Barbados will host the 41st edition of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace, May 9-11, 2023 at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.
CHTA President Nicola Madden-Greig announced that the influential trade association’s largest annual event, which brings together buyers and sellers of the region’s tourism products and services, will be staged in Barbados for the first time in the organisation’s history.
“CHTA has a very strong relationship with both public and private sector stakeholders in Barbados, and as we position the region’s top earner for robust growth this year, we are delighted to lock arms with our Bajan partners to drive business to the Caribbean,” she stated.
Ian Gooding-Edghill, Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport, said the Barbados tourism industry was undergoing a major renaissance in the post-COVID environment, and the timing could not be better to welcome Caribbean Travel Marketplace to local soil.
“We are honoured to host such a preeminent gathering of tourism stakeholders from around the world,” said Gooding-Edghill, who believes the meeting aligns with Barbados’ value offerings, which appeal, among others, to the very important MICE market.
Caribbean Travel Marketplace 41 will build on the success of last fall’s 40th edition, which was held in Puerto Rico.
A highlight of the Puerto Rico meeting was the launch of the first Caribbean Travel Forum & Awards, the second edition of which will be held in Barbados on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, ahead of the official opening ceremony of Caribbean Travel Marketplace. The Forum will once again focus on the business of tourism, while business appointments will be held on Wednesday, May 10 and Thursday, May 11.
“Our private sector partners, together with the BTMI and the Ministry of Tourism and Transport, are keen to showcase Barbados’ exceptional product and experiences and we cannot wait to welcome you to our island home,” said Renée Coppin, Chairman of the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association.
Meanwhile, Madden-Greig noted that this year’s Marketplace will also provide unique access to the Eastern Caribbean for buyers and tour operators as the region places a strong focus on the revival of multi-destination travel. (PR/SAT)
