Latest news with #Rees
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Disney Cruise Line quietly makes big plans for Texas
Right now, if you want take a Disney cruise on one of the line's buzzed-about new ships, your departure port options are mostly limited to Florida. The brand-new Disney Treasure is now sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida alongside the 2022-launched Disney Wish. And in November, the Disney Destiny, the cruise line's new heroes- and villains-themed ship will debut from Fort Lauderdale. Related: Savvy Disney vacationers use this service to save big on trips But as Disney Cruise Line continues its multi-year fleet expansion, which includes new Disney cruise vacations in Asia, too, the cruise line may be about to go bigger in Texas. Although Disney Cruise Line has not yet made any announcements about its future plans in Texas, Port of Galveston CEO Rodger Rees recently made some bold statements regarding the cruise line's plans for its sailings from the Texas port. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. In a recent meeting with the Galveston City Council, Rees revealed that Disney Cruise Line plans to expand its cruise schedule from the port in 2027, the Galveston County Daily News reported. Rees said that in 2027, the cruise line will begin sailing year-round from Galveston, and likely on a larger and newer ship. Currently, Disney Cruise Line sails seasonal cruises to the western Caribbean from the port on board the oldest ship in its fleet, the Disney Magic. Recent incidents of plumbing leaks and backups reported on board the 27-year-old Disney Magic have left passengers wondering whether it's about time for the cruise line to retire its beloved maiden vessel. Related: Disney Cruise Line dealing with plumbing problems Considering that most mainstream cruise lines expect to get about 30 years of service out of each ship, it would make sense that Disney would replace the 2,700-passenger Disney Magic as it expands in Galveston. Rees even suggested that the bigger ship headed to Galveston could be Disney Cruise Line's biggest ship yet - the 6,700-passenger Disney Adventure megaship that the cruise line is launching in December from Singapore. However, Disney Cruise Line has previously said that the Disney Adventure will sail from Singapore for at least five years as part of a collaboration with the Singapore Tourism Board. It's much more likely that a 4,000-passenger Wish-class ship will sail from Galveston in 2027 - potentially the fourth ship in the class, which the cruise line plans to launch that year. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Although Princess Cruises recently dropped Galveston from its future cruise itineraries after 20 years of sailing from the popular port, other cruise lines are making major investments in Texas. Cruise lines plan to invest more than $200 million in western Caribbean cruise itineraries and Galveston is well poised to facilitate much of that growth, Rees told the city council. He said that's because Florida's biggest cruise ports are running out of room to expand and more people than ever now live within driving distance of Galveston. Royal Caribbean invested in a new cruise terminal at the Port of Galveston in 2022, and other family-focused cruise lines including Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises have since inked long-term agreements with the port, too. Related: MSC Cruises takes another bold step in its ambitious growth plan Galveston is a convenient cruise departure port for many families in Texas and surrounding states who want to explore the western Caribbean, so it makes sense that Disney Cruise Line would want to increase its capacity there, too. This year, more than 400 sailings carrying around 1.75 million passengers are scheduled to depart from Galveston. Following the opening of MSC Cruises' brand-new $156 million Galveston cruise terminal in late 2025, the growing port expects eventually welcome more than two million passengers annually. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Going gets tricky for tracks on a bank holiday when fans were short-changed
Bank holiday cards in May are perennially among the best-attended meetings of the season at Windsor, but a bumper gate at the track on Monday was not matched by a similar turnout on the other side of the running rail. Two dozen non-runners from an original total of 90 declared runners, almost all of which were due to the good-to-firm going, left the card as a whole looking distinctly threadbare. The biggest hit was to the initial 15-runner field for a 10-furlong handicap, with a £10k prize to the winner, which ended up with just six starters are eight ground-related scratchings and another due to a bad scope. Advertisement Bank holiday crowds are a lifeline for plenty of the country's smaller tracks. It is – and there is no shame in it – a case of never mind the quality, feel the width. The paying punters do not expect to see next year's Derby winner running in the novice but they do expect excitement and a spectacle. On that basis, the depleted fields at Windsor on Monday were not a good look. It is a look, though, that promises to become increasingly familiar, at least if Charlie Rees, Windsor's clerk of the course, is correct. 'I think it's just a sign of the times, really,' Rees told the Racing Post. 'Trainers are obviously desperate for a bit of cut in the ground for certain horses and unfortunately the promised rain we were once forecast hasn't delivered.' Rees had watered the track in the run-up to Monday's card and it was officially good when the course raced on Saturday evening – and reported as good, good-to-soft in places at 7am on Saturday morning – but no rainfall and strong winds combined to dry it out to good-to-firm in 48 hours. The British Horseracing Authority's general instructions to racecourses state that Flat tracks 'should aim to provide good-to-firm ground', but that description has become an increasing rarity in British Flat racing over the last 20 years, as clerks of the course have turned on the taps with increasing regularity and persistence. While 46% of Flat races in the 2005 season were run on good-to-firm going or faster, by 2024 the figure was down to just 29%. Advertisement Over jumps, meanwhile, the BHA instruction is that tracks 'should aim to provide good ground, and no firmer than good-to-firm.' The extent to which officials have taken this to heart is evident from the fact that just 31 National Hunt races were run on good-to-firm ground in 2024 (and eight of those were at meetings staged in mid-November). The primary welfare issue around the speed of the ground has always been seen as the rate of fatal and serious injuries to runners, and the statistics leave no doubt that racing on good-to-firm ground, over jumps in particular, has a higher fatality rate than competing on an easier surface. On the Flat, meanwhile, while the fatality rate is much lower overall – just 0.09% in 2024, representing 55 fatal injuries from 59,194 starts – but the chance of a minor injury or issue – getting 'jarred-up', for instance – is also higher on faster ground. So good-to-firm ground will remain a sticking point for many owners and trainers, despite being the BHA's official 'target' for racecourses, and while Windsor's depleted card on Monday is still a relative rarity, in the medium-to-long term, as global temperatures are predicted to creep ever higher and water becomes an increasingly precious – and therefore expensive – resource, the clerks can expect to be fighting a losing battle. Advertisement Leicester: 2.00 Rock On Thunder 2.30 Bust A Moon 3.00 Pina Sonata 3.30 Me Tarzan 4.00 Sixteen One 4.35 Antelope (nb) 5.10 Dashing Donkey. Redcar: 2.20 Bleep Test 2.50 Captain Brett 3.20 Mafting 3.50 Jet Black 4.20 Poet's Dawn 4.55 Bantz 5.25 Four Adaay. Brighton: 2.40 Danehill Star 3.10 Senorita Vega 3.40 Twilight Guest 4.10 Oj Lifestyle 4.45 Callout (nap) 5.15 Pop Dancer. Wolverhampton: 6.12 Bone Marra 6.42 Cajole 7.12 The Feminine Urge 7.42 Wyvern 8.12 Latin 8.42 Tralee Girl. Smaller tracks in particular could start to find that maintaining an acceptable racing surface – or acceptable to the majority of trainers and owners, at any rate – is no longer economically viable. The sport is currently spending £3.62m on a marketing campaign to attract a fresh new generation of fans, the results of which remain to be seen. Future-proofing the sport to ensure the racegoers of 2035 and beyond have something to watch, however, promises to be an even sterner challenge.
Fashion Network
22-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Crocs promotes HeyDude president to chief brand officer role
Crocs Inc. has announced the promotion of Terence Reilly to the role of executive vice president, chief brand officer, effective immediately. Reilly was previously brand president of HeyDude. In this newly created role, Reilly will oversee the marketing and communications functions for both the Crocs and HeyDude brands. He will continue to report to chief executive officer, Andrew Rees, while collaborating with Anne Mehlman, executive vice president, brand president for Crocs, in addition to HeyDude brand leadership. Rees will serve as the interim president for the HeyDude brand alongside the brand's senior leadership team until a permanent structure is announced, said the Broomfield, Colorado-based company. A brand expert, Reilly has a track record of building brand identity, connecting to relevant culture and fostering consumer engagement and loyalty. Before joining Crocs in 2024, the executive worked at drinkware firm Stanley Brand, where he served a president. Prior to his time at Stanley, Reilly served as the chief marketing officer at Crocs, Inc., in addition to holding various other marketing leadership roles, from 2013 to 2020, after holding various senior level marketing and leadership positions. "Since Terence rejoined Crocs, Inc. in 2024, the HeyDude brand has seen significant traction under his leadership. He has galvanized a team, sharpened the brand's strategic focus and re-established authentic connections with our consumers. I am confident that the green shoots we are seeing today are building the foundation for sustainable long-term brand growth," said Rees. "With Terence in this new role and in partnership with our proven leadership team, this shift will create an elevated focus on driving heat and energy for both our brands and spark disruptive innovation as we engage with our consumers and customers around the world." Earlier this month, Crocs Inc. announced a revenue increase of 1.4% in its first quarter, on the back of an increase in sales at its flagship brand, Crocs, where revenues increased 2.4% to $762 million.
Fashion Network
22-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Crocs promotes HeyDude president to chief brand officer role
Crocs Inc. has announced the promotion of Terence Reilly to the role of executive vice president, chief brand officer, effective immediately. Reilly was previously brand president of HeyDude. In this newly created role, Reilly will oversee the marketing and communications functions for both the Crocs and HeyDude brands. He will continue to report to chief executive officer, Andrew Rees, while collaborating with Anne Mehlman, executive vice president, brand president for Crocs, in addition to HeyDude brand leadership. Rees will serve as the interim president for the HeyDude brand alongside the brand's senior leadership team until a permanent structure is announced, said the Broomfield, Colorado-based company. A brand expert, Reilly has a track record of building brand identity, connecting to relevant culture and fostering consumer engagement and loyalty. Before joining Crocs in 2024, the executive worked at drinkware firm Stanley Brand, where he served a president. Prior to his time at Stanley, Reilly served as the chief marketing officer at Crocs, Inc., in addition to holding various other marketing leadership roles, from 2013 to 2020, after holding various senior level marketing and leadership positions. "Since Terence rejoined Crocs, Inc. in 2024, the HeyDude brand has seen significant traction under his leadership. He has galvanized a team, sharpened the brand's strategic focus and re-established authentic connections with our consumers. I am confident that the green shoots we are seeing today are building the foundation for sustainable long-term brand growth," said Rees. "With Terence in this new role and in partnership with our proven leadership team, this shift will create an elevated focus on driving heat and energy for both our brands and spark disruptive innovation as we engage with our consumers and customers around the world." Earlier this month, Crocs Inc. announced a revenue increase of 1.4% in its first quarter, on the back of an increase in sales at its flagship brand, Crocs, where revenues increased 2.4% to $762 million.
Fashion Network
22-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Crocs promotes HeyDude president to chief brand officer role
Crocs Inc. has announced the promotion of Terence Reilly to the role of executive vice president, chief brand officer, effective immediately. Reilly was previously brand president of HeyDude. In this newly created role, Reilly will oversee the marketing and communications functions for both the Crocs and HeyDude brands. He will continue to report to chief executive officer, Andrew Rees, while collaborating with Anne Mehlman, executive vice president, brand president for Crocs, in addition to HeyDude brand leadership. Rees will serve as the interim president for the HeyDude brand alongside the brand's senior leadership team until a permanent structure is announced, said the Broomfield, Colorado-based company. A brand expert, Reilly has a track record of building brand identity, connecting to relevant culture and fostering consumer engagement and loyalty. Before joining Crocs in 2024, the executive worked at drinkware firm Stanley Brand, where he served a president. Prior to his time at Stanley, Reilly served as the chief marketing officer at Crocs, Inc., in addition to holding various other marketing leadership roles, from 2013 to 2020, after holding various senior level marketing and leadership positions. "Since Terence rejoined Crocs, Inc. in 2024, the HeyDude brand has seen significant traction under his leadership. He has galvanized a team, sharpened the brand's strategic focus and re-established authentic connections with our consumers. I am confident that the green shoots we are seeing today are building the foundation for sustainable long-term brand growth," said Rees. "With Terence in this new role and in partnership with our proven leadership team, this shift will create an elevated focus on driving heat and energy for both our brands and spark disruptive innovation as we engage with our consumers and customers around the world." Earlier this month, Crocs Inc. announced a revenue increase of 1.4% in its first quarter, on the back of an increase in sales at its flagship brand, Crocs, where revenues increased 2.4% to $762 million.
