americas regions
Sandals operates 19 properties across the Caribbean; Royal Barbados opened this year
director, Trade Talk
Jenny Peart, head of product, Caribtours
“ We are finding that clients increasingly
seek unique experiences as well as more twin-centres, both regionally for example, pairing ntigua with nguilla, or t ucia with renada and within the same destination, such as splitting a stay between t ucia’s north and south coasts. ome lesser-known islands such as Bequia and evis are also on the up.
Jenny Basham, product manager, Carrier
“
wtm.com ” uerto ico is
back on sale after last year’s major hurricanes, while hotels in t Barths have turned disaster into opportunity and will re-open even better than before. lthough the luxury sector produces fewer heads in beds than mass market, tourist boards recognise that high- end clients’ greater spend both in and beyond the resorts benefits local businesses.
”
atricia harlery- eon, insists such big developments are part of a wider mix. We are fortunate that we can embrace both niche and mass markets as our visitors seek different experiences, she says. The and markets often favour all-inclusive, while our erman visitors prefer off- the-beaten-track experiences and our rench guests often twin-centre with Martinique. In addition to larger developments like andals, we are developing village tourism’ to showcase local heritage and culture in eight distinctly different communities.
Sizes to suit everyone andals is an even bigger force
in amaica, where the company’s nine properties have numerous all-inclusive competitors. But even here these massive resorts are only part of the picture. cross the island, accommodation options span larger, globally branded resorts to family- owned BBs. ext year will see the arrival of diverse new developments ranging from Excellence yster Bay a high-end, adults-only all-inclusive on a private peninsula in Montego Bay with more than 00 suites to 2-room kylark, a boutique hotel on even Mile Beach. The destination is also focusing on sustainability by working with hotel partners to prioritise green initiatives such as farm-to-table consumption. alladium otel roup, another big player in the all-inclusive market, is also growing its presence in the aribbean. Its most recent openings include two in the ominican epublic a 11-suite T hotel in ap ana and a larger, 2-suite sister property in nearby unta ana. But while the destination is synonymous with all-inclusives to some holidaymakers, others know there’s much more here besides. The tourist board’s director abrina ambiaso says We have long been multi-market, but until B began flying here in 2009, our only links
were via charter flights, giving us a mass-market perception. The , erman, rench and panish markets had long been travelling here to stay at colonial-style boutique hotels in anto omingo and elsewhere. The larger resorts both mass-market and more exclusive properties such as man and Eden oc came later, considerably diversifying our offering.
aty Berzins, Tui aribbean
product manager, names the ominican epublic as one of her standout 2019 destinations because of its entry-level price point. he also says t ucia and ruba are strong sellers. otel chains offering value for money, such as Bahia, iu and oyalton, are performing extremely well. We have also recognised that there’s an ongoing shift in durations, with more demand for seven, 10 or 11-night holidays instead of the traditional two weeks, she says. or some aribbean nations, large-scale developments are a rarity. ominica, for example, has been primarily a niche destination promoting hiking and diving in tandem with its nature island image. But according to iscover ominica’s director of tourism olin iper, With the advent of bigger and more luxurious properties from 2019 and beyond, we can introduce a wider range of travellers to our natural, cultural and adventurous heritage. ighlights here for 2019 include the
reopening of properties damaged last year by urricane Maria, such as ecret Bay whose six sustainable villas once saw it crowned the world’s best boutique hotel. lso of note is the all-new Wanderlust aribbean Boutique otel, which has just five rooms overlooking one of the island’s best sea views. It just goes to show that when it comes to providing memorable experiences, size isn’t everything in the aribbean.
winter 2018 wtm insights 37
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