Registration is open for Caribbean Travel Marketplace from Oct. 3-5 in Puerto Rico Photo Credit CHTA

SAVE THE DATE FOR CARIBBEAN TRAVEL MARKETPLACE OCT. 3- 5 IN PUERTO RICO

Enthusiasm is sky high for the 40^th Edition of Caribbean Travel Marketplace

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (July 2022) – The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is reporting registration for the highly anticipated 40th edition of Caribbean Travel Marketplace is outpacing expectations as regional suppliers and global buyers prepare for a return to in-person business development activities in the Caribbean this fall. Slated for San Juan, Puerto Rico, from October 3 to 5 this year, Caribbean Travel Marketplace Chair Karen Whitt reported that systems are “gearing up beautifully” for the upcoming meeting, mirroring the surging traveler demand for visiting Caribbean destinations. “The Caribbean is still one of the world’s most desirable destinations and we are looking forward to the convergence of buyers and sellers of Caribbean tourism to advance the region’s recovery,” she stated. www.chtamarketplace.com

Karen Whitt is Chair, Caribbean Travel Marketplace and VP, Sales and Marketing, Hartling Group in Turks and Caicos Islands Photo Credit CHTA

ForwardKeys, CHTA’s data partner, recently reported that the Caribbean and Latin America are leading the summer outlook in terms of the return of leisure travel, noting that five destinations – Aruba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and The Bahamas – are among the “most resilient” based on confirmed arrivals for the summer. Whitt, who is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Hartling Group in Turks and Caicos, reported while CHTA prepares for the spectacular showcase of the region’s offerings, buyers from 14 countries and suppliers from 21 countries and territories have confirmed their participation to date. “We have focused on attracting buyers from new locations, and they are delighted to attend an event where all of the Caribbean will be in one location,” said Whitt, who explained that buyers of MICE [Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions] and destination wedding experiences have also confirmed their participation.

Caribbean Travel Marketplace is the largest and longest-standing tourism marketing event in the region Photo Credit CHTA

Conference-goers will meet buyers from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Poland, Puerto Rico, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Suppliers have so far registered from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Martin, Turks and Caicos Islands, the United States, and the United States Virgin Islands.

Whitt shared that CHTA is already in the planning phase for the 2023 edition of Marketplace, which is expected to be held in the second quarter or later, and stated that the distinct buzz the trade association is witnessing this year is undoubtedly due to the pent-up demand for in-person, face-to-face interaction among buyers and sellers and consumer demand for travel experiences after two years of pandemic-related isolation and lockdowns. The online directory for requesting appointments will be open in two weeks at www.chtamarketplace.com

Caribbean Travel Marketplace will be held at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan from Oct. 3 – 5 Photo Credit Discover Puerto Rico

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 60 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 that matter most.

For further information, visit www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com