Cruise titan Carnival said it will begin voyages to Cuba in May 2016, after gaining approval of US authorities.
Carnival's fathom brand, launched in June as a "social impact travel" line to the Dominican Republic, will embark from Miami.
Dallas-based LDWWgroup is working with Carnival on the PR front. Roger Frizzell is chief communications officer of Carnival.
"We know there is strong demand from travelers who want to immerse themselves in Cuban culture, so this is a historic opportunity for us to enable more people to experience Cuban society," said Carnival president and CEO Arnold Donald, who added that travelers will visit Cuba under 12 criteria authorized by the US government.
Carnival is working with the non-profit IDDI, a poverty alleviation group centered on the Caribbean region.
The Cuban cruises start around $3K per person.
The Obama administration's re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba has cracked opened the door for US businesses and commerce (as well as PR opportunities) in the Caribbean nation.
Burson-Marsteller said last week it has set up a Cuban specialty team in Miami.
APCO Worldwide managing director Nelson Fernandez, who was born in Cuba and left in 1969, outlined his support of new relations with Cuba in a poignant column last week.
Weber Shandwick is providing PR and marketing communications services to the Moroccan National Tourist Office in New York.
Finn Partners has filed its six-month contract with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, which is worth $240K.
Weber Shandwick wrapped up its work for the Ministry of Bahamas at the end of 2023.
The Aruba Tourism Authority is boosting its budget 29.4 percent to $2.2M at Zeno Group, according to its 2024 contract, effective Jan. 1.
As inflation continues to impact spending, consumers are revisiting their list of what they’re willing to spend more of their money on. Luckily for those in the travel industry, experiences seem to be trending up on the “splurge” list. 
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