Building upon the success of the virtual version of Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM) held earlier this year, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), organizers of the Caribbean’s largest marketing event, have announced that the 40th edition of Marketplace will return to an in-person format in Spring 2022.
Next year will mark 40 years of Marketplace, the Caribbean’s leading event that brings together buyers and sellers of the region’s tourism products, goods and services. It is also the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s 60th anniversary.
Speaking at the association’s recent annual general meeting, Karen Whitt, Caribbean Travel Marketplace, stated that a spring date (late April or early May 2022) is being considered for the event, which will be hosted by an as-yet-unnamed destination in the Caribbean.
The Marketplace’s success in 2021 enabled CHTA to “expand and reach well beyond our traditional North American and Canadian buyers” and allowed the association to “reach out into Europe and other areas where we haven’t really been successful in the past … so we will be building on that momentum,” said Whitt, who is also an executive committee member of CHTA and the vice-president of marketing and brand development for the Hartling Group in Turks and Caicos.
Due to COVID-19-related travel and meeting concerns, more than 6,000 meetings were held virtually over three days during Marketplace earlier this year, giving buyers from 20 countries the chance to connect with suppliers representing more than 150 Caribbean hotels and tourism-related businesses.
The fully virtual Marketplace 39 included buyers from Austria, the Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, France, India, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
In preparation for Marketplace 40, CHTA is setting up focus groups with its members, the association’s executive committee, and tourism buyers to determine the form and function of the next conference and to ensure the broadest benefits for all attendees.
Also, under review will be widening the diversity of offerings and including the travel agent community as well as attracting more small properties to join the traditional Caribbean Travel Marketplace mix of boutiques and big brands.
Dealing with the pandemic and its many effects on hospitality and tourism is high on the focus group’s agenda to ensure CHTA members are equipped with the best guidance going forward.
For more on Caribbean Travel Marketplace, visit www.chtamarketplace.com.
About the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA): The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is the Caribbean’s leading association representing the interests of national hotel and tourism associations and the region’s private sector. For more than 55 years, CHTA has been the backbone of the Caribbean hospitality industry. Working with some 1,000 hotel and allied members, and 33 National Hotel Associations, CHTA is shaping the Caribbean’s future and helping members to grow their businesses.
Whether helping to navigate critical issues in sales and marketing, sustainability, legislative issues, emerging technologies, climate change, data and intelligence or, looking for avenues and ideas to better market and manage businesses, CHTA is helping members on issues which matter most.
For further information, visit www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.
