Dona Regis-Prosper, CTO Secretary-General & CEO, was in London at WTM.

The Caribbean made its presence felt at World Travel Market London last week, with destinations and entities like the Caribbean Tourism Organization engaging with travel sellers, industry professionals and the international media. Among their aims was to bolster prospects for a robust winter tourism season.

A primary focus for these destinations was to enhance and promote flights from the U.K. and Europe, in addition to highlighting the myriad events and festivals slated for the region in 2024.

Several Caribbean tourism representatives contributed to lively panel discussions, tackling topics such as geopolitical and economic challenges, and adapting to changes in market demographics and psychographics.

Cruise tourism on upward trajectory

Carnival President, CEO and Chief Climate Officer Josh Weinstein; FCCA CEO Michele Paige; and Kye Rymer, Deputy Premier of the British Virgin Islands, in Mexico last week.

Cruise industry leaders are sharing a collective sense of optimism about the sector’s future.

This positive outlook was evident at the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s (FCCA) annual conference and trade show held in Mazatlán, Mexico last week where top executives forecast a 2024 that could eclipse an already strong performance seen this year.

“Next year alone our portfolio of cruise brands will expand our Caribbean presence to over 5,000 calls,” proclaimed Josh Weinstein, President, CEO and Chief Climate Officer at Carnival Corporation & plc, at the start of the conference.

“It gets even better as our colleagues are certainly expanding as well and together we expect to continue to invest here and work hard to introduce even more cruisers to the region,” he elaborated. Weinstein noted that despite advancements, the cruise sector remains “vastly underpenetrated” in source markets. “Couple that with the appeal of the Caribbean and the results are huge – untapped potential for ongoing industrial growth here,” he noted.

In a show of unity, delegates conveyed their support for the residents of Acapulco, Mexico who were affected by Hurricane Otis last month.

The FCCA is collaborating with Carnival Corporation to provide crucial relief to those impacted.

Investment conference opens on St. Thomas

The new Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef will host CHICOS conference.

The HVS Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference and Operations Summit, or CHICOS, kicked off in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands on Sunday evening at the brand-new Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef, which recently reopened after undergoing a $425 million restoration.  The conference attracts diverse participants, from governmental representatives and developers to bankers, tourism officials and hotel brand executives. Industry leaders will deliver important news about the Caribbean’s performance and outlook, and delegates will showcase emerging development opportunities.  The conference ends on Tuesday.

Quotable Caribbean

“If it is not broken, make it better.” – Rick Sasso, Chairman, MSC Cruises USA

Digital Digest

Reviewing Requests for Collaboration

Collaboration is the new way of making the most of your marketing efforts. Whether you are a business owner, a brand or an agency, you will receive requests for collaborations from bloggers, brands, publications and the like. But how do you strategically review these proposals and get the best ROI for your investment?

Proposal Review: Always have more than one person review the proposal. Establish a clear understanding of the offer and what is being asked for in return. The key to proposal review is to look for numbers. Any proposal without clear metrics and investment specifics may not be worth your consideration.

Brand Relevance: Always select an offer that will either overlap with your target audience or can provide you with a point of entry for your ideal target audience. The message, the category and the brand level also have to match for absolute relevance. 

Numbers and Variables: Look for variables like unique website visitors, demographic information, engagement time, reach, open rate and conversions. If these data points are not provided, you can ask for clarity from the sender. 

Goal Alignment: No matter how good the deal is, if it is not aligned with your marketing objectives or isn’t bringing clear value then it is likely not worth the effort. Having a clear understanding of how any marketing effort can positively or negatively impact your bottom line is the key to a successful campaign.

Proposals should be evaluated carefully since they represent someone’s time and effort. Always respond, even if you have to turn down the request. We hope this simple guide will help you review your next proposal wisely.

Medical Moment

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week takes place November 18–24, 2023.

This year’s theme is “Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together”.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death.

To effectively reduce AMR, all sectors must use antimicrobials prudently and appropriately, take preventive measures to decrease the incidence of infections, and follow good practices in the disposal of antimicrobial-contaminated waste.

MPE Caribbean Report

Bermuda is anticipating a strong winter season amidst renewed tourism promotion efforts. Tracy Berkeley, CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, shares more details in this week’s MPE Caribbean Report.

Screenshot. To view video click HERE

Marketplace Excellence Corporation (MPE) is a global public relations, marketing and media company.