MPE CARIBBEAN REPORT NEWSLETTER – MAY 15, 2023

From Bevan Springer

MAY 15, 2023

To all the incredible mothers, stepmoms, grandmas and aunts; those who are apart from their moms; all who have lost dear mothers, grandmothers or aunties; friends and neighbors who stepped in with care and nurturing when it was needed; and the fathers who love and honor the mothers of their children … we want to extend a belated but heartfelt Happy Mother’s Day to everyone!

We give a special shout-out to the mothers of the Caribbean tourism industry. You are unsung heroes, the Wonder Women of our region!

Despite the challenges you face, you continue to carry out your family and business responsibilities with strength and resilience. We are in awe of your ability to balance the demands of work and family and are immensely grateful for all that you do!

What a Marketplace!

Prime Minister Mia Mottley chats with Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett after her keynote presentation in Barbados last week. Looking on from left are Ian Gooding-Edghill, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Barbados; Haydn Hughes, Minister of Tourism, Anguilla; Nicola Madden-Greig, President, CHTA; and Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez, Minister of Tourism, Antigua and Barbuda.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace, which took place in Barbados last week, surpassed all expectations, leaving participants inspired and invigorated.

Setting the dynamic, positive tone of the event was Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who delivered a powerful keynote speech at the opening of the second annual Caribbean Travel Forum. 

Her eloquent call to Caribbean stakeholders to be “shapers” rather than “takers” resonated deeply, emphasizing the need to develop the tourism product for the benefit of the region and its people.

The Prime Minister’s remarks shed light on the need for a paradigm shift in the Caribbean tourism industry. She advocated for a recalibration of the sector to reduce foreign dependency and foster economic empowerment for Caribbean citizens. By utilizing the region’s savings and actively involving its people, the services sector — particularly tourism — can continue to be a driving force for further improvements in the quality of life in the Caribbean and other small island developing states worldwide. 

The collaborative work of the CHTA team, along with the hosts from Barbados, particularly Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, paid dividends. Working tirelessly and dedicating long hours, they ensured the success of the 41st Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the first-ever held in Barbados.

Their efforts did not go unnoticed, as Marketplace received glowing reviews, with many proclaiming it to be the best one to date.

Jamaica and Eleuthera, Bahamas take top CHTA resilience honors

Jamaica and Eleuthera in the Bahamas were announced winners of CHTA’s 2023 Destination Resilience Awards in Barbados last week.

Jamaica emerged the winner in Category A, reserved for destinations with total 2019 stopover visitor arrivals greater than 500,000. Initiatives such as the JAMAICA CARES program, a public-private partnership that took a holistic approach to resuming post-pandemic travel successfully positioned Jamaica at the forefront of the international tourism recovery. 

In Category B, for destinations with total stopover arrivals under 500,000, Eleuthera in the Bahamas was victorious. Eleuthera has demonstrated a commitment to a more sustainable future with efforts such as the Island School, Cape Eleuthera Institute, the Eleuthera Sustainability Council Cooperative Society and the Center for Training Institute.

Bonaire, St. Maarten and St. Lucia were recognized with honorable mentions.

CHRIS conference set for Miami next Monday

Caribbean tourism stakeholders will gather in Miami next week for CHRIS.

The Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS), one of the region’s most important hotel and tourism investment conferences, is set to take place May 22-23, 2023, at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel in Miami.

CHRIS features networking opportunities and an extensive array of sessions and panels led by hotel and finance industry experts.

During the meeting, hoteliers Nick and Karolin Troubetzkoy of Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain resorts in St. Lucia, will be honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, which is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the hospitality industry over their lifetime through their actions, deeds and accomplishments.

The conference will also announce two Deal of the Year awards in Development and Transaction categories. Nominees for the awards are evaluated based on outstanding business performance.

In the CHRIS Development of the Year Award category, the finalists are:

• Coulibri Ridge – Soufrière, Dominica
• Residence Inn by Marriott San Juan Isla Verde – Isla Verde, Puerto Rico
• Rock House – Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands

In the CHRIS Transaction of the Year Award category, the finalists are:

• Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve – Dorado, Puerto Rico
• Four Seasons Resort & Residences Anguilla – West End, Anguilla

For more information, visit chrisconference.com.

Digital Digest

Basics of Digital Event Management and Coverage

Hosting an event is a great way to promote your brand, but covering it on digital platforms is equally important to reach audiences far and wide. Here are some quick tips on how to do this well:

• Live streaming: Stream your event on platforms like Facebook Live, Instagram or YouTube to reach a wider audience and get the most out of live engagement. It’s a great way to share content and connect with your audience.
• Social media updates: If there’s one instance where oversharing is not bad on social media, it’s event coverage. Create posts before, during and after your event to update your followers, and encourage attendees to share their memories and experiences.
• Hashtags: A hashtag is your unique content code on digital. Create a unique hashtag for your event to generate buzz. Make sure hashtags are passed along to everyone in attendance and they are also being used on all social media communications.
• Email newsletters: Send newsletters before, during and after the event to keep subscribers informed, and also to promote special offers. Newsletters help to build anticipation for the event and generate responses.
• Blog posts: Write about the event’s history and share current highlights, post photos and videos, and spotlight special guests and attendees. Create a separate section on your website for event coverage blog posts.

These are just some basics for your digital event coverage. Connect with us for more tips. Our team can provide all-encompassing communications services, from ideation and imagination to execution and delivery.

Medical Moment

World Hypertension Day takes place on May 17, 2023.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condition that generally has no symptoms and if left untreated, can lead to heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness.

Hypertension rates vary between countries and subregions. The highest rates are seen in the English-speaking Caribbean subregion (25 percent of adults).

Risk factors include older age, overweight or obesity, lack of physical activity, high salt/sodium intake, and high alcohol intake.

Lifestyle changes and lifelong use of antihypertensive medicationsare key to reducing and controlling hypertension. 

Increased physical activity, healthy diets rich in fruit and vegetables, reduced alcohol consumption as well as the cessation of tobacco use are lifestyle strategies that can help to reduce high blood pressure.

MPE Caribbean Report

In this week’s MPE Caribbean Report, Bevan Springer speaks with CHTA president Nicola Madden-Greig about the success of Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Barbados.

Screenshot. Toview video click HERE