July in Barbados is bursting with vibrant culture, outdoor adventures, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re a nature lover, a partygoer, or someone who enjoys a touch of history and art, the island has something for you. Here’s your guide to the top events happening in Barbados this July: 🥾 Hike Barbados Location: Various meeting points island-wideDates: Sundays, July 6 •...
New hotel performance data from STR reveals a mixed picture for the Caribbean hospitality sector, with regional occupancy dipping while average daily rates (ADR) saw only marginal growth. In May 2025, hotel occupancy across the Caribbean stood at 61.7 percent, reflecting a 5.3 percent drop compared to the same month in 2024. While the decline is notable, it varies significantly by island, with some...
Global hotel operator Valor Hospitality Partners is officially entering the Caribbean market through a landmark partnership with Cove Bay Developments to manage a new luxury destination on Tobago’s stunning northern coast. The Plymouth Peninsula Tobago project is set to debut in 2027 and marks Valor’s first footprint in the region. The high-end resort will be developed by Cove Bay Developments, led...
Barbados is looking to deepen ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region as part of its global tourism expansion strategy. The Caribbean destination welcomed a high-level delegation from the Middle East to its flagship trade show, Connect Barbados, which returned this June for the first time since the pandemic. The four-day event, held from June 23 to 26, 2025, brought together leading travel...
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and IDB Invest have joined forces in a renewed strategic partnership designed to accelerate private sector development and enhance trade finance access across the Caribbean. The announcement signals a major step toward strengthening the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in driving regional economic growth. This new collaboration places private...
Barbados’ Platinum Coast is set to welcome a new kind of all-inclusive retreat—one that trades loud parties for sensory elegance, and trend-chasing for timeless calm. Opening in Summer 2026, the Royalton Vessence Barbados, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort – Adults Only marks the official debut of Marriott’s new adults-oriented Vessence brand in the Caribbean. Previously known as...
Montego Bay is preparing to mark a major milestone in its tourism landscape with the debut of its first-ever Marriott-branded hotel—a contemporary AC Marriott set to transform the city’s iconic Hip Strip. Announced by Sandals Resorts Executive Chairman Adam Stewart, the 165-room property will be built on the former site of Sandals Carlyle and will feature a European Plan (EP) model—moving away...
Barbados is reshaping its tourism strategy to focus not just on increasing arrivals but on boosting visitor spending and deepening economic impact, Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill announced on Tuesday. Speaking at the opening of Connect Barbados 2025, the minister unveiled a bold, multi-pronged approach that includes the establishment of a Visitor Spend Task Force, a...
Barbados has reached a significant milestone in its economic recovery journey with the successful conclusion of its IMF-supported reform programme, securing the final loan disbursement of approximately US$116 million (BDS$232 million) under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). The IMF Executive Board approved the fifth and final reviews of both...
The upcoming launch of the CARICOM Payments and Settlement System (CAPSS) is set to transform how money moves across the Caribbean and between the region and Africa. Governor Timothy N. J. Antoine of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) says the system will enhance trade, investment, and financial inclusion, particularly for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Speaking at the Caribbean...