Caribbean Travel Marketplace opens in Antigua on May 12 with focus on regional business links
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace opens Tuesday in Antigua and Barbuda, returning to the destination for a second consecutive year and introducing a restructured format aimed at strengthening commercial ties across the region’s tourism sector.
Organised by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, this year’s event will feature a series of targeted business forums, buyer-supplier meetings, and initiatives designed to drive investment and expand economic linkages within the Caribbean hospitality industry.
The Caribbean Travel Forum, taking place at Sandals Grande Antigua Sandals Grande Antigua, has been restructured into a more focused, commercially driven working session. It will bring together a curated group of industry stakeholders for discussions on key priorities shaping the region’s tourism sector.
Organisers say the aim is to move beyond broad dialogue toward actionable strategies that support growth in Caribbean hospitality.
From Wednesday to Thursday, buyers from multiple international markets will meet directly with regional suppliers at the American University of Antigua American University of Antigua.
The sessions are designed to facilitate structured negotiations, with suppliers encouraged to arrive prepared to convert buyer interest into contracts and long-term partnerships.
On Friday, the programme returns to Sandals Grande Antigua for the Direct Booking Summit, where suppliers will explore strategies to increase direct reservations, reduce reliance on online travel agencies, and improve revenue per guest interaction.
Industry leaders with proven success in direct booking models are expected to share practical insights and best practices.
A key feature of this year’s marketplace is the Linkages Pavilion, which will showcase manufacturers, agro-processors, and creative industry businesses from across the Caribbean.
The initiative aims to strengthen connections between tourism operators and regional producers by encouraging hotels and resorts to source more goods and services locally, boosting wider economic integration beyond the hospitality sector.
The Caribbean Travel Marketplace continues through the week with a focus on expanding investment, strengthening partnerships, and increasing the region’s competitiveness in global tourism markets.
