Johnny Mack Brings EPIC Carnival Expertise To Trinidad

[ad_1] by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors Might 15, 2025

EPIC is a game-changer for Trinidad Carnival tourism

By Noel Walker

Visionary entrepreneur Johnny Mack has remodeled the Trinidad Carnival expertise by means of an progressive answer to one of many island’s greatest tourism challenges: extreme lodging shortages throughout the world-famous competition. As CEO of EPIC Carnival Expertise, Mack has pioneered the primary “all-inclusive floating lodge” in Trinidad throughout the island’s famed Carnival celebration.

The idea is brilliantly easy but revolutionary: a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that sails on a 9-day journey from a neighboring Caribbean island, then stays docked in Port of Spain for 5 of these days throughout Carnival. Having accomplished its second 12 months in March 2025, EPIC has rapidly grow to be a game-changer for Trinidad Carnival tourism.

“Trinidad solely has 2,500 lodge rooms in your complete nation,” Mack defined, his eyes lighting up with ardour. Forty thousand to 50,000 individuals journey to Trinidad for Carnival, making a important want for an elastic lodging provide. I created EPIC not solely to supply an enhanced expertise but additionally to handle an financial necessity resulting from inadequate lodging.”

A Carnival Child with Music in His Soul

Born in Trinidad on Carnival Monday morning in 1980, Mack describes himself as a “actual bona fide carnival child.” His heritage displays Trinidad’s various cultural make-up—his father is first-generation Chinese language-Trinidadian, and his mom was born in Morocco.

Mack’s journey took him from taking part in rugby for Trinidad’s nationwide crew at simply 17 to attending UC Berkeley on scholarship. Within the early 2000s, he started producing live shows for Caribbean artists like Sean Paul and Damian Marley in California earlier than establishing himself in Hawaii’s music scene.

“After I did my first music competition, I used to be 23 years outdated, and I had like 4,000 individuals,” Mack remembers with a nostalgic smile. “From there, I began evolving music festivals in Hawaii after which on the West Coast.” By 27, he had produced a three-island music competition that includes Lauryn Hill that attracted 12,000 attendees.

His repute within the business continued to develop exponentially. His occasions would go on to showcase artists like Snoop Dogg, Cardi B, and Usher, drawing monumental crowds exceeding 35,000 individuals, experiences that gave him invaluable insights into creating immersive occasions he would later apply to EPIC.

Overcoming Business Limitations

Courtesy of Johnny Mack EPIC Carnival Expertise

Creating EPIC Carnival Expertise required overcoming vital hurdles, significantly convincing a serious cruise line to dock in Trinidad for an prolonged interval.

“No cruise liner needed to return to Trinidad & Tobago as a result of they had been on a world safety hazard listing,” Mack revealed. “They refused to port a couple of night time. From 2015 till simply earlier than COVID, I stored knocking on all people’s doorways. Simply earlier than COVID, Royal Caribbean opened up and stated they had been keen to do that.”

The persistence paid off, however the monetary dedication required was substantial. “The typical cruise ship is gonna be at the very least $3.54 million simply to constitution. Then on prime of that, you've gotten insurance coverage, which is like $50,000. Then the cruise ship additionally desires you to hit on-board income figures… that’s one other $1.2 million.”

As a Caribbean promoter in an business dominated by main companies, Mack operates with a unique strategy. “We deal with enterprise with slightly bit extra cultural household nuances and leniencies. We dwell extra within the grey space than within the black and white. We’re open to creating issues work.”

The Caribbean leisure business maintains its independence in methods few different sectors have managed. “Within the Caribbean diaspora, somebody like Vybz Kartel, Beenie Man, Capleton, or Buju will come to North America, and Stay Nation won't personal their tour. Will probably be somebody from the diaspora proudly owning the tradition.”

Financial Affect and Cultural Mission

Courtesy of Johnny Mack EPIC Carnival Expertise

EPIC isn’t only a enterprise enterprise—it’s an financial engine for Trinidad and a platform for cultural alternate that comes straight from Mack’s coronary heart.

“Based mostly on the final price range, we spent about $500,000 U.S. on native Trinidad manufacturing, labor, transportation, advertising and marketing—all our wants. We spent about $1.2 million shopping for tickets to fetes, after which the typical particular person spent about $1,000 on their carnival costume,” the EPIC CEO particulars. “Let’s say 1,000 individuals purchased carnival costumes, that’s about $1 million there instantly.”

The enterprise mannequin solves a number of issues concurrently. It offers reasonably priced lodging when lodge costs surge and flights grow to be prohibitively costly.

“Flights throughout Trinidad carnival time are outrageous due to excessive demand; they've surge pricing. A flight that will have been $300/$400 is now $1,500,” Mack explains, gesturing animatedly. “For EPIC’s first 12 months, we flew into Barbados, and for our second 12 months, we flew into Puerto Rico. The numbers made sense. Flying into Puerto Rico from anyplace alongside the East Coast is sort of a $300 round-trip. We’re saving everybody at the very least $800-$1,000 on flights.”

The carnival entrepreneur continues, “The typical lodge room in Port of Spain throughout Carnival per night time is about $800 U.S., which is loopy. After I priced what it value for one of many lower-tier rooms on EPIC, it’s about $400 U.S. an evening, which to me is a steal while you’re getting meals, drinks, and occasions.”

Trinidad’s Distinctive Financial Panorama

Courtesy of Johnny Mack EPIC Carnival Expertise

Not like a lot of its Caribbean neighbors, Trinidad’s financial system isn’t constructed on tourism—a reality Mack explains with the perception of somebody who really understands his homeland.

“Trinidad will not be constructed on tourism like Jamaica, Barbados, and these different islands. We’re constructed on pure gasoline and oil, and assets,” Mack explains with delight. “We now have one thing referred to as the Pitch Lake. It’s a unending asphalt lake; we have now a unending provide of it. So we’ve by no means constructed infrastructure.”

This resource-rich financial basis explains the nation’s restricted hospitality infrastructure. “It is unnecessary to construct a brand new lodge, but it surely did make sense to deliver a cruise ship that might are available in and be a viable alternative for Trinidad.”

Future Development and Imaginative and prescient

The enterprise’s speedy progress is clear in its early ticket gross sales for the upcoming February 11-20, 2026 voyage.

“Proper now, for the upcoming 12 months three, we’ve offered 426 cabins, which we weren’t even in a position to launch this early for 12 months two. We’re already midway to our objective mark in March/April—one month since we launched EPIC this 12 months,” notes the founder, pleasure evident in his voice.

For Mack, this enterprise represents only the start of a bigger imaginative and prescient that connects deeply to his private story. “That is simply step one. I’m constructing an empire and a legacy the place I can export my tradition and share it with the world,” he declares. “The objective of EPIC is to show pop America, pop Europe, to our tradition, and make them really feel at one with us.”

His ambitions lengthen past private success to creating alternatives for his neighborhood. “Rising up within the Caribbean, we didn’t find out about 401(okay) plans, life insurance coverage, or having a belief for teenagers. All the things we have now, we needed to construct ourselves. If I may assist my neighborhood have a leg up, I wish to try this for my household, and Trinidad.”

As our interview concludes, Mack’s cellphone rings with the distinct sound of soca music—a becoming reminder of the rhythm that drives each the person and his mission. “Carnival isn’t simply an occasion for us—it’s who we're. And now, we’ve discovered a method to share that with the world.”