Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the region’s largest travel trade event, is set to take place in person in Puerto Rico Oct. 3-5. Hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), the 40th annual event is typically held in January, and this year had been set to take place in spring.
In moving to October, the event will finally bring together members of the trade in person after last year’s move to a virtual conference. The last live event was in Nassau in 2020, weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, largely shuttering tourism for close to two years. Puerto Rico, which has hosted Marketplace nine times, last served as host of the event in 2018.
“We’ve been away for far too long,” lamented CHTA president Nicola Madden-Greig on a Zoom call Monday, adding that continuing – though slowly easing –COVID global restrictions were in part behind the decision to wait until fall, adding, “As we see travel rebounding, we are confident of a successful event later this year.”
The event, which will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the CHTA, will be a great chance to not only assuage “significant pent-up desire for fellowship with regional colleagues,” but also for attendees to get a sense of the changes in Caribbean destinations during the pandemic, says Madden-Grieg, adding, “Over the past two years, so much has changed.”.
Indeed, “Many hotels and attractions have undergone major renovations, so this will be the time to find out in great detail all that the Caribbean now has to offer in one setting,” she said.
Ed Carey, chief sales officer of Discover Puerto Rico, noted that the last time the event was in Puerto Rico was just after Hurricane Maria, and much recovery and change has occurred since.
The Marketplace will be held at Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, the most technology advanced in the region, and which is the anchor of the fast-growing Convention Centre District. It is also directly across the street from brand new Distrito T-Mobile entertainment complex, two hectares of bars, restaurants, sports and performance venues, and even includes a zipline.
“Marketplace will provide traditional and new buyers – from across all segments and representing varied specialties – with a distinct opportunity to explore the wide range of offerings of CHTA’s 33 member destinations as they connect with numerous Caribbean travel suppliers,” stated Vanessa Ledesma, acting CEO and Director General of CHTA.
“There is also the added allure of Puerto Rico as host. The Territory, like much of the rest of the region, has truly reinvigorated its product and many buyers from around the world will want to come and see for themselves the hotel and resort upgrades, the wide range of meeting facilities, the vibrant culinary and entertainment scene as well as exceptional attractions,” said Ledesma.
Organizers are promising new features for the event, which attracts over a thousand international buyers, media, other members of the trade, and destination representatives and suppliers for in-person meetings, trade show, seminars/education, and pre- and post- fam trips. This year CHTA is planning social media preview of participating destinations for 40 days leading into the Marketplace.
Meanwhile, CHTA believes the region is well-poised to experience a “sustained robust recovery from the pandemic,” noting that 2022 bookings have been encouraging to date.
Registration details for Marketplace 2022 will be announced soon.
RELATED STORY: 500 Reasons to pop down to Puerto Rico