The expansion of services by JetBlue, American Airlines, and United Airlines to Barbados is keeping the tourism momentum high for the island. Additionally, there are updates on new hotels and attractions that visitors should be aware of. Here are the key details:
American Airlines will be introducing an extra daily flight from August 15 to September 5 for late summer travel, connecting Miami, Florida (MIA) to Barbados (BGI). This new flight will bring the total number of daily flights from Miami to Barbados to three, up from the current two flights.
Eusi Skeete, the U.S. director for the Barbados Tourism Marketing, Inc. (BTMI), explained the strategic approach behind the increased airlift: “By identifying key growth markets and cities, we can leverage targeted marketing to generate interest. Once we successfully capitalize on this momentum, it strengthens the case for airlines to add more flights or routes.”
American Airlines will also resume daily flights from Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT), to Barbados starting from December 21, just in time for the holiday season. This represents a significant increase from the current weekly service and will run until April 3, excluding Tuesdays and Wednesdays from January 8 to March 4.
“We are thrilled to expand the airlift options for our U.S. market in 2023 and beyond,” said Skeete. “There is a strong demand for Barbados as a destination, and we have been working closely with our longstanding airline partners to meet this demand.”
JetBlue has extended its second daily flight from New York (JFK) to Barbados. Initially set to end in early September, the flight will now continue until February 24, 2024.
Skeete emphasized the successful strategies employed to boost interest in Barbados: “Through creative marketing initiatives, a strong presence in key cities, and strategic partnerships, we have stimulated demand for the destination. This is a win for Barbados, our partners, and of course, travelers.”
United Airlines has also announced plans to extend its service to Barbados from Newark, New Jersey, and Washington, Dulles until the summer of 2024. Flights from Newark will start on September 30, while flights from Washington, Dulles will begin on October 29. The Washington, Dulles service will have a break from September to October 2024. This expansion marks a substantial increase from the previous seasonal flights, which only operated from November to April, serving Newark on Saturdays and Dulles on Sundays. It demonstrates the significant demand for travel to Barbados from key U.S. markets.
Skeete provided insights into the growing appeal of Barbados in these areas: “United Airlines initially introduced its service to Barbados in 2021 to support winter travel for passengers on board the Royal Caribbean-Rhapsody of the Seas vessel. However, the appeal has grown significantly since then, with a notable increase in visitors from the New Jersey, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas.”
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New Hotel:
The upcoming Sam Lord’s Castle Barbados, A Wyndham Grand Resort, is set to become not only the largest all-inclusive resort but also the largest hotel on the island. Eduardo Cruz del Rio, Vice President of Operations for Latin America and the Caribbean at Wyndham Hotels, confirmed that the opening is scheduled for late September. Bookings have already been made for more than a year in advance, and reservations will be accepted in the next month. The resort will be divided into three sections, catering to families, adults only, and groups.
The hotel complex consists of five towers, each housing around 80 to 100 rooms, resulting in a total of 422 rooms. This includes a mix of deluxe queen and king rooms, Executive Suites, one-bedroom suites, and Presidential Suites. The Spa at Sam Lord’s Castle will feature eight treatment rooms, with six located indoors and two outdoors, according to Cruz del Rio.
This new development is a fresh build project, replacing the previous Sam Lord’s Castle Hotel, which was a Marriott property. The old hotel was demolished about 20 years ago due to its lack of renovation value.
New Attraction:
The Atlantis Submarine Night tour is an exciting addition that allows visitors to explore the underwater world when artificial lighting is necessary. The start time for the night dive varies throughout the year, offering guests the opportunity to witness the beauty before sunset, descend into the submarine as darkness falls, and observe active fish life.
For those who enjoy scuba diving in Barbados’ reefs, the Atlantis Submarine night dive provides a unique underwater experience. It is also a great option for non-scuba enthusiasts to share in the adventure.
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