Visionary entrepreneur Johnny Mack transformed the experience of the Carnival of Trinidad through the progressive solution to at least one of the biggest tourist challenges on the island: serious accommodation shortages during the world famous festival. As the general director of Epic Carnival Experience, Mack was a pioneer of the first “All-Inclusive Hotel” in Trinidad during the famous celebration of the carnival on the island.

The concept is brilliantly easy, but revolutionary: Royal Caribbean Cruise, which flows in a 9-day journey from the neighboring Caribbean Island, after which stays assault in the port of Spain for five days during the carnival. After graduating from the second 12 months in March 2025, EPIC has They quickly change into a changing game For Trinidad Carnival Tourism.

“Trinidad has only 2,500 hotel rooms throughout the country,” explained Mack, and his eyes brighten with passion. Forty thousand to 50,000 people travel to Trinidad to the carnival, making a critical need for flexible power. I created EPIC not only to supply an increased experience, but in addition to treatment economic necessity because of insufficient accommodation. “

A carnival child with music in his soul

Born in Trinidad on Monday morning in 1980, Mack describes himself as “a real bona fide carnival child”. His heritage is reflected in the diverse cultural makeup of Trinidada-Jego Father is the Chinese-Trinidadian first generation, and his mother was born in Morocco.

Mack’s journey took him from a rugby game for the Trinidad national team at the age of only 17 to attend the UC Berkeley scholarship. At the starting of 2000, he began to supply concert events for Caribbean artists, corresponding to Sean Paul and Damian Marley in California, before he founded on the music scene in Hawaii.

“When I did my first music festival, I was 23 years old and I had 4,000 people,” says Mack with a nostalgic smile. “From there I began to develop music festivals in Hawaii and then on the west coast.” He produced a music festival with three islands with the participation of Lauryn Hill, which attracted 12,000 participants.

His fame in the industry continued to grow exponently. His events could be presented by artists corresponding to Snoop Dogg, Cardi B and Usher, attracting huge crowds exceeding 35,000 people, experiences that gave him a useful view of the creation of addictive events that he would later apply to EPIC.

Overcoming industry barriers

Creating an epic carnival experience required overcoming significant obstacles, especially convincing the primary cruise line for docking in Trinidad for a very long time.

“No liner wanted to come to Trinidad and Tobago, because they were on a global list of safety hazards,” Mack revealed. “They refused to transfer a couple of night. From 2015 to simply before Covid I used to be still knocking on the door.

Perseverance paid off, but the required financial commitment was significant. “The average cruise ship will amount to at least $ 3.54 million only on charter. Besides, you have insurance, which is like $ 50,000. Then the cruise ship also wants to achieve data on revenues on board … This is another $ 1.2 million.”

As a Caribbean promoter in the industry dominated by large corporations, Mack acts with a distinct approach. “We cope with business with a rather larger number of cultural nuances and lanea. We live more in a gray zone than in black and white.

The Caribbean Entertainment Industry maintains its independence in a way through which few other sectors managed. “In the Caribbean diaspora, someone like Vybz Kartel, Beneie Man, Capleton or Buju will come to North America, and Live Nation will not be the owner of their trip. This will be someone from the diaspora with culture.”

Economic impact and cultural mission

Epic isn’t only a business undertaking – it’s an economic engine for Trinidad and a cultural exchange platform that comes straight from the heart of Mack.

“Based on the last budget, we spent about USD 500,000 on local production of Trinidad, Labor Party, Transport, Marketing – all our needs. We spent about $ 1.2 million on the purchase of tickets for Fetes, and then the average person spent about $ 1,000 on a carnival costume”, describes Epic CEO. “Let’s say that 1000 people bought carnival costumes, they immediately about $ 1 million.”

The business model solves many problems at the same time. It provides inexpensive accommodation when hotel prices rise and flights change into too expensive.

“Flights during the Carnival in Trinidad are outrageous because of high demand; they have violent prices. The flight that would be USD 300/400 USD currently costs USD 1500,” explains Mack, animated hills. “In the first year Epic we flew to Barbados, and we flew to Puerto Rico for the second year. The numbers made sense. The flight to Puerto Rico from anywhere along the east coast is like 300 USD in both directions. We save everyone at least USD 800–16 for flights.”

The carnival entrepreneur continues: “The average hotel room in the port of Spain during the carnival per night is about USD 800, which is crazy. When I valued one of the lower levels, it costs about USD 400 per night, which is theft for me when you get food, drink and events.”

Unique economic landscape of Trinidada

Unlike many of its Caribbean neighbors, Trinidad’s economy economy isn’t built on tourism – Mack explains with insight someone who really understands his homeland.

“Trinidad is not built on tourism, such as Jamaica, Barbados and these other islands. We are built on natural gas and oil and resources,” explains Mack proudly. “We have something called Lake Pitch. It’s an endless asphalt lake; we have an endless supply. So we never built infrastructure.”

This economic foundation, wealthy in resources, explains limited hotel infrastructure in the country. “It makes no sense to build a new hotel, but it was reasonable to bring a cruise ship that could come and be a real opportunity for Trinidad.”

Future growth and vision

The rapid growth of the project is visible in the early sale of tickets for the upcoming February 11-20 2026.

“At the moment, in the coming third 12 months, we sold 426 cabins, which we weren’t even in a position to run early for the second 12 months.

For Mack, this undertaking is just the starting of a bigger vision that deeply connects to its personal history. “This is just the first step. I am building an empire and a heritage in which I can export my culture and share it with the world,” he declares. “The goal of Epic is to reveal pop America, pop Europe, our culture and make them feel with us.”

His ambitions transcend personal success in creating opportunities for his community. “Growing up in the Caribbean, we did not know 401 (k) plans, life insurance or trust for children. Everything we have, we had to build. If I could help my community in my legs, I want to do it for my family and Trinidad.”

As our interview sums up, Mack’s phone calls with a transparent sound of SOCA music – a correct reminder of the rhythm that drives each a person and his mission. “Carnival is only an event for us – this is who we are. And now we have found a way to share it with the world.”

The transport safety administration (TSA) warns travelers that electronics containing lithium-ion batteries aren’t any longer allowed in checked baggage. Summer Agency Advisor resembles a passengerS, that the ban is in force. Prohibited items include a cell phone Battery charging housings, lithium batteries, cellular batteries, laptop batteries, external batteries and portable batteries. However, travelers can still Bring these items in your bags.

“Stock (uninstalled) lithium-ion and lithium batteries, including power loading and cell phone, must only be worn in hand luggage. When the cache is checked on the gate or on the plane, all spare litter batteries and power supply should be removed from the bag and store with a passenger within the aircraft cabin, they have to be protected with a passenger circuses.

Tsa He implemented a ban Due to the hearth risk created after recent incidents including the exploding of lithium-ion batteries in flight. Officials determined that the overheated Bank of Power caused a hearth that broke out on a Russian plane in South Korea in January, which led to the evacuation of 179 passengers and 6 crew members. IN November 2024, a Southwest flight from Denver was forced to evacuate the passenger The phone caught fire.

Portable chargers and power supply can Experience thermal escapeby which the battery cell overheats all of sudden. Thermal escapes can occur if the battery is flawed, overheated, filled, incorrectly packed or exposed to water.

Air crews are trained to answer battery fires when it appears within the plane’s cabin. FAA encourages passengers Notify your air crew Immediately, if their devices overheat, expand, smoke or smoke in the course of the flight.

TSA reminds passengers of these changes before the brand new real identifier Travel requirements that got here into force on Wednesday, May 7. All passengers will need to have RIdentification in accordance with ID EAL Travel business flight. Real identifiers are marked with a star within the upper right corner. TSA states that passengers who present unreal identification in accordance with ID may face a further safety examination.

Trump administration is promising Nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers after the last Mishaps from the control tower ia track of failure Early this yr.

You need a bigger number of controllers who direct planes to an increasingly crowded sky, will not be a brand new problem or one which shall be quickly solved.

How big is the lack of controllers?

The federal aviation administration has about 14,000 air traffic controllers. Last yr, over 1800, the largest number in almost a decade was employed, and the government is on the right track to rent much more this yr. Despite this, about 3,000 more is required to totally support the system.

What are the impact?

Talks meant that controllers were often forced to work compulsory time beyond regulation, sometimes six days every week. It led to Fear about fatigue After highly publicized close connections between planes, which were in keeping with the orders of the controllers. FAA agreed last summer to extend the minimum rest time between the changes. In some areas with high traffic, including New York and Florida, FAA The number of flights has been limited Due to the lack of controllers.

Why is 1000’s missing?

It is a demanding and stressful work with unpredictable hours and a high rotation indicator. Many don’t do it for the first few years. And experienced controllers are in the face of a compulsory retirement age of 56 years.

Is this just recent concern?

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association has been concerned for over a decade, telling Congress in 2015 that the deficiency was at the crisis level. He said then that Faa didn’t hit his targets of employment for five years in a row. The union again said last spring that the number of fully certified controllers fell by 10% from the place where it was 10 years ago.

What’

Is the Trump administration plan?

The administration desires to “unload” the controller’s working force and announced the program last week to speed up employment and provides the existing controller extra money in order to not retire. Since the training and certification of recent employees takes years, transport secretary Sean Duffy said that it could still take at the least three or 4 years to satisfy the current needs.

How to turn into a controller?

Most of them undergo several months of training at the FAA Academy in Oklahomie, although about a 3rd of the candidates not quite. Others learn to work in the army, and a handful of universities offers the same training at the Academy. Exercises then work as development controllers in towers at airports or radar centers until they’re ready for certification. This last step often takes two to 3 years.

What are the requirements?

FAA claims that interns have to be able to go anywhere in the US during work and weekends. Candidates have to be a US citizen, under 31 years old and might pass a medical exam, past control and skill assessment. FAA claims that lower than 10% of candidates are accepted for the training program.