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Tag: Premium Cigar

  • PCA Fighting N.J. Bill to Hike Premium Cigar Taxes

    PCA Fighting N.J. Bill to Hike Premium Cigar Taxes

    The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) launched a campaign urging lawmakers to reject New Jersey Senate Bill No. 4820 that would increase the tax on premium cigars from 30% to 50% of the wholesale price. The PCA says the tax hike is “punitive” and “disproportionate,” with retailers saying the proposal unfairly targets adult consumers of premium cigars, who already face some of the highest tobacco taxes in the region.

    Introduced by Senator Joseph Vitale (D–Middlesex) on November 6, the bill would also expand taxation on other nicotine products, including e-liquids used in vaping devices. Opponents, however, warn that the legislation would devastate New Jersey’s specialty cigar shops, many of which are small, family-owned businesses, as higher taxes would drive consumers to neighboring states or online retailers.

  • PCA Extends CEO Habursky Through 2031

    PCA Extends CEO Habursky Through 2031

    The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) extended the contract of executive director Joshua Habursky for five years, securing his governance through 2031. Habursky, who also serves as CEO, will continue overseeing the trade association’s operations and assets, including its Washington, D.C., office.

    Board president Todd Naifeh praised Habursky’s leadership, citing record membership and revenue growth, while vice president Paul Groh highlighted his forward-looking approach, including early planning for the PCA’s centennial in 2033. Since joining in 2019, Habursky has overseen initiatives such as the PCA Alliance program, an FIU educational partnership, and the launch of the World Cigar Show.

    At its fall meeting in Washington today (September 10), the Board also promoted Antoine Reid to senior director of marketing and communications and announced plans to hire an additional communications manager in early 2026.

  • PCA Launches Premium Retailer Finder

    PCA Launches Premium Retailer Finder

    The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) introduced “Find Your Tobacconist,” a new interactive store locator on its website that enables enthusiasts to discover nearby premium tobacco retailers that are current PCA members. By leveraging geolocation and an intuitive map interface, the feature makes it easier than ever to support local brick-and-mortar tobacconists.

    Visit premiumcigars.org/find-your-tobacconist to use the locator.

  • PCA, FIU Launch Luxury Marketing Program on Premium Cigars

    PCA, FIU Launch Luxury Marketing Program on Premium Cigars

    The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) and Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management announced a luxury marketing and experiences program focused on premium cigars, being held November 19-21, in Miami.

    The three-day executive course will cover event marketing, celebrity collaborations, retail strategies, and regulatory challenges, with speakers from the cigar, spirit, and luxury sectors. PCA CEO Joshua Habursky said the initiative aims to professionalize the premium cigar industry within the broader hospitality field. Graduates will earn a certificate of completion.

    Enrollment is open through November 5 at hospitalityexed.fiu.edu.

  • PCA Appoints Ricardo Carioni as Director of International Affairs & Education

    PCA Appoints Ricardo Carioni as Director of International Affairs & Education

    Today (August 11), the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) announced the appointment of Ricardo Carioni as its new director of international affairs and education. “This position signals the PCA’s continued commitment to advancing premium cigar advocacy, education, and global engagement,” the organization said in a press release.

    Carioni’s career spans over 18 years across seven countries, where he has lived and worked in senior roles. He served as head of development at Casa Turrent, chief operating officer of Tor Imports—the leading premium cigar distributor in Great Britain—and CEO of Gesinta, Spain’s foremost distributor of premium cigars. He is also the co-founder of The Cigar Academy, an educational institution that fosters knowledge and appreciation of premium cigars. He is also a former deputy ambassador and official representative of Nicaragua to the United Nations Maritime Organization, and worked for several multilateral institutions in the coffee, sugar, and cocoa sectors.

    “Ricardo is a catalyst who brings a ton of energy and passion to any project,” said says Joshua Habursky, executive director of the PCA. “His expertise will allow the PCA to refine existing projects and help service our growing membership ranks. He will be working in a versatile role to help grow membership outside of the United States, create programs for U.S. retailers in the Caribbean Basin, and develop universal education programs for all membership categories.”