Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon. Haydn Hughes led the full Anguilla team at the 30th Anniversary of the Caribbean Marketplace event held in theBahamas, January 22-25, 2012.
Joining his team were the Chairman of the ATB, Eustace “Guish” Guishard, the Deputy Director of Tourism, Ms. Chantelle Davis, the Executive Director of the AHTA, Mrs. Gilda Gumbs, North American Director Mrs. Marie Walker and several hoteliers – Owner Maurice Bonham-Carter and Manager Maria Hawkins of Arawak Beach Inn; David Lyon, Director of Marketing for CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa; Mrs. Sherille Hughes, Owner of the Paradise Cove Resort and 3rd, Vice President of CHTA;General Manager of Carimar Beach Resort, Fred Thompson; Director of Marketing for Anacaona Boutique Hotel, Frank Pierce; Brent Hall, Director of Marketing for Viceroy Anguilla and Messrs. Gio Lopez and Cliff Brutus, Director of Marketing for Cap Juluca.
“Anguilla’s booths were definitely the buzz this marketplace,” shared Guishard. “The Anguilla Tourist Board had over 35 appointments with tour operators across the globe, including several Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and the island was approached for the first time by quite a few established travel companies who have now sought to do business with the destination”, the Chairman further commented.
Hughes advised that “Anguillais also definitely taking advantage of the new technology available in travel. As Parliamentary Secretary, I had the opportunity to conduct several interviews with leading travel publications such as Travel Agent Magazine and provide updates on the island’s recent developments.
The Canadian tour operators were among the group showing great promise to the destination with operators such as Sun Wing Vacations meeting with our many hoteliers especially the Charming Escapes Collection to discuss the possibility of launching weekly programmes intoAnguilla. Sun Wing Vacations will have two flights each week out of Montreal and Toronto into SXM respectively, for a total of four flights each week. Air Canada Vacations, one of the leading tour operators out ofCanadamet with the Hon. Hughes who has promised to work more closely with ACV to develop the Canadian markets more aggressively.
Walker joins other attendees who shared that the Conference in the Bahamas was among the more productive conferences and the forecast based on preliminary discussions with leading industry experts, is that the Caribbean should fare much better towards the rest of the year. Maurice Bonham Carter, owner of Island Destinations, one of Anguilla’s largest tour operators said that Anguilla has already out paced herself compared to the same period last year. “We remain cautiously optimistic as it is an election year and the winter has been unseasonably warm, two factors that do not help the region in the winter and extended seasons”,Walker stated.
Previous to the opening of Caribbean Marketplace, board meetings and leadership meetings were held by CHTA and CSHAE organization. Meetings were productive and educational, with election results placing Gilda Gumbs Samuel, Executive Director of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association as Vice President of CSHAE. Gilda said, “I feel honored that I was voted by my peers. I appreciate and value their confidence in me, and my goal is to work hard to reflect Anguilla in a positive light. I look forward to working with the new Board and will assist wherever they need me.” She said that she is also on the advocacy committee and plans to work closely with the chairwoman of this committee Mrs. Sue Springer, of the Barbados Tourism Authority, and other members to bring positive change in tourism for the region. Ms. Lisa Hamilton of the USVI, Hotel and Tourism Association, was elected President of CSHAE
– Press Release
(Published Without Editing by The Anguillian Newspaper)
