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Puerto Rico full steam ahead in ACE training programs

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Puerto Rico Tourism Co.'s Ingrid Rivera, second left, signs agreement for ACE guide and tour operator training with Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence principals Beth Kelly Hatt and Melanie Colpitts during Cruise Shipping Miami. At far left is Juan Nadal, director air & maritime access, Puerto Rico Tourism Co. (Photo: Aquila)
Puerto Rico became the first destination to comprehensively train both tour guides and tour operators in the Aquila Cruise Excellence program, according to Beth Kelly Hatt, founder and owner of Aquila and president of ACE.

More than 50 tour guides participated in the international training and certification program.

Puerto Rico also registered their three main tour operators in the ACE Tour Operator Designation and all three are now working through the process to meet the 42 standards for ACE Designation, Kelly Hatt said.

Ingrid Rivera, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Co., signed the agreement for the program with the Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence during Cruise Shipping Miami in March.

The guide training followed in April and May, led by Melanie Colpitts, Aquila managing partner, who also spearheads the Center for Cruise Excellence.

The ACE training is recognized by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association.