SHOW REPORT CARIBBEAN TRAVEL MARKETPLACE
Caribbean presents a united show BAHAMAS 2012
JANUARY 22-24 ATLANTIS PARADISE ISLAND
Caribbean nations will consider using
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM) was held at the Atlantis Resort & Casino, Paradise Island, The Bahamas (January 22-24). Sally Parker rounds up the top stories
‘other strategies’ after a lack of progress in overturning the discriminatory APD banding system which requires UK travellers to the Caribbean to pay the same tax as destinations which are much further away, CTO chair Ricky Skeritt told the conference. The Minister for St Kitts and Nevis
said the last round of discussions ended in 'an insult' from the UK government in the form of a 'complete rejection of our highly researched and thought out proposals'. In December the UK Treasury ruled against making any amendments and another APD increase is planned for next month (April). Josef Forstmeyer, CHTA president, said
an unfair APD was a major reason why UK arrivals have dropped since 2007. "The UK government is wasting its
time by instigating development programmes in the region”, he said "as these are insignificant compared to the economic loss caused by APD." Alec Sanguinetti, Director General of
the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association said: “Whilst the total decline
cannot be put down to APD, we have lost over 270,000 UK visitors over the past three years.” Forstmeyer said a new body, The Caribbean Tourism Development Agency, has been created to promote ‘Brand Caribbean’. Part-owned by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and by the CHTA, the first step will be to re-establish the website,
www.caribbeantravel.com
AM Resorts spreads across region AM Resorts marked its 10th
anniversary last autumn by developing its portfolio of properties in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Mexico. The group’s newest properties,
which opened in 2011 in the Dominican Republic (in the same complex), are Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana, a 373-room, all-suite adult-only property and Now Larimar Punta Cana, which welcomes families with a range of family-friendly activities and the Explorers kids' club. Secrets has three restaurants but
BAHAMAS SHORTS The Grand Lucayan on Grand
Bahama Island has had a name change (previously Our Lucaya). The 1200-room property has hired International Hotel and Destination Marketing to represent it in the UK. The property has nine restaurants, bars and lounges, a 25,000 sq ft spa and fitness centre and also offers tennis and golf.
www.grandlucayan.com
14 March 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com Joint Caribbean Travel Marketplace
host The Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board has plenty to be excited about. One of its main attractions, the Straw Market, reopened last December while roads on the island are being expanded and re-routed to make travelling around the island much easier.
www.nassauparadiseisland.com
Atlantis spent $65 million in 2011
updating the product and adding activities and entertainments. Families are particularly well catered for with the Atlantis Kids Adventure Club for ages three to 12, and teenage club, CRUSH for ages 13 to 17. This year the proeprty has plans to renovate 700 rooms, the casino bars and restaurants.
www.atlantis.com
The ‘Tourism is Key - Let’s treat it
with the respect it deserves’ campaign recognises the massive contribution of tourism to Caribbean economies, said Forstmeyer, who pledged new measures to make travelling between the islands easier. This year's CTM attracted a record
number of government ministers and heads of tourist boards.
16 weddings For tourism purposes The Islands of
the Bahamas has divided itself into 16 islands/island groups, each with their own logo and identity – and 16 couples from across the UK will between them get to experience all 16 in May. The soon-to-be-weds, from all over the
guests can also use the facilities at Now, including the resort’s five restaurants. Now Larimar Punta Cana added a new 180 rooms late last year.
www.amresorts.com
UK, have won their own wedding ceremony on one of the islands and will marry simultaneously on May 16 at 16.00. Each had to upload photos and videos showing why they wanted to win and chose between the islands and styles of weddings including barefoot on the beach and marrying underwater with dolphins.
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