Caribbean News
Caribbean Travel Marketplace to welcome Chinese Buyers to Jamaica
#Kingston, January 18, 2019 – Jamaica – For the first time in Caribbean Travel Marketplace history, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) will host a large contingent of Chinese travel buyers. Twenty companies will join more than 1,000 delegates registered for what promises to be a dynamic edition of the event slated for this month in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Matt Cooper
Sharing the podium with Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett at a news conference in Kingston yesterday, Matt Cooper, Chief Marketing Officer of CHTA, announced close to 60 new buyer companies – from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, India, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Poland, Puerto Rico, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States – are confirmed for the top travel event. These will join about 80 returning buyer companies.
The 37th annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the Caribbean’s largest tourism marketing event, will be held in Montego Bay, Jamaica from January 29 to 31, 2019.
“The interest in Jamaica and the Caribbean is reflected in the number of buyers who are attending Marketplace from around the world,” reported Cooper.
He believes this expanded interest is not accidental: “We believe in large part the enthusiasm is driven by the outstanding and tireless work of Minister Bartlett, his tourism team, the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association, and the CHTA team along with ongoing global outreach.”
Cooper commended the Jamaican Minister for introducing a companion event to Marketplace, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)- and Government of Jamaica-hosted small- and medium-size tourism enterprises (SMTE) conference.
“We have a tremendous opportunity to continue to nurture and develop traditional and unique SMTE businesses, fueled by the imagination, creativity, and energy of those who see the opportunity to capture a piece of the tourism pie,” added Cooper.
Speaking on behalf of CHTA President Patricia Affonso-Dass, CHTA’s leadership and staff, sponsors and delegates, Cooper described how thrilled CHTA was to return to Jamaica. “Much has changed since Jamaica last hosted Marketplace in 2014 – locally, regionally and globally – all boding well for the future of Jamaican and Caribbean tourism.”
“In response to consumer demand, our tourism product continues to grow, becoming more diverse and offering more authentic experiences and unique accommodations. Technology has connected more people to the Caribbean, and our people and businesses in the region are using the experiences to link them to potential customers,” added Cooper.
Cooper also congratulated Minister Bartlett and the host destination for taking the lead in creating the Global Tourism Resiliency Center, an outcome of the 2017 hurricanes which impacted some of the region’s destinations. “We have been pleased to be a part of the development of the Center and look forward to its official opening during Marketplace.”
Over 1,000 individuals have preregistered for Caribbean Travel Marketplace, including about 270 delegates from 135 buyer companies in 19 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, India, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Poland, Puerto Rico, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Approximately 500 delegates from 200 supplier companies are preregistered from 26 countries, while almost 50 media/marketing companies represented by about 125 delegates have confirmed for the marquee travel and tourism event. With the surge in new buyers in recent weeks, particularly from China and India, CHTA expects to see registrations continue to grow as more Caribbean hoteliers recognize the added opportunity at this year’s Marketplace.
Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2019 is produced by CHTA in collaboration with co-hosts the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association, the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Jamaica Ministry of Tourism. It is the leading event in the Caribbean tourism industry where delegates from Caribbean countries meet with buyers from more than 20 markets.
This year’s host sponsors are Interval International, Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association, Jamaica Tourist Board, Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, JetBlue Vacations and MasterCard, while Platinum sponsors include 7 Pillars: Marketing on Demand, Adara, AMResorts, Figment Design, Marketplace Excellence, OBMI, Sojern, STR, TravelClick, Travelzoo, and the United States Virgin Islands. Gold sponsors are AeroMD, ARDA, Arrivalist, Best Western International, BlackDoctor.Org, Caribbean Airlines, Caribbean Journal, Caribbean Travel & Life, Condé Nast Traveler, Delta Air Lines, The Discoverer, FirstCaribbean International Bank, Flip.to, HCP Media, HEBS Digital, Islands, Matador Network, Meredith, NextPax, The New York Times, Northstar Travel Group, Prevue magazine, Questex, Rainmaker, Recommend magazine, Robb Report, Simpleview, SiteMinder, travAlliancemedia, St. Maarten, St. Martin, TL Cooper Media, Travel + Leisure, Travel Pulse, Travel Relations, TravPRO Mobile, TripAdvisor, Trip Mate, and The Wall Street Journal.
The 2019 event promises exciting new activities which will strengthen the connectivity between industry stakeholders.
To register, visit http://bit.ly/2AbQ9jQ.
About the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is the Caribbean’s leading association representing the interests of national hotel and tourism associations. For more than 50 years, CHTA has been the backbone of the Caribbean hospitality industry. Working with some 1,000 hotel and allied members, and 32 National Hotel Associations, CHTA is shaping the Caribbean’s future and helping members to grow their businesses. Whether navigating new worlds like social media, sustainability, legislative issues, emerging technologies, climate change, data and intelligence or, looking for avenues and ideas to better market and manage businesses, CHTA is helping members on issues which matter most.
For further information, visit www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.
Press Release: Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)
Barbados, February 12, 2026 – Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley was this afternoon officially sworn in for a third consecutive term, hours after delivering one of the most emphatic election victories in Caribbean political history — another complete capture of all 30 seats in Barbados’ House of Assembly.
The ceremony, conducted by President His Excellency Lt. Col. The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, marked the formal start of a new
administration following the February 11, 2026 general election, which returned the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to power with a renewed and overwhelming mandate.
In a statement after taking the oath, Mottley said she accepted the responsibility “with humility and resolve,” thanking the people of Barbados for placing their trust in her leadership once again and urging national unity as her government begins its new term. Attorney Wilfred Abrahams was also sworn in as Attorney General.
The result is historic not only for its scale but for its consistency. This is the third straight general election in which the BLP has won every constituency, reinforcing Mottley’s dominance in national politics and extending an unmatched era of one-party control in the modern democratic period.
Voting day unfolded under the watch of a CARICOM Election Observation Mission, led by Antigua and Barbuda’s Supervisor of Elections Ian Hughes and supported by senior electoral officials from Belize and Jamaica. The team engaged key institutions ahead of the poll and monitored the process across the island.
Regional leaders were swift in their congratulations.
Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali described the outcome as “emphatic and historic,” saying the clean sweep reflected how deeply Mottley’s
leadership has connected with Barbadians and expressing optimism about strengthening ties between the two countries.
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness also hailed the victory, noting that her re-election provides an opportunity to deepen cooperation within CARICOM and advance shared regional priorities.
The scale of the win again leaves Barbados without a parliamentary opposition, a reality that has become a defining feature of the political landscape since 2018. Supporters argue the repeated mandate reflects public confidence in Mottley’s stewardship of economic reform, climate diplomacy, the transition to a republic, and Barbados’ expanding global influence.
Now, newly sworn in and backed by another unanimous parliamentary majority, Mottley begins a third term with both extraordinary political capital and equally high expectations at home and across the region.
Liberty Caribbean is Diamond Sponsor of CANTO Connect 2026 and 42nd AGM
Port of Spain, TRININDAD & TOBAGO (February 1, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow. Liberty Business and BTC, has reaffirmed its commitment to turning regional connectivity into measurable economic and social outcomes as Diamond Sponsor of CANTO Connect 2026 and its 42nd Annual General Meeting.
CANTO is the leading regional body that brings together telecommunications operators, ICT providers, regulators, governments, and industry partners to support the development of the Caribbean’s digital and communications landscape.
Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad & Tobago delivered the sponsor’s address on behalf of Liberty Caribbean.
“The work of laying fibre and lighting towers is done; connectivity is now our foundation,” she said.
“The real task before us is to translate that foundation into innovation, productivity and prosperity for our people. Intelligent connectivity,
such as networks designed for 5G, AI and IoT, will be the platform for smarter public services, more resilient systems and scaled opportunities for Caribbean entrepreneurs.”
Martin-Sulgan emphasised that infrastructure alone will not deliver sustainable progress.
“Digital progress must become digital prosperity. That means creating career pathways for young people, helping local businesses scale and ensuring citizens across our communities can fully participate in the digital economy. A connected Caribbean should also be a confident, creative and globally competitive Caribbean,” she said.
Liberty Caribbean is represented by a senior delegation at CANTO Connect to support the conference objectives of aligning policy, investment and execution across the region under this year’s theme ‘Elevate the Caribbean – From Connectivity to Global Competitiveness’.
Liberty Caribbean’s delegation includes Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer; Desron Bynoe, VP and General Manager, Flow Barbados; Susanna O’Sullivan, VP and General Manager, North Caribbean; Marilyn Sealy, Senior Director, Head of Communications; Dominic Boon, VP, People; Daniel Neiva, Chief Commercial Officer, B2B; Bradley Ramcharan, Director, B2B, Trinidad & Tobago; Yolande Headley, Country Manager, Dutch East Caribbean; and Jade Reymond, Country Manager, Flow Anguilla.
Martin-Sulgan thanked CANTO’s local secretariat for convening the forum and urged delegates to convert conversation into action.
“If we align policy, capital and capability, the Caribbean can move from connectivity to competitiveness. Liberty Caribbean will continue to invest in resilient networks, nurture homegrown talent and partner to deliver measurable social and economic value across our markets,” she said.
