A look at what’s new in the Caribbean from SOTIC 2024
During a welcome reception for the State of the Tourism Industry Conference taking place in the Cayman Islands this week, Kenneth Bryan, the outgoing chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, revealed who would be taking over the post as his two-year term draws to a close.
“I want everybody to get familiar with his face and his voice because he’s going to be taking us forward in some positive steps,” Bryan shared at The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa introducing Ian Gooding-Edghill, minister of tourism and international transport for Barbados, as the newly elected chairman.
“It’s indeed an honour and a distinct pleasure to have the opportunity to serve you, give back and beyond that, have the opportunity to ensure we together advance tourism within the Caribbean region,” Gooding-Edghill said.
On location in Grand Cayman for SOTIC, PressToday got an overview of what’s new across the Caribbean.
The Cayman Islands
Bryan, who is also the minister of tourism and ports for The Cayman Islands, shared that the government will hold a referendum about the possibility of building a dedicated cruise berthing facility in the destination. Currently, cruise ship visitors have to tender to shore and cruise visits have been on a decline.
New hotel openings include the first Hotel Indigo in the Caribbean, featuring the highest rooftop bar in the Cayman Islands, and VIDA, a boutique luxury wellness hotel with 22 rooms.
Raymond Mathias, business development manager, Canada, for host destination the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, was pleased to share the “crazy good numbers for July from Canada,” marking the best July on record for the destination.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Carlos James, minister of tourism, for St. Vincent and the Grenadines said the government has spent $136 million in recovery efforts following Hurricane Beryl and wants to get the message out that, “we are in fact open for business.”
The majority of the archipelago’s 32 islands and cays have bounced back and are ready to welcome travellers. However, Mandarin Oriental Canouan, Soho Beach House Canouan, Palm Island Resort & Spa and Petit St. Vincent, are among the properties that are still recovering.
Following the recent opening of Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, upcoming properties include a Holiday Inn Express and the ground breaking of a new Marriott.
For clients looking to tie the know in destination, James said they will soon debut a new simplified e-license wedding application.
For an in-depth look at what’s new, check out the latest issue of Canadian Travel Press.
The Bahamas
Latia Duncombe, director general of the ministry of tourism for the Islands of the Bahamas, said 2023 was a record-breaking year and year-to-date 2024 figures indicate, “we’ve continued on that trajectory.”
New investments in the pipeline include The Ritz Carlton Reserve in Eleuthera, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts in Exuma and Sandals Resorts International is expanding its Beaches Resorts brand into the Bahamas as Sandals Emerald Bay is undergoing a transformation to debut as Beaches Exuma.
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia’s minister of tourism Ernest Hilaire announced that the island is slated for a lot of growth with over 2,000 rooms coming online by 2026 by big brands like Marriott and Secrets.
An underwater sculpture park that tells the story of the history and evolution of the island is also in the early stages. The project will feature 400 sculptures and is meant to appeal to the diving community.
Next year will mark the 10th anniversary of the annual Global Piton Awards, which recognizes the destination’s top performing travel agents from the US, Canada and the UK.
Richard Moss, senior sales manager for North America told PressToday that “Canada is back with a vengeance,” with strong arrivals recorded from the Canadian market.
U.S.V.I.
RoseAnne “Rosie” Farrington, deputy commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, says they are in talks with Canadian airlines about the potential for direct lift between the two destinations. Farrington says growing the Canadian market will be a priority going forward as they see huge potential in growing arrivals from Canada.
As for accommodation news, April 2025 will see a Hampton Inn debut on St. Thomas.
Anguilla
With a runway expansion set for 2025, Kimberly King, the new chief marketing officer of Anguilla, says the destination is also having discussions with Canadian and US carriers about direct connectivity. Currently, most Canadian travellers reach the destination via St. Maarten.
Other big developments include two luxury yacht marinas: a flagship marina, yacht club and luxury resort at Altamer and The Savannah Bay Marina and Resort in partnership with a 5-star hotel group.
Antigua & Barbuda
Colin James, chief executive officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, said the Caribbean destination had a strong start to 2024, with a stay-over tourism arrivals growth rate of 16 per cent in the first seven months of 2024. Notably, 2024 arrivals also reflect an 11 per cent increase over its 2019 benchmark year.
The neighbouring island of Barbuda will soon see the launch of Barbuda International Airport (BBQ) although the plan is to focus on private jets over commercial flights at this point in time.
New on the hotel side, agents can now book clients into the overwater bungalows at Royalton Chic, which debut on Oct. 1. Meanwhile, Nobu Beach Inn is set to open in Barbuda in 2025 and construction for Nikki Beach Resort and Spa, featuring 90 rooms, is also slated to commence in 2025.
Saint Martin
Valérie Damaseau, commissioner of tourism & culture for St. Martin, says the nation is hoping to see more Canadian travel advisors join its new online training program. Becoming certified is the first place they look to find agents for upcoming FAM trip opportunities.
For clients looking for new hotel and resort options, there’s The Whimsy, featuring 165 rooms and suites, and The Forest, a luxury property with nine suites.
Barbados
Andrea Franklin, chief executive of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. says they will celebrate 75 years of Air Canada service on Dec. 3. “It’s a big deal for us,” she noted.
Year-to-date growth from the Canadian market is strong, representing a roughly 20 per cent increase over 2023.
Cruising also saw a significant increase as summer ports of call visits returned to Barbados. Franklin said the vast majority of visits were from Royal Caribbean, but Virgin Voyages, Celebrity Cruises and Mystic Cruises also accounted for the growth.
Grenada
While recovery efforts following Hurricane Beryl are still underway in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, the Grenada Tourism Authority’s Petra Roach says the main island of Grenada was not badly damaged.
Grenada is working on a memorandum of understanding so that yacht visitors to the Grenadines and St. Vincent will be able to travel back and forth under one entry point.
Notably, along with an expanded underwater sculpture park, clients will now be able to get wed underwater with the recent debut of an underwater chapel.
Tobago
Another destination that’s re-eying Canada for direct lift is Tobago. Korice Nancis, technical advisor for Tobago’s division of tourism, noted that Sunwing served the destination from 2018-2020 and “negotiations are ongoing” for the return of direct lift from Canada. This comes as a new airport terminal is set to launch in the first quarter of 2025.
On the accommodation side, new properties slated to open in the coming years are Manta Lodge & Dive Centre, Elephant Tree Beach Club & Villas and a new Marriott-branded hotel.
Bermuda
Bermuda’s minister of tourism Owen Darrell said that although Canadian lift dipped as WestJet stopped flying to the destination at the end of 2023, continued Air Canada service and the launch of BermudAir has those numbers rising again.
Notably, the destination witnessed a 31 per cent increase in visitor spend.
Darrell said Bermuda rejoined the CTO after many years of absence.
Dominica
Marva Williams, the new CEO of Discover Dominica Authority said cruising was big this year with an 11 per cent increase in arrivals over the previous year. With both Vista and Explora 1 calling on Dominica, there’s also an “elevation in the calibre” of cruises calling on the destination. Williams is hoping to see between 500,000 and 1 million cruise passengers.
Lots of developments are debuting soon, including Hilton Tranquility Beach & Spa; Ocean Edge Hotel and Marriott Anichi — an Autograph Collection hotel.
