Marriott is expanding its luxury footprint in the Caribbean with the relaunch of one of Barbados’ most iconic beachfront resorts — Colony Club. Slated to reopen on September 1, the revamped property joins Marriott’s Luxury Collection, offering a refined escape along the island’s famed Platinum Coast. This marks a notable departure from Marriott’s recent all-inclusive trend in the region....
Barbados will officially be removed from the European Union’s list of high-risk third countries on August 5, paving the way for smoother financial transactions and improved business relations with European institutions. Attorney General Dale Marshall confirmed the development, noting that the relevant legislation was published in the EU’s Official Journal this week. “This move brings welcome...
Barbados is undergoing a real estate renaissance and this time, it's Americans leading the charge. For the first time in over 30 years, U.S. buyers have overtaken the British as the largest group of property investors on the island. Between January and September last year, Barbados welcomed over 175,000 U.S. visitors - a record that not only boosted tourism but drove a 25% spike in luxury home sales....
Hilton is expanding its presence in the Caribbean with the launch of its newest hotel brand, Spark by Hilton, making its regional debut in Ponce, Puerto Rico. This marks the first Spark property in both the Caribbean and Latin America, signaling a new era for affordable yet high-quality stays in the region. A New Kind of Stay in Ponce Set to open by the end of 2025, Spark by Hilton Ponce will be...
The Caribbean’s top tourism summit is heading back to Bridgetown. The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has announced that the 2025 State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) will be held in Barbados from September 30 to October 3 at the Hilton Barbados Resort. Widely considered the most influential platform for shaping the region’s tourism future, SOTIC 2025 will unite a diverse group of...
Imagine a rooftop bar suspended over the ocean, the world’s largest pool at sea, and a glass-domed AquaTheater where aerialists, acrobats, and DJs come together beneath the stars. Welcome aboard Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest Icon Class cruise ship—and a revolutionary leap forward in vacation experiences. After nearly two years of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland,...
Barbados is poised to become the first country to pilot a new regional debt-for-resilience facility, a groundbreaking financial model designed to redirect costly debt repayments toward sustainable development and social investment. This innovative mechanism—supported by four major multilateral development banks—will allow participating Caribbean nations to swap expensive government bonds for...
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has announced the highly anticipated return of two of its signature events — the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) and Taste of the Caribbean — both set to take place November 16–18, 2025, at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle Resort. These flagship events will unite tourism and hospitality professionals,...
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has launched an ambitious new blueprint to redefine the future of tourism across the region. Titled the “Reimagine Plan 2025–2027,” this strategic roadmap moves beyond recovery and calls for a complete transformation of Caribbean tourism into a driver of innovation, inclusion, and resilience. Unveiled in New York, the Barbados-based CTO's plan outlines a...
Barbados is stepping boldly into the digital era: as of July 1, 2025, its Immigration Department has officially launched an online entry visa application portal, enhancing convenience and efficiency for travellers worldwide. This new portal joins the EZPay+ online payment system, which has handled all immigration payment types since March 14, 2025. At the press conference held at Immigration HQ on...