The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has selected Antigua and Barbuda as the venue for the 43rd Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM), set to take place from May 18-22, 2025. This major event will draw global buyers and regional suppliers, positioning Antigua and Barbuda as a rising star in Caribbean tourism. “Our twin-island nation is now a focal point for international travel and...
Barbados' Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, has been elected as the new Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). The election took place during the CTO’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in the Cayman Islands earlier this week. Gooding-Edghill will now lead the CTO’s Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism for the next two...
Pelican Village, formerly a quiet craft center, has undergone a significant transformation into a vibrant hub for small business development, spearheaded by Export Barbados. This initiative has created a dynamic ecosystem, providing nearly 50 small businesses with essential support to grow and potentially enter global markets. Mark Hill, Chief Executive Officer of Export Barbados, emphasizes a holistic...
Barbados is set to become even more accessible to travelers with the introduction of direct flights by LIAT 2020, the newly revived regional airline. Following its inaugural flight landing in Dominica on August 29, 2024, LIAT 2020 has announced the launch of direct routes to Barbados, enhancing the island's connectivity within the Caribbean. Promoting the launch on its official Facebook page, LIAT 2020...
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has announced the 2024 Virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will take place on November 15, 2024. This significant event aims to unite key players in the region’s tourism and hospitality sectors, including government officials, hotel operators, and industry experts, to discuss strategies for boosting growth and resilience in the Caribbean’s...
The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) is gearing up to host the highly anticipated Digital Jamaica Summit and Showcase on September 3, aimed at catapulting Jamaica’s micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) into the digital era. Set against the backdrop of The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, this event promises a deep dive into the transformative power of digital...
Digital transformation in the Caribbean is gaining momentum, thanks to the recent Caribbean edition of the School of Digital Transformation and Innovation. Held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, from August 12-15, this event marked a significant step forward in equipping policymakers from 12 Caribbean territories with the tools and knowledge to drive digitalization in their respective...
On August 23, 2024, at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit for Latin America & the Caribbean, Rosa Harris, Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), emphasized the increasing demand for premium and luxury travel across the Caribbean region. Harris remarked that there is currently "a lot more money" in the Caribbean travel market, highlighting the need for the tourism sector to strategically...
Caribbean hotel occupancy experienced fluctuations in 2024, largely due to the impact of Hurricane Beryl. While the first half of the year saw consistent growth in occupancy, with a peak of 71.3% by June, July saw a decline of 1.9% in occupancy compared to the previous year. This dip was attributed to the direct effects of Hurricane Beryl, which caused significant disruptions across several islands,...
Royal Caribbean International is set to make a splash with the launch of its latest mega ship, Star of the Seas, in August 2025. This new addition to the Icon Class lineup promises to elevate the cruising experience with a host of innovative features and thrilling activities, designed to captivate travelers of all ages. Star of the Seas will begin offering seven-day Caribbean cruises from Port...