there? Ask local partners and suppliers, use your local destination management companies – these are all people who would be most familiar with local traditions and customs and who can advise you on how business is conducted in their markets or destinations. Why not bring together a focus group that can offer feedback? Concerning Celebrity Cruises and this blunder, the cruise line's staff will receive training from the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association and be guided in cultural values and awareness. The cruise company will also run separate ads in Hawaii's major newspapers extending an apology to the public.   SNC Destinations, Inc. email: info@sncdestinations.com web: http://www.sncdestinations.com blog: http://sncdestinations.com/cblog PERMISSION TO REPRINT: The contents of this e-newsletter may be copied, reproduced or freely distributed for all non-profit purposes without the consent of the author as long as the author's name and contact information are included. This e-newsletter is sent to all individuals who signed up for our mailing list at www.sncdestinations.com or www.sncdestinations.com/cblog, and to friends and clients of SNC Destinations. We treat your contact information as private and confidential. We will never sell or distribute our subscriber list.