Karen Whitt chairs new look marketplace
The 2020 event, which traditionally caters to wholesalers and tour operators, was held from January 21 to 23 at Baha Mar’s Performing Arts and Convention Centre.
Chair of this year’s marketplace was Karen Whitt, vice president of marketing and brand development for the Hartling Group in the TCI.
She explained that top-selling travel agents came to the event as part of a new pilot programme to bring together travel advisors with operators of Caribbean hotels, resorts and attractions.
“Throughout the years we’ve discussed the idea of how to incorporate the travel agent industry into our event and we have a lot of different ideas on how this could be done successfully.”
She said that to kick-start the process, the CHTA invited a select group of agents to experience the event, participate as a buyer, and provide feedback.
“This feedback will help shape policies into the future. However, what we can assure is that our Caribbean suppliers are very excited about this pilot programme and its potential to increase business to the region.”
Prior to the event Whitt, who is vice president of the CHTA, said that the agents would meet with executives from a cross-section of destinations and hotels.
The visitors, who came from New York and Rhode Island to Tennessee and Texas, were also scheduled to participate in site inspections with select hotels on the island.
The Caribbean Travel Marketplace presents the opportunity to showcase the region’s tourism offerings – its traditional ones as well as new and improved product.
It is a one-stop gathering for travel suppliers – hotels, attractions, destinations and transportation providers – to meet with the world’s key influencers of consumer travel decisions.
It also is the industry’s key forum for attracting new decision-makers who otherwise would not be familiar with the region.
The event was held in collaboration with local partners Baha Mar, the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, and the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board.
TCWeeklyNews.com
