AFTER HOLDING a whopping 536 meetings over a two-day period, tour operators from across the globe got the chance to let their hair down and enjoy Bajan culture last Friday night.
The more than 50 visitors were entertained by Mac Fingall, RPB, King Bubba FM and Lead Pipe & Saddis during the Connect 50: The Gold Edition reception at Hilton Barbados.
Fingall, who played the dual role of master of ceremony and performer, got them out on the floor, paving the way for RPB, whom he collaborated with on the hit song Ragga Ragga.
Marketing director of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Robert Chase, said the operators from the country’s source markets stretching across Europe, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America, each held an average of 11 meetings with representatives of hotels and ground attractions.
“These tour operators and partners are fundamental to helping us to communicate our message about what Barbados has to offer as a destination to our ultimate customers in each of these markets,” Chase said.
He noted that there had been new entrants such as Sandals Barbados, some properties had increased their room stock, while a number of hotels were upgrading their product.
On Saturday, the tour operators were treated to sightseeing at Holetown, a catamaran cruise down the West Coast, a trip to Bushy Park, a safari and even a taste of the country’s underwater offerings with Atlantis Submarines Barbados.
Connect 50 was last held in 2011.
