Westgate Resorts has announced a major strategic investment in the Banyan Tree Bimini Resort & Residences, a luxury development on Rockwell Island in Bimini, Bahamas, marking the company’s first Caribbean venture. The multimillion-dollar partnership involves Gissy Family Investments and other strategic investors joining forces with RAV Bahamas, the company behind the $850 million Bimini Bay project...
Barbados is stepping into the spotlight as a premier destination for business travel, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE) as the second half of 2025 unfolds. Key events, strategic partnerships, and an expanding visitor profile are all evidence that the island is not just keeping pace — it’s raising the bar. Highlights from Barbados’ Recent Travel & MICE Developments 1. Motivation...
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Travel Unity, a New York-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in travel. This collaboration marks a major milestone in the region’s ongoing effort to make tourism across the Caribbean more accessible, equitable, and environmentally responsible — ensuring that both travelers and local...
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is hosting the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Independent Accountability Mechanisms Network (IAMNet) from October 6–9, 2025, in Barbados, convening accountability professionals from development finance institutions across the globe. CDB is partnering with the Inter-American Development Bank’s Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (MICI), and the...
Barbados’ tourism industry has reached a new milestone in 2025, recording 503,000 stayover visitors between January and August — a 5.43% increase compared to the same period last year. For the first time in the island’s tourism history, the United States has overtaken the United Kingdom as Barbados’ leading source market. Speaking on the final day of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State...
Barbados’ Minister of Tourism, Ian Gooding-Edghill, has reaffirmed the vital role of tourism in preserving both peace and identity across the Caribbean. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2025 on October 1, his remarks carried added weight against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions in the southern Caribbean. Recent disputes involving...
China has announced it will no longer seek special and differential treatment (SDT) at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), a move that could open the door for long-awaited global trade reforms—particularly benefiting small island developing states like Barbados. The announcement came from Chinese Premier Li Qiang in New York during the High-Level Meeting on the Global Development Initiative. The...
European travelers now have an easier way to explore the Caribbean, thanks to a newly signed codeshare agreement between Air Caraïbes and Caribbean Airlines. The partnership links Paris-Orly with a wide network of Caribbean destinations via seamless connections in Martinique and Guadeloupe. With the new arrangement, passengers departing Paris can check in once, collect all boarding passes upfront, and...
Nikki Beach, the iconic global lifestyle and hospitality brand, is making its debut in the Caribbean real estate market with the launch of Nikki Beach Residences Antigua, the brand’s first residential resort in the Western Hemisphere. The landmark development features 127 condominium residences and seven private villas, each offering direct access to the full Nikki Beach experience. Homeowners will...
Compass, one of the leading U.S. real-estate brokerages, has announced its agreement to acquire rival Anywhere Real Estate for $1.6 billion in an all-stock deal, signaling a new wave of consolidation in the residential brokerage industry. The merger would combine two of the country’s largest brokerages, creating an enterprise valued at approximately $10 billion, including debt. Compass, with roughly...