Results for: Caribbean Tourism

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) will host its annual Caribbean Week in New York, with a key highlight being the Media Marketplace event on June 17, 2024. The Media Marketplace brings together industry leaders, media professionals, and influencers to showcase the latest developments in Caribbean travel. Attendees can connect with tourism representatives, learn about new travel initiatives, and explore the region’s diverse offerings. The event promotes the Caribbean’s tourism potential and highlights its appeal as a top destination for global travelers.

The 42nd Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM) hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) concluded with record-breaking attendance numbers. The event, held in Montego Bay, Jamaica, from May 20-23, 2024, showcased the resilience and allure of the Caribbean as a premier travel destination. It attracted participation from 137 traditional buyer companies, 14 MICE companies, six wedding specialist organizations, 10 travel advisor agencies, and 50 members of the regional and international media. The Marketplace also welcomed 207 supplier companies representing 27 Caribbean destinations, with a total of 682 delegates. CTM set a new record with 12,724 scheduled appointments and a total of 1,200 delegates in attendance.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of former Chairman Pamela Richards, who also served as the U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism. Richards’ tenure as CTO Chairman from 2004 to 2006 marked a period of significant progress for Caribbean tourism.

At CHTA’s recent Caribbean Travel Forum, President Nicola Madden-Greig presented key findings from a ForwardKeys and CHTA joint study on Caribbean tourism trends. The study revealed that international visitor numbers are expected to exceed 2019 levels by 13% in the first half of 2024. Puerto Rico leads regional performance, while Belize and Curaçao show significant growth. The Caribbean faces competition from reopening international destinations in Asia. The forum also recognized destinations for their resilience and sustainability efforts. The Bahamas won the Category A Destination Resilience Award for sustainable practices after Hurricane Dorian. St. Lucia received the Category B award for its strategic measures under the Tourism Development Act of 2023. CARPHA received the President’s Award for Caribbean Tourism Excellence for health security contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic. CHTA introduced new resources, including the AI Guidebook, the Caribbean Performance and Outlook report, and the Caribbean Tourism Construction and Investment Survey Report.

Travel analytics provider ForwardKeys and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) have released a comprehensive report on Caribbean tourism, indicating significant growth in the region despite heightened competition. Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Cancun emerged as top tourist destinations, while Belize and Curaçao saw notable growth. The report emphasizes the importance of data-driven insights in understanding traveler needs and optimizing marketing strategies for a sustainable and profitable tourism sector in the Caribbean.

Patricia Affonso-Dass, Group General Manager of Ocean Hotels Group in Barbados, has been named Caribbean Hotelier of the Year by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). This accolade recognizes her decades-long dedication and exceptional leadership in the hospitality industry, making significant contributions to Barbados and the wider Caribbean region.

In a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the Caribbean travel market, JetBlue is significantly expanding its operations in Puerto Rico, introducing flights to six new destinations from San Juan. The expansion is part of JetBlue’s response to Frontier Airlines’ aggressive expansion in the region. JetBlue aims to solidify its status as the leading airline in Puerto Rico and enhance the quality of its services with the introduction of a daily Mint service from JFK to San Juan. Frontier Airlines is also enhancing its presence in Puerto Rico, positioning San Juan as a hub for flights to the United States and the Caribbean. Both airlines’ expansions will lead to increased flight options, competitive pricing, and improved service quality for consumers. The competition is expected to stimulate travel and enhance connectivity between the Caribbean and mainland United States, benefiting Puerto Rico’s tourism industry.

The third annual Caribbean Travel Forum, hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), is set to take place in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on May 20, 2024. This pivotal event brings together leading experts from the region and around the world to explore business opportunities and strategies for the thriving Caribbean tourism sector.

The forum will feature keynote speeches from renowned travel writer and destination development advisor Doug Lansky, who will provide insights on adapting to the evolving Caribbean tourism market, and CHTA President Nicola Madden-Greig, who will share data and insights from the association’s annual Performance and Outlook Survey.

The event will also include presentations from key figures in the public and private sectors, addressing crucial topics such as leveraging data for informed decision-making, enhancing multi-destination marketing, and promoting intra-Caribbean travel.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) recently paid tribute to John Bell, its inaugural executive director who passed away recently. Bell played a crucial role in guiding the organization for nearly thirty years, transforming it from a standard trade association to the leading tourism entity for the Caribbean’s private sector. He spearheaded several projects including the Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the Taste of the Caribbean, and the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference, which have strengthened the industry and the association’s membership.