The 2020 edition of Caribbean Travel Marketplace, slated for the Bahamas between January 21 and 23, 2020, is reporting a strong registration pace. Frank Comito, CEO and director general of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), says that the region's largest and longest-standing tourism marketing event has confirmed close to 500 supplier delegates from more than 170 supplier companies to date.
"Based on the registration pace we are witnessing, we expect to see a continuing surge in delegate numbers over the next several weeks as hotel and destination representatives, tourism providers, wholesalers and tour operators, online travel agencies, and members of the media prepare for the premier Caribbean one-stop travel trade event in the Bahamas," said Comito in a written release.
Caribbean Travel Marketplace will be held at Baha Mar's Performing Arts and Convention Center.
Comito also noted a strong interest in buyer delegates with over 80 buyer companies so far registered for the meetings. They include 191 representatives from Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Portugal, Puerto Rico, the Russian Federation, Spain, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States.
"The Caribbean has experienced a surge in tourism investments and upgrades in recent years, offering travelers more options and experiences than we've ever seen,” Comito said. “This is a prime one-stop opportunity for travel trade buyers to 'shop the Caribbean,' and for hoteliers to connect with new and longstanding business generators."
The private sector tourism leader highlighted new and refurbished resort offerings in Anguilla, Dominica, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, which he attributed to the resilience of both the tourism industry and the "tremendous citizens of these destinations" who were adversely impacted by the storms of 2017. Comito added noted that destinations such as the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Grenada and Jamaica were also leading the region with new and refreshed product.
The CHTA meetup is a collaboration with local partners Baha Mar, the Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, and the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board.
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