Regional hoteliers get ready for Caribbean travel marketplace

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (CMC) — The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) says it is encouraged by the “strong” demand for registration at this month’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace less than six months after hurricanes Irma and Maria ploughed through the Lesser Antilles dealing a severe blow to the region’s tourism sector.

The CHTA said that following a meeting here last week, the demand among travel industry stakeholders to do business in the region was encouraging, given the continued interest and registration response for the annual event.

CHTA director general Frank Comito said plans for Marketplace 2018, to be held from January 30 to February 1, were now in the advanced stages, and that the association was on track to eclipse the 1,000-delegate mark before the start of the event.

“This speaks not only to the resilience of the Caribbean’s bread and butter tourism industry but also to the fortitude of the Caribbean’s people,” said Comito.

He said Puerto Rico, which was among Caribbean islands impacted by the two category 5 hurricanes last September  is on the rebound and “more than ready to host this year’s edition of Caribbean Travel Marketplace.

“It is remarkable what the good people at the Puerto Rico Convention Centre District Authority, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Meet Puerto Rico, and the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association have been able to accomplish as they prepare to welcome this marquee event to their island,” he said.

The CHTA said that an estimated 500 supplier delegates from more than 200 companies across 30 countries will join another 100-plus media representatives at this year’s event.
It said more than 200 delegates from close to 100 buyer companies, 19 of which are new to the conference have so far registered for the event and that buyer companies are expected from  Argentina, the Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States and Uruguay.

“And there’s still more than a week to register,” said Comito.