HOLISTICA
FEATURE
Holistica happenings
The joint venture between Mexico’s ITM Group and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is deep into several projects. Anne Kalosh gives an update.
F
ormed in mid-2019, Holistica is advancing a number of high- profile projects. These are set to reinvent or develop several ports
into high-volume destinations that serve a variety of cruise lines as well as land-based tourists and locals.
The Holistica portfolio currently includes the Grand Lucayan resort and a planned second berth at Freeport (Bahamas), Puerto Plata’s Taino Bay (Dominican Republic), Roatán cruise port (Honduras), Puerto Costa Maya (Mexico) and a cruise terminal at Kumamoto (Japan).
‘We develop ports for all cruise lines,’ says Robert Shamosh, interim ceo, Holistica, and commercial affairs chief, ITM Group. Even if Royal Caribbean is a 50% shareholder, its ships don’t get priority status. ‘We’ve been blessed to have their support. We’re really developing for the whole cruise industry,’ Shamosh continues. ‘We walk away from private destination offerings. That is not our vision.’
Depending on the place, the developments will be open to locals and hotel guests after ships sail or will integrate cruisers into the destination, such as at Lucayan Islands.
seatrade-cruise.com
Holistica’s vertical approach encompasses managing the design, development, construction, operations, excursions and entertainment. Community and government involvement and investment are encouraged.
‘Holistica is all about the social and environmental aspects … Everyone’s looking for a relationship that allows them to have a win-win,’ Shamosh says. ‘Our main focus is to design and build in a fashion that we deliver great, great experiences to guests and the uniqueness of each destination.’
Some people from ITM Group are now full-time at Miami-based Holistica, while
further ITM employees are subcontracted to the venture until the business reaches a larger scale. Others have cruise line or project development backgrounds.
The team includes Mariana Perrilliat, chief business development officer (from ITM Group); Carlos Hernandez, cfo (formerly with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Atlantis Bahamas and Kerzner International); and Barbara Grabenweger, director, destination product development & shore excursions operations (previously with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises). Further team members are Andres Vidal, general counsel (formerly of ACS Infrastructure Development); Irving Baez, destination project manager (Florida East Coast Realty); and Jose Mizrahi, marketing/PR and port berthing (ITM Group).
Here’s a look at the destinations.
Lucaya Islands and Harbour Village
Roatán improvements
The approximately $300m project is centered around the regeneration of the resort and includes a new hotel, water park, entertainment zone, a second cruise ship berth at Freeport Harbor and a multimodal hub for shore excursions and transport.
Seatrade Cruise Review 57
The Grand Lucayan resort will be regenerated
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