Black Meetings & Tourism - ANGUILLA ENGAGES TRAVEL PARTNERS AND REGIONAL PLAYERS AT CHTA TRAVEL MARKETPLACE 2023

Industry Briefs
ANGUILLA ENGAGES TRAVEL PARTNERS AND REGIONAL PLAYERS AT CHTA TRAVEL MARKETPLACE 2023
Photo Caption: Anguilla's Minister of Tourism, The Hon. Haydn Hughes, joined Barbados' Prime Minister The Rt. Hon. Mia Mottley and other regional tourism ministers for CHTA's Travel Marketplace, May 9 - 11, 2023 The Hon. Haydn Hughes, Minister of Infrastructure, Communications, Housing, Utilities and Tourism for Anguilla, joined Caribbean Ministers, Directors of Tourism and Senior Hotel Association Representatives at the Caribbean Hotel & Tourist Association (CHTA) Travel Marketplace from May 9 - 11, 2023. This is the region's largest and most important business forum, held for the first time in Bridgetown, Barbados. "The CHTA Travel Marketplace is a critical forum for gathering market intelligence and soliciting new opportunities for the region and our individual destinations," stated Minister Hughes. "A collaborative, strategic approach is required to not only increase our business but also to ensure that we retain a greater share of the revenues generated by our tourism industry. The development of intra-regional Caribbean travel is an essential factor in accomplishing these objectives." CHTA Travel Marketplace opened with an Industry Travel Forum and a keynote address delivered by the Rt. Hon. Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados. In her inspiring and motivational remarks, she urged the Caribbean stakeholders present to become "shapers, not takers" in charting the future path for the region's tourism industry, which is the economic driver for all Caribbean countries. More than 700 participants from both the public and private sectors attended this year's Marketplace. Caribbean Hoteliers, Tourist Board Representatives, attractions operators and service providers met with Tour Operators, Wholesalers, Airline Representatives, Research Analysis, Digital Marketing Agencies and Media Companies from the top source markets that drive business to the region. L-R: Michelle Gay, Product Manager, Caribbean, Florida, EMEA & Eastern USA, American Airlines Vacations; Hon. Minister Haydn Hughes; Chantelle Richardson, Deputy Director of Tourism, ATB; Sandra Richardson, Vice President, Anguilla Hotel & Tourist Association Minister Hughes delivered a comprehensive destination update at a Press Conference attended by local, regional and international media representatives. In his remarks, Minister Hughes highlighted the successful recovery of Anguilla's tourism industry, with Q1 visitor arrivals outpacing the numbers for 2019, the island's benchmark year; infrastructure improvements, including the opening of the new Blowing Point Ferry Terminal and ongoing upgrades to the Clayton J Lloyd International airport; increased airlift on American Airlines' direct service from Miami, FL; new product developments and upcoming events and experiences for the summer. The Anguilla delegation, led by Minister Hughes, included Chantelle Richardson, Deputy Director of Tourism, ATB; Sandra Richardson, Vice President, Anguilla Hotel & Tourist Association, Rolf Masshardt, General Manager, Carimar Beach Club, Moira Masshardt, General Manager, Altamer Luxury Villas, and Alison Ross, PM Group, which represents the ATB in North America. L-R: Hon. Minister Haydn Hughes; Moira Masshardt, General Manager, Altamer Luxury Villas; Chantelle Richardson, Deputy Director of Tourism, ATB; Alison Ross, PM Group; Sandra Richardson, Vice President, Anguilla Hotel & Tourist Association; Rolf Masshardt, General Manager, Carimar Beach Club The Anguilla representatives met with buyers from all over the world during the course of the two-day trade show, including tour operators/wholesalers Apple Leisure Group, Classic Vacations, Turquoise Holidays, Ultimate Jet Vacations, Elegant Resorts, American Airlines Vacations, Pleasant Holidays, Island Destinations, CaribTours, LuxTripper, Alpitor Spa and Juan Toselli International Tours; Online Travel Agencies Expedia, Hotelbeds, Priceline Agoda and Hopper; and select villa wholesalers. The delegation also met with a variety of social media and mobile platform suppliers who provided information on their services and proposed new avenues for marketing Anguilla. Tour Operators, Wholesalers and Marketing/Technology Providers attending the buyer/seller meet expressed enthusiasm and optimism regarding Anguilla's tourism product and congratulated the Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) on the island's remarkable recovery. Several also expressed interest in expanding their current portfolios and will be working with the ATB on both training opportunities for their advisors, and on-island updates for their product managers. For information on Anguilla please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com ; follow them on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; YouTube; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla. About Anguilla Tucked away in the northern Caribbean, Anguilla is a shy beauty with a warm smile. A slender length of coral and limestone fringed with green, the island is ringed with 33 beaches, considered by savvy travelers and top travel magazines, to be the most beautiful in the world. A fantastic culinary scene, a wide variety of quality accommodations at varying price points, a host of attractions and exciting calendar of festivals make Anguilla an alluring and entrancing destination. Anguilla lies just off the beaten path, so it has retained a charming character and appeal. Yet because it can be conveniently reached from three major gateways - Miami, FL (MIA), Puerto Rico (SJU), and St. Martin, (SXM), and by private air, it's a hop and a skip away. Romance? Barefoot elegance? Unfussy chic? And untrammeled bliss? Lose The Crowd. Find Yourself. In Anguilla.

Industry Briefs

ANGUILLA ENGAGES TRAVEL PARTNERS AND REGIONAL PLAYERS AT CHTA TRAVEL MARKETPLACE 2023

Photo Caption: Anguilla's Minister of Tourism, The Hon. Haydn Hughes, joined Barbados' Prime Minister The Rt. Hon. Mia Mottley and other regional tourism ministers for CHTA's Travel Marketplace, May 9 - 11, 2023

The Hon. Haydn Hughes, Minister of Infrastructure, Communications, Housing, Utilities and Tourism for Anguilla, joined Caribbean Ministers, Directors of Tourism and Senior Hotel Association Representatives at the Caribbean Hotel & Tourist Association (CHTA) Travel Marketplace from May 9 - 11, 2023. This is the region's largest and most important business forum, held for the first time in Bridgetown, Barbados.

"The CHTA Travel Marketplace is a critical forum for gathering market intelligence and soliciting new opportunities for the region and our individual destinations," stated Minister Hughes. "A collaborative, strategic approach is required to not only increase our business but also to ensure that we retain a greater share of the revenues generated by our tourism industry. The development of intra-regional Caribbean travel is an essential factor in accomplishing these objectives."

CHTA Travel Marketplace opened with an Industry Travel Forum and a keynote address delivered by the Rt. Hon. Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados. In her inspiring and motivational remarks, she urged the Caribbean stakeholders present to become "shapers, not takers" in charting the future path for the region's tourism industry, which is the economic driver for all Caribbean countries.

More than 700 participants from both the public and private sectors attended this year's Marketplace. Caribbean Hoteliers, Tourist Board Representatives, attractions operators and service providers met with Tour Operators, Wholesalers, Airline Representatives, Research Analysis, Digital Marketing Agencies and Media Companies from the top source markets that drive business to the region.

L-R: Michelle Gay, Product Manager, Caribbean, Florida, EMEA & Eastern USA, American Airlines Vacations; Hon. Minister Haydn Hughes; Chantelle Richardson, Deputy Director of Tourism, ATB; Sandra Richardson, Vice President, Anguilla Hotel & Tourist Association

Minister Hughes delivered a comprehensive destination update at a Press Conference attended by local, regional and international media representatives. In his remarks, Minister Hughes highlighted the successful recovery of Anguilla's tourism industry, with Q1 visitor arrivals outpacing the numbers for 2019, the island's benchmark year; infrastructure improvements, including the opening of the new Blowing Point Ferry Terminal and ongoing upgrades to the Clayton J Lloyd International airport; increased airlift on American Airlines' direct service from Miami, FL; new product developments and upcoming events and experiences for the summer.

The Anguilla delegation, led by Minister Hughes, included Chantelle Richardson, Deputy Director of Tourism, ATB; Sandra Richardson, Vice President, Anguilla Hotel & Tourist Association, Rolf Masshardt, General Manager, Carimar Beach Club, Moira Masshardt, General Manager, Altamer Luxury Villas, and Alison Ross, PM Group, which represents the ATB in North America.

L-R: Hon. Minister Haydn Hughes; Moira Masshardt, General Manager, Altamer Luxury Villas; Chantelle Richardson, Deputy Director of Tourism, ATB; Alison Ross, PM Group; Sandra Richardson, Vice President, Anguilla Hotel & Tourist Association; Rolf Masshardt, General Manager, Carimar Beach Club

The Anguilla representatives met with buyers from all over the world during the course of the two-day trade show, including tour operators/wholesalers Apple Leisure Group, Classic Vacations, Turquoise Holidays, Ultimate Jet Vacations, Elegant Resorts, American Airlines Vacations, Pleasant Holidays, Island Destinations, CaribTours, LuxTripper, Alpitor Spa and Juan Toselli International Tours; Online Travel Agencies Expedia, Hotelbeds, Priceline Agoda and Hopper; and select villa wholesalers. The delegation also met with a variety of social media and mobile platform suppliers who provided information on their services and proposed new avenues for marketing Anguilla.

Tour Operators, Wholesalers and Marketing/Technology Providers attending the buyer/seller meet expressed enthusiasm and optimism regarding Anguilla's tourism product and congratulated the Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) on the island's remarkable recovery. Several also expressed interest in expanding their current portfolios and will be working with the ATB on both training opportunities for their advisors, and on-island updates for their product managers.

For information on Anguilla please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com ; follow them on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; YouTube; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.

About Anguilla

Tucked away in the northern Caribbean, Anguilla is a shy beauty with a warm smile. A slender length of coral and limestone fringed with green, the island is ringed with 33 beaches, considered by savvy travelers and top travel magazines, to be the most beautiful in the world. A fantastic culinary scene, a wide variety of quality accommodations at varying price points, a host of attractions and exciting calendar of festivals make Anguilla an alluring and entrancing destination.

Anguilla lies just off the beaten path, so it has retained a charming character and appeal. Yet because it can be conveniently reached from three major gateways - Miami, FL (MIA), Puerto Rico (SJU), and St. Martin, (SXM), and by private air, it's a hop and a skip away.

Romance? Barefoot elegance? Unfussy chic? And untrammeled bliss? Lose The Crowd. Find Yourself. In Anguilla.