Antigua and Barbuda has been to chosen to host the 43rd Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM) next year.
The twin-island destination said the decision demonstrated its rise in popularity and would help propel its profile further by showcasing its growing status in Caribbean hospitality and tourism.
The event, from May 18-22 next year, is expected to attract around 2,000 attendees, including major global buyers and regional suppliers.
Colin C. James, chief executive of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, said: “With a 16% increase in stay-over arrivals this year, surpassing 2019’s record levels, our twin-island nation has become a focal point for international travel and investment.”
He said the conference would further establish the destination as a location for the MICE (Meetings, Incentives Conferences, and Exhibitions) market.
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association president Nicola Madden-Greig said: “Marketplace is undisputedly the Caribbean’s largest and premier marketing event, and we are delighted that Antigua and Barbuda will be the site for this important gathering of Caribbean suppliers and global buyers, where new and established stakeholders can gain access to the diverse offerings of travel products and experiences throughout the region.”
Minister Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez said Antigua and Barbuda was accessible from all primary and secondary markets in The Americas, UK/Europe and the Caribbean, with direct services and easy connections.
The 2025 Marketplace features a Responsible Tourism Day and The Caribbean Travel Forum, bringing together public and private sector representatives to discuss critical issues in regional tourism.
The Caribbean MICE Exchange returns this year, and new for this year CHTA will introduce a day focused on maximizing direct online bookings using the latest technology and trends in digital marketing and artificial intelligence.
The event, which includes one-on-one buyer-seller appointments as a major part of the conference, will be based at the American University of Antigua (AUA).