WTDC Newsletter – January 12, 2021

CDC to require negative COVID-19 test for airline passengers arriving to U.S.Virgin Voyages breaks ground on new PortMiami terminal

Logistics for Medical Supplies - WTDC
President’s Corner  
We’re kicking off this new year with a renewed focus on health and wellness, a commitment to our long-time Duty Free and Travel Retail clients who await the return of tourism, and our growth with new clients and partners in renewable energy, health care logistics, and Chile transportation sectors.

We spend a good deal of time in the workplace so we decided to upgrade our Health and Wellness room here at WTDC to take full advantage of our breaks. WTDC employees and our tenants can now access a weight set, rowing machine, 75″ smart TV for workouts and Zoom meetings, a meditation room, and exercise equipment for yoga and cross training. Everyday we host stretching and yoga during the lunch hour, and once a week a masseur visits WTDC for the employees and tenants.

We’ve hosted Zumba, Tai Chi, and other fitness courses and look forward to more of the same in 2021. Fitness is just one aspect of a healthy lifestyle so we provide health insurance and free healthy lunches for our employees. WTDC is a Florida Drug-Free Workplace with quarterly drug testing, ensuring that our staff are fostering a safe work environment.

It’s been a pleasure to see our Health and Wellness program at WTDC develop over the years and I encourage our readers to implement one at their company. The daily fitness classes are a great team building exercise.

In the video above, I’m sharing a peek into our logistics for the health care industry. We’ve been diving more into video and multimedia over the last 6 months and look forward to sharing more content with you over the next year. Be sure to like and subscribe on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Cheers to your health! -Sean Gazitua, President & CEO   Send an email to WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua    


CDC to require negative COVID-19 test for airline passengers arriving to U.S.  
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an Order on January 12, 2021 requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 for all air passengers arriving from a foreign country to the US. The verifiable test result must be provided to the airline prior to boarding and must show the test was done within 3 days of the flight.  
CDC: Requirement for Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test or Recovery from COVID-19 for All Air Passengers Arriving in the United States Miami International Airport Twitter video: Travel Alert    
  Photos: Virgin Voyages  

Virgin Voyages breaks ground on new PortMiami terminal  
On January 12, Miami-Dade County officials and Virgin Voyages broke ground on Terminal V, the new terminal for Virgin’s cruise ships. The terminal features an iconic palm tree grove design by Miami architecture firm Arquitectonica overlooking downtown Miami. The 200,000 square feet terminal is targeting LEED Gold Certification and will be a home for Virgin’s fleet featuring the Scarlet Lady and the Valiant Lady. In the ground breaking ceremony, Virgin Voyages President and CEO Tom Alpin stated that both ships would be carbon-neutral and that ‘This iconic view will set the stage for the incredible voyage we’ll take our sailors on, and what a fantastic way to start that journey!’  
Miami Herald video: Virgin Voyages celebrates groundbreaking at PortMiami
Seatrade Cruise News: PortMiami breaks ground for Virgin Voyages’ Terminal V  
Arquitectonica: Virgin Voyages Cruise Terminal at PortMiami      

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)  
On January 1, the long awaited African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) went into effect. The FTA covers the entire African continent with 54 of 55 countries signing the agreement that eliminates 90% of cross-border tariffs on goods. Now realized after years of discussion and most recently COVID-19 delays, proponents have touted the agreement as a way to increase trade among African countries, bolster economies, and eventually lift millions from poverty.   African Union: AfCFTA Washington Post: As World Wavers on Free Trade, Africa Embraces It   Quartz: The world’s largest free trade area starts up on Jan. 1, 2021    

Photos: Cruise Hive  
Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas returns to PortMiami  
On January 9, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class Allure of the Seas returned to PortMiami for the first time since March 2020. The visit to PortMiami was brief, however, with the ship departing later that day to join the rest of the Royal Caribbean fleet off the lines private island CocoCay in the Bahamas. The Allure of the Seas is currently scheduled for its return to cruising on March 7, 2021, from PortMiami.  
Cruise Hive: Oasis-Class Cruise Ship Arrives Back in Florida