Richardson, Coordinator, International Markets, ATB; Lorine Charles St. Jules, Sales Director, USA; Hon Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism; Janine Edwards, Long Bay Villas, and Tranquility Beach Anguilla.
The Valley, Anguilla, January 29, 2020……The Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) joined representatives from 28 Caribbean countries and 215 supplier companies at the Caribbean Hotel & Tourist Association (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the region’s largest and most important business forum held in Nassau, The Bahamas, from January 21 – 23, 2020. More than 1,000 hoteliers, tourist boards, tour operators, suppliers and attractions, attended this year’s Marketplace.
Tour operators and wholesalers attending the buyer seller meet expressed enthusiasm and optimism regarding Anguilla’s tourism product and congratulated the ATB representatives on the island’s’ remarkable recovery. Their comments are reflected in the island’s tourist arrivals for 2019, which is expected to be a record-breaking year, with around 95,000 arrivals. Several also expressed interest expanding their current portfolios and will be working with the ATB sales team to identify and solicit new product.
The Hon. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary with Responsibility for Tourism, Youth, Sports and Culture, led the Anguilla delegation, which included Chantelle Richardson, ATB Coordinator, International Markets; Lorine Charles St. Jules, Sales Director, USA; and Noel Mignott, CEO, PM Group, which represents the ATB in North America.
Mr. Connor delivered a comprehensive destination update at a Press Conference attended by local, regional and international media representatives. In his remarks, Mr. Connor highlighted the many successes of 2019, including record breaking tourist arrivals; the designation as #1 Island in the Caribbean for an unprecedented 3rd year in a row by Travel + Leisure Magazine; a brand new and completely renovated tourism product with new global brands; the dynamic Beyond Extraordinary! Marketing Campaign, which highlights the unique experiences on Anguilla; and the formation of the Anguilla Tourism Advisory Council (ATAC), designed to enhance and facilitate public/private sector cooperation.
He also spoke to new product coming on stream, such as the Tranquility Beach Anguilla, a luxury condominium resort which opened this month on Meads Bay, and addressed the issue of access, particularly via the primary gateways of San Juan and Sint. Maarten. He ended by reiterating what makes Anguilla most attractive to visitors – the beaches; the authentic culinary, wellness, romantic and adventure experiences; a wide variety of accommodations at varying price points from luxury resorts to villas to Charming Escapes; a vibrant culture and rich calendar of on-island festivals.
The Anguilla representatives met with buyers from all over the world during the course of the two day trade show, including tour operators/wholesalers Apple Leisure Group, Classic Vacations,Flight Center USA, American Airlines Vacations, Air Canada Vacations, Pleasant Holidays, Island Destinations and DER Touristik Deitschland; and online travel agency, Expedia and villa wholesalers.
“CHTA’s Marketplace provides an invaluable opportunity for us to meet with our key trade partners, engage with new suppliers and receive first-hand intelligence on issues affecting business to Anguilla,” stated The Hon. Cardigan Connor. “We are very encouraged by the high degree of interest and enthusiasm for our Anguilla product, and we see a real opportunity to expand our trade relationships, for the benefit of all our stakeholders,” he continued.
The delegation also met with a variety of advertising, press and web development suppliers who provided information on their services and proposed new avenues for promoting Anguilla.
Representatives from Anguilla’s private sector also attended the show: Chris and Sandra Richardson, owners of Richardson’s Car Rental; Rolf Masshardt, General Manager, Carimar Beach Club; Stacey Liburd and Janine Edwards, representing Long Bay Villas, Santosha Estate and Tranquility Beach Anguilla.
For more information on Anguilla please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com; follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.
