Changes in United States-Cuba relations begin this Friday

Although tourist travel restrictions to Cuba have not changed and only Congress can fully lift the embargo, a number of smaller U.S.-Cuba policy changes go into effect on Friday. Among them are changes to the amount of money that U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba can spend per day and their ability to use credit cards on the island, easing of restrictions on sending telecommunications and internet devices, and the ability of travelers to bring small amounts of items such as Cuban cigars into the United States.

Read more from the Washington Post here

An Evening at the Frost…

Chile US Chamber of Commerce Art and Culture event

WTDC had the pleasure of sponsoring ‘An Evening at the Frost…’, a Chile US Chamber of Commerce Arts and Culture event at the The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum at FIUWTDC President & CEO Ralph L. Gazitua and his wife Cookie are Chair for Arts and Culture for the Chamber. Patrons enjoyed a welcoming ceremony and went on a guided tour of the world-class museum.

Guests included Consul General of Chile Eduardo Salinas, ProChile in Miami Director Sacha Garafulic, the Chamber’s Board of Directors and a number of Chilean Artists.

Miami-Dade County’s Maria Dreyfus-Ulvert presented a certificate to Chile-US Chamber President Sebastian Estades and made reference to Chile’s climb from 7th to 6th Best Trading Partner with Miami-Dade County.

CCUC President Sebastian Estades pictured with Miami-Dade County’s Maria Dreyfus-Ulvert

Cookie Gazitua, Chair of the Advisory Board for the Frost Art Museum in addition to her role with the Chamber, had the pleasure of introducing the Frost’s new Director Dr. Jordana Pomeroy as well as the upcoming exhibitions at the Frost.

Ralph L. Gazitua, WTDC President & CEO, and his wife Cookie Chair for Arts and Culture, pictured WTDC Vice President Sean P. Gazitua and his wife Emely
Dr. Jordana Pomeroy, new Director of the Patricia and Philip Frost Art Museum
WTDC staff and Luciano Fontana CPA (C) enjoying.the evening.

 Remembering the Haiti earthquake

Monday, January 12, 2015, marked the 5 year anniversary of the tragic 7.0 earthquake that shook the Port-au-Prince area causing widespread damage to the country’s infrastructure and over 200,000 casualties.

CNN’s Thomas Streit published a read-worthy op-ed piece this week that delves into the effectiveness of the recovery efforts and sheds light on subsequent programs that have offered hopeful and lasting effects on the health and welfare of the Haitian people. Read more of that piece here.

Ralph L. Gazitua, WTDC President & CEO, and his wife Cookie Chair for Arts and Culture, pictured WTDC Vice President Sean P. Gazitua and his wife Emely
Dr. Jordana Pomeroy, new Director of the Patricia and Philip Frost Art Museum
WTDC staff and Luciano Fontana CPA (C) enjoying.the evening.

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In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, WTDC served as a logistics hub for the coordination of relief efforts by the FAA (emergency airport control tower), FEMA (breakdown of hundreds of relief-aid filled ULDs flown in from across the country and loaded into containers), Project Medishare (exported an ambulance and supplies), as well as the relief-aid of numerous charities and NGOs.

A number of college students from Haiti have participated in WTDC’s Internship ProgramPhilippe Dennery, WTDC Customer Service, began as an Intern from Miami-Dade College, worked in our Accounting Department through college, and is now key personnel for our Duty Free and Travel Retail Spirits accounts. Philippe later recruited his sister, Lara Dennery, to Intern with our Human Resources department. Ann Vixamar, an Intern from Barry University, is also from Haiti and is completing her International Internship with a focus on Social Media Marketing and the Duty Free & Travel Retail market.

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