MPE CARIBBEAN REPORT NEWSLETTER – NOVEMBER 6, 2023

November 7, 2023

The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter offers travel, tourism, Caribbean and global news weekly. To share stories, information or intelligence, contact us at [email protected].

NOVEMBER 6, 2023

World Travel Market London begins

Caribbean destinations with special ties to the British and European travel markets are in the “Mother Country” this week for World Travel Market (WTM) London. The leading global travel tradeshow is taking place at the ExCel London from November 6-8, 2023.

“World Travel Market is a crucial event for Jamaica’s tourism industry. With England being the leading European market for visitors to Jamaica, it offers us a golden opportunity to strengthen existing partnerships, explore new collaborations, and showcase our beautiful island to the world,” said Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism.

Representatives from several Caribbean destinations, as well as the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), are in London for the event. Countries are showcasing their product offerings on the busy trade show floor, and tourism leaders are participating in stimulating panel discussions.

Majestic Mazatlán awaits: FCCA conference set to solidify cruise connections

This week, the vibrant city of Mazatlán, Mexico, will host the eagerly awaited FCCA Cruise Conference and Trade Show, featuring a robust representation of Caribbean destinations and cruise lines.

Geared towards strengthening cruise industry ties, this event is an invaluable opportunity for destinations and businesses aiming to boost their cruise tourism relationships.

A diverse group, including ports and destinations, cruise and tourism agencies, tour operators, attractions, suppliers, ship agents, and approximately 100 executives from FCCA Member Lines will make meaningful connections and gain industry insights during the week.

Attendees can look forward to engaging meetings, interactive workshops, and unparalleled networking opportunities.

Tourism entities support CMEx Awards

The Caribbean’s travel and tourism sector is rallying around the 2023 Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Awards and Fundraiser, set for Loews Coral Gables in Miami on Saturday, December 2, 2023, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Several travel and tourism entities have already signaled their support of the awards, which will honor individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the Caribbean region and beyond.

Key sponsors to date include Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation; Marketplace Excellence Corporation;Munaluchi Bridal; Tropical Attractions Entertainment Group Inc.; U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism; and Vanessa James Media.

The following hotels and resorts have contributed to the live travel auction, which will raise funds for educational initiatives committed to empowering the region’s youth and tourism professionals.

Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas
Bay Gardens Resorts, St. Lucia
Calabash Cove Resort & Spa, St. Lucia
Comfort Suites Paradise Island, Bahamas
Fond Doux Eco Resort, St. Lucia
Ladera Resort, St. Lucia
Mount Cinnamon Hotel & Beach Club, Grenada
Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour, St. Kitts
Sailrock South Caicos, Turks and Caicos
Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada
The Buccaneer Beach & Golf Resort, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
The Hamilton Beach Villas & Spa, Nevis
The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

CMEx is dedicated to enhancing the capacity of the media, government, the travel and tourism industry, and local communities to ensure that the people and the environment of the Caribbean region reap the benefits of the important tourism industry.

For tickets, sponsorship opportunities and more information, visit www.cmexmedia.org.

Quotable Caribbean

Minister Ruisandro Cijntje

Digital Digest

Is your Q4 Digital Strategy on track?
As we are in the final quarter of the year, every business is working hard to make the most of its digital infrastructure. Q4 and Q1 are the most critical phases in a brand’s fiscal journey for success. Let’s look at a few ways how you can make the most of your last quarter.

Plan Your Campaigns EarlyThis is the most busy season of the year with Halloween, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas and New Year occurring back-to-back. Plan everything in advance and keep a close eye on what worked for you last year and what the competition is doing. Brands spend their end-of-year budgets so be prepared with great ideas and advertising resources to back them up.

Leverage User-Generated Content (UGC)Call upon your brand evangelists and active communities to engage with campaigns that are focused on UGC. Encourage more people to participate and celebrate your audience to create a strong bond moving into the next year.
Invest in Paid AdvertisingAs discussed, use your end-of-year budgets to compete in the market. Run targeted ads on all platforms and use remarketing campaigns to control costs. Also, use custom audiences with valuable customer data to reach new audiences.

Create Engaging Video ContentVideo content is precious and works exceptionally well during Q4 due to the surge in marketing messages. Use case studies, collages, celebratory and creative themes for your video content to keep your audiences engaged.
Q4 2023 is your springboard into 2024 and your last chance to end 2023 in the black. We believe in strategic planning for fiscal success, and Q4 2023 is the ideal time to craft your 2024 brand story.

Contact us at [email protected] if you would like us to help you craft that story.

Medical Moment

World Diabetes Day takes place on November 14, 2023.

Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, and lower limb amputation.

In 2019, the country in the Americas with the highest age-standardized death rate (excluding chronic kidney disease) due to diabetes was Guyana, with 82.6 deaths per 100,000 population. Several Caribbean countries were in the top 10, including Trinidad and Tobago (third) and Haiti (fourth) at 69.6 and 68.2 per 100,000, respectively.

This day provides an opportunity to raise awareness of diabetes as a global public health issue and what needs to be done, collectively and individually, for better prevention, diagnosis, and management of the condition.