What a Marketplace!

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace, which took place in Barbados last week, surpassed all expectations, leaving participants inspired and invigorated.

Setting the dynamic, positive tone of the event was Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who delivered a powerful keynote speech at the opening of the second annual Caribbean Travel Forum.

Her eloquent call to Caribbean stakeholders to be “shapers” rather than “takers” resonated deeply, emphasizing the need to develop the tourism product for the benefit of the region and its people.

The Prime Minister’s remarks shed light on the need for a paradigm shift in the Caribbean tourism industry. She advocated for a recalibration of the sector to reduce foreign dependency and foster economic empowerment for Caribbean citizens. By utilizing the region’s savings and actively involving its people, the services sector — particularly tourism — can continue to be a driving force for further improvements in the quality of life in the Caribbean and other small island developing states worldwide.

The collaborative work of the CHTA team, along with the hosts from Barbados, particularly Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, paid dividends. Working tirelessly and dedicating long hours, they ensured the success of the 41st Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the first-ever held in Barbados.

Their efforts did not go unnoticed, as Marketplace received glowing reviews, with many proclaiming it to be the best one to date.

Jamaica and Eleuthera, Bahamas take top CHTA resilience honors

Jamaica and Eleuthera in the Bahamas were announced winners of CHTA’s 2023 Destination Resilience Awards in Barbados last week.

Jamaica emerged the winner in Category A, reserved for destinations with total 2019 stopover visitor arrivals greater than 500,000. Initiatives such as the JAMAICA CARES program, a public-private partnership that took a holistic approach to resuming post-pandemic travel successfully positioned Jamaica at the forefront of the international tourism recovery.

In Category B, for destinations with total stopover arrivals under 500,000, Eleuthera in the Bahamas was victorious. Eleuthera has demonstrated a commitment to a more sustainable future with efforts such as the Island School, Cape Eleuthera Institute, the Eleuthera Sustainability Council Cooperative Society and the Center for Training Institute.

Bonaire, St. Maarten and St. Lucia were recognized with honorable mentions.