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The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter offers travel, tourism, Caribbean and global news weekly. To share stories, information or intelligence, contact us at info@marketplaceexcellence.com.

FEBRUARY 6, 2023

U.S. Virgin Islands will host CHICOS investment conference

The ever-popular Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference & Operations Summit (CHICOS) is headed to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

To be held on St. Thomas from November 12 to 14, 2023, the conference will be staged at the soon-to-be-unveiled Westin Beach Resort & Spa (Frenchman’s Reef) property, which suffered significant damage from the 2017 hurricanes.

CHICOS brings together more than 300 regional and international investors and operators, as well as the region’s leading decision makers. 

Attendees network and discuss the region’s markets and possibilities, while analyzing the most important trends that can impact their investment decisions.

For more information, visit www.chicos.hvsconferences.com.

Marketplace Mention

“CHTA is excited to announce the second staging of the Caribbean Travel Forum which will take place on May 9 [in Barbados] where Caribbean thought leaders will again tackle these issues [critical tourism topics] and seek to provide the way forward for the entire region. This will be just before the start of the annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace which will have its opening ceremony the evening of May 9 followed by two days of meetings on the trade show floor, May 10 and 11. For Marketplace 2023 we will continue to expand the cadre of buyers with a focus on new markets and important niches to the industry, including MICE and destination wedding specialists as well as the introduction of a more robust travel advisor program. As usual, we will also have both the regional and international media in attendance.” – Nicola Madden-Greig, OD, President, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)

Antigua names Director of Tourism for LAC region

Charmaine Browne-Spencer

The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) has appointed Charmaine Browne-Spencer as Director of Tourism for the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region.

Spencer will be responsible for growing market share and destination arrivals from these regions, by focusing on strengthening strategic partnerships with regional stakeholders, building airlift capacity into the destination, and continuing to improve the destination’s public relations and brand awareness.

Spencer has more than 10 years of experience working in the tourism industry and previously served as ABTA marketing manager, and marketing consultant for the Caribbean and Latin American markets.

“As our organization continues to adapt to meet the demands of the competitive tourism industry, we are delighted that we can harness the skills and talents of those on our team in newer roles,” said ABTA CEO Colin James. “We welcome Charmaine into this position and look forward to working with her for the further development of tourism in Antigua and Barbuda.” 

Cruise tourism is everyone’s business

Last week we looked at why cruise lines pay close attention to the guest satisfaction ratings of the shore excursions they offer.

On the other side of the equation, tourism stakeholders also need to be invested in ensuring that excellent service is delivered to cruise ship passengers from start to finish of their activities and attractions. (It bears repeating, as we stated last week, that this same standard should apply to stayover visitors as well as local residents.)

It is imperative for front-line personnel, tour guides, tour operators, transportation providers, vendors, attractions operators, communities, and cruise stakeholders to see themselves as part of the whole and being part of the same team.

This means that everyone shares the common goals of:

• offering excellent service
• supporting one another
• celebrating each other’s successes
• continually looking for ways to improve guest experiences

Destinations that truly grasp the value of the sector take proactive steps to promote collaboration, increase awareness, and educate their audiences so that even people who do not interact directly with cruise ship passengers understand how important cruise tourism is to the local economy.

Communication is the key to successful collaboration. As collaborations increase, the need for better communication increases. All entities working with cruise lines need to ensure their communication plans and strategies are solid. Those plans should include all key audiences, from their cruise line clients and stakeholder partners to their frontline teams that are engaging with guests, and the community at large.

Front-line teams and tour operators receive direct feedback from cruise guests and cruise lines. By communicating what they learn, they can share new ideas, perspectives, and processes that can improve the guest experience. As a result, all stakeholders can achieve success and growth in the cruise market.

In a nutshell, strengthening and perfecting a destination’s cruise tourism product is everyone’s business!

To learn more, visit www.cruiseexcellence.com.

Digital Digest

Five ways to start the social media engine in 2023

This week’s Digital Digest is dedicated to brands with social media at the top of their New Year’s resolutions list.

While the vast majority of brands are already operating on social media, there are still a few that need a push or a tuning of their social media engine. Here are five ways to improve your social media presence.

• Define your audience: Before you start creating content, think about with whom you’re trying to connect and engage. This will help determine the type of content you create, how you present it, and the most appropriate platforms to leverage.

• Consistent branding: Your social media outlets should have a consistent look and feel, from profile pictures to the way you write captions and your creative identity. This will make it easier for people to recognize your brand and help you build trust with your followers.

• High-quality content: Whether it's a photo, video, or text, ensure that the content you’re posting is of high quality. Never compromise on quality, even if that means compromising on the quantity of posts. This will make your profile more appealing and engaging and will help you stand out from the crowd.

• Interact with your audience: Respond to comments, like and share posts from other people or brands, and engage in conversations. Social media is the best outlet for generating two-way communication. This will help build relationships with your followers and make your presence more visible.

• Utilize social media analytics: Many social media platforms have built-in analytics tools that allow you to track your performance and see what content is resonating with your audience. There are third-party tools for more advanced users that can provide deeper analytics. Use this information to improve your strategies and grow your following. If you need a helping hand, do not hesitate to contact us.

Medical Moment

International Epilepsy Day takes place on February 13, 2023.

Epilepsy, also known as seizure disorder, is the fourth most common neurological disorder and one of the oldest-known medical conditions. 

Every year, more than one in 1,000 people die suddenly due to epilepsy.

The condition causes electrical activity in the brain to stop for a short time, which leads to recurrent seizures. 

Even though 65 million people worldwide live with epilepsy, there is still some stigma around the disease.

The purpose of this day is to heighten awareness, remove the stigma around the condition, teach people how to provide better care for people living with the disorder, and create a platform for people to talk about their experiences.

MPE Caribbean Report

In this week’s MPE Caribbean Report, we report on recent tourism gains registered by the Cayman Islands.



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