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The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter offers travel, tourism, Caribbean and global news in a newsletter format. To share stories, information or intelligence, contact us at info@marketplaceexcellence.com. | |
Caribbean tourism recovery is robust | |
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Vanessa Ledesma, Acting CEO and Director General of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), shared a positive report on Caribbean tourism during the recent Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) in South Florida.
Here are some highlights of her presentation:
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In 2021, the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reported that the Caribbean was the best performing region in the world, reporting 15 million stopover arrivals, 57% of the 26.3 million it received in 2019
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International tourist arrivals to the Caribbean in the first quarter of 2022 are outpacing global arrivals, with Aruba, Curaçao, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Turks & Caicos reaching over 80 percent of their 2019 arrivals, and the U.S. Virgin Islands exceeding its 2019 figures
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The Caribbean and Latin America are leading the summer outlook in terms of the return of leisure travel; Aruba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Mexico and The Bahamas are among the “most resilient” destinations based on confirmed arrivals for the summer
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Caribbean hotel on the comeback | |
Janelle Hopkin, President of Spice Island Beach Resort | |
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Grenadian hotelier Janelle Hopkin, President & Managing Director, Spice Island Beach Resort, participated in a panel discussion entitled “The Road to Recovery” during the recent CHRIS conference.
She shared how the iconic, five-star beach resort in Grenada battled the challenges of the pandemic and is now charting a path to a brighter future. Some highlights of her remarks follow:
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Spice Island Beach Resort is a small, family-operated, all-inclusive property that enjoys a 65% repeat clientele
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Resort was closed for 19 months during COVID; reopened last October
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The flexible, agile and nimble team responded to the pandemic “one hour at a time”
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Reopened on brand; continued to deliver five-star experience
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Property continues to prioritize hygiene and sanitization
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Increasing number of guests want to support Black-owned properties
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Younger families and younger couples are traveling
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Management invests heavily in training
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Increased engagement with digital marketing, including social media
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Business is picking up, however the return of airlift remains a challenge
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Need to start planning how to sustain momentum in 2023
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CTO picks Kevin Pile for comms role | |
Kevin Pile, Communications Consultant, Caribbean Tourism Organization | |
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The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has appointed Kevin Pile as its Communications Consultant, replacing the long-serving Johnson JohnRose who recently left the organization.
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Pile is a career media and communications practitioner of 27 years
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Brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of the Caribbean media landscape
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Served as a Managing Editor with the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) and worked extensively in public relations with the Caribbean Premier League
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Communications Consultant is primarily responsible for establishing and maintaining a positive image of CTO and Caribbean tourism and increasing the awareness and understanding of the importance of the sector to the region
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Social Media: A critical marketing and communications tool
The digital space provides a great opportunity for brands to craft a winning strategy, and social media marketing is a core pillar of digital marketing. Here’s why every business should embrace it.
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Truly 360: In today’s digitally charged consumer world, every brand, regardless of its size or offerings, should have a social media (SM) presence. It is one of the easiest and most effective tools to connect to consumers and implement a 360-degree campaign.
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Two-way Communication: SM provides a unique opportunity to establish two-way communication with the consumer base. As this evolves, it also provides a platform for addressing customer queries and building an active advocacy base.
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Cost-effective: A basic SM setup requires a working email address and a phone number; add a few brand pictures and a brand story to complete the profile on most platforms. Paid campaigns offer good ROI, but a basic presence does not require an upfront investment.
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Competitive Landscape: SM platforms are great for understanding the pulse of the marketplace. Since most brands have a social media presence, learning about your competition and preparing a plan of action to remain relevant are just a few clicks away.
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Audience Insight: SM platforms provide in-depth analysis and information regarding the audience on a psychographic, demographic and interest level. Using these insights, brands can understand consumer needs, make adjustments to products and services and create meaningful connections.
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Return on Investment: Paid campaigns are cost-effective, deliver a clear ROI, and give advertisers an accurate sense of every penny spent. Platforms can perform well organically – and with even stronger ROI – if the content resonates with the audience.
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Winning Formula: The formula for success on social media is a combination of content and advertising, but there is no blueprint for going viral. That is why experimentation is important. Take some chances and have some fun!
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Established in November 2014 at the 17th Special Session of the CARICOM Heads of Government on public health threats
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Held from May 9-15, 2022, the region was called to protect communities against diseases such as Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito
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The objectives of Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week are to:
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promote education, awareness, and community participation in vector control
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promote communication and cooperation
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maintain vector control activities on the political and community agenda
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serve as a platform for integrated activities
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In this week’s MPE Caribbean Report, Annaleen Lord, IATA’s Area Manager for the Caribbean, calls for a more competitive Caribbean as the region rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic. | | | | |
