Events, Tourism, Organisations & Operators,

The Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica (2nd from L), holds Jamaica’s Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA’s) Destination Resilience Award. Sharing in the moment are (L-R) Mrs. Nicola Madden-Greig, President, CHTA; Ewald Biemens, Owner, Bucuti and Tara Beach Resort, Aruba; Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board; Kyle Mais, Managing Director, Jamaican Inn; Vanessa Ledesma-Berrios, Acting CEO & Director General, CHTA; Josef Forstmayr, Managing Director, Round Hill Hotel and Villas; Marc Melville, CEO, Chukka Caribbean; and Fiona Fennell, Public Relations and Communications Manager, Jamaica Tourist Board.
Jamaica has been awarded the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA’s) Destination Resilience Award for its recovery efforts during the COVID-19 Pandemic and tourism resilience-building initiatives.The Caribbean Destination Resilience Award recognizes destinations with a deliberate focus on resilience as indicated by their commitments to address some or all of the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO’s) 17 sustainable development goals. Special emphasis is placed on highlighting destinations which subscribe to a collaborative and partnership-focused approach, engaging public and private sector stakeholders in innovative, needs-driven strategies.     
Jamaica was at the forefront of thought leadership at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The island, under the stewardship of the Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, immediately created a COVID-19 Recovery Taskforce with public and private sector stakeholders. Based on the innovative initiatives from this Taskforce, Jamaica reopened its borders in June 2020 and never closed since.
In accepting the award, Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett said, “This award is for my entire tourism team and all our private and public sector partners who immediately saw the need to keep the lifeblood of the country open. From the minds and hard work of the team, Jamaica was first out of the blocks on the road to recovery.”
Robust health and safety protocols were implemented to help mitigate the spread of the disease. In fact, these protocols received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s ‘Safe Travels’ stamp of approval. With the creation of Resilient Corridors, Jamaica was able to resume tourism activities safely and seamlessly as these designated areas had a strong COVID-19 infrastructure in place.
“It is a pleasure to recognize my home country with this destination resilience award as it validates the countless hours and effort that went into the recovery through our public and private sector partners to ensure the survival of tourism,” said President of the CHTA, Mrs. Nicola Madden-Greig.ADVERTISEMENT“It was no easy feat to reopen our borders in such a short space of time and this award highlights the importance of partnerships in a crisis,” said Director of Tourism, Donovan White. “We’re truly grateful and deeply honored to receive this distinction.”
For more information on Jamaica, please go to www.visitjamaica.com.

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Minister Bartlett Receives CHTA President’s Award for Caribbean Excellence in Tourism

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(HM CHTA AWARD): Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (C) accepts the President’s Award for Caribbean Excellence in Tourism from President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Mrs. Nicola Madden-Greig (L). Sharing in the moment is Vanessa Ledesma-Berrios, Acting CEO & Director General CHTA.
Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has been recognized for his stellar contribution to the regional tourism industry. The Minister received the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s prestigious President’s Award for Caribbean Excellence in Tourism during the Travel Forum and Awards luncheon held at Sandals Royal Barbados.
“The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association is acutely aware that resilience strengthens Caribbean tourism, and it is a message that has reached all corners of the region and the world largely because of the efforts of one man, the Honourable Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s dynamic Minister of Tourism. This is one of the many reasons why we honour him today,” said President of the CHTA, Mrs. Nicola Madden-Greig.
One of Minister Bartlett’s notable international successes was the establishment of The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), which assembles distinguished international experts to examine resilience from multiple viewpoints, a timely and much needed forum for the examination of the key elements needed to strengthen the region’s major economic driver, tourism.
“It is always good to be recognized for your hard work and dedication, but this award is extra special as it is coming from my regional partners who I have worked shoulder to shoulder with for many years to improve our tourism experience and ultimately arrivals and earnings,” said Minister Bartlett.
Mr Bartlett was also cited as an advocate for harmonizing cooperation and collaboration among Caribbean countries and has called for a single use visa to encourage visitors to travel to multiple destinations in the region.ADVERTISEMENTHe has also encouraged the larger international airlines to dedicate more flights to the Caribbean. Stressing it was possible to compete as well as cooperate with each other, he coined the word “co-petition.”
“There is much more work to be done and I believe that the Caribbean is poised for even greater achievements in tourism,” added Minister Bartlett.
“Tourism in the Caribbean and Jamaica are that much better off for having an innovative thought leader like Minister Bartlett and we all wholeheartedly congratulate him,” said Donovan White, Director of Tourism.

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Jamaica is set to host Caribbean Travel Marketplace in 2024 at Montego Bay. We bring you this exclusive breaking news from on the ground from Caribbean Travel Forum 2023.
The Honourable Edmund Bartlett has stated “we are delighted” to be hosting the event in 2024.
Jamaica was the winner in 2022 of Caribbean’s Best MICE Destination 2022 at World Mice Awards
Montego Bay Convention Center was voted Jamaica’s Best Convention Centre 2022 at World Mice Awards
Take a 360 Virtual Tour of CHA 2024 Venue Montego Bay Convention Center
For those looking to travel to Montego Bay check out some great activities, hotels and attractions here

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Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, (3rd R) pauses for a photo at the end of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Travel Forum Panel held at Sandals Royal Barbados today. Sharing in the moment are (l-r) Hon. Kenneth Bryan, Minister of Tourism and Transport, Cayman Islands, and Chairman, Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO); Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Barbados; President of the CHTA, Mrs. Nicola Madden-Grieg; Marc Melville, CEO, Chukka Caribbean and Renee Coppin, Chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourist Association.
Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has urged regional tourism stakeholders to redefine the industry in what can now be described as the new post-COVID era.Speaking at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association’s (CHTA) Travel Forum and Awards Luncheon today at Sandals Royal Barbados, Minister Bartlett said: “In this post-COVID era, we must as a region rethink and redefine the meaning of tourism if we are to maximize our earnings and growth. We must begin to appreciate the fact that tourism is so much more than hotels, cruise lines and attractions and that there are direct, indirect and induced economic benefits in the tourism value chain that can accelerate growth in the region.”
The CHTA Travel Forum, which was held under the theme, “Tourism the Key Driver of Generational Wealth for Caribbean Nationals” included Hon. Kenneth Bryan, Minister of Tourism and Transport, Cayman Islands, and Chairman, Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO); Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Barbados, and Marc Melville, CEO, Chukka Caribbean.
“Tourism happens successfully because of all the sectors and subsectors that supply experiences, so there is a strong place for agriculture, technology, health and manufacturing and many more. The real wealth of tourism therefore lies in the capacity to supply on the demands of the industry,” added Minister Bartlett.
The Caribbean Travel Forum, held within the margins of CHTA Caribbean Travel Marketplace, is a new event focusing on the business of tourism in the Caribbean with specific emphasis on topics such as intra-Caribbean travel with a focus on air connectivity and multi-destination marketing, sustainability, technology innovations, labour market constraints and taxation.
“If 42% of people travel for just food, it means that suppliers of agricultural goods and services have the potential to really earn, and this is just one sector. We need to let everyone know that tourism is for them because once you have an idea you can convert that idea into tangible wealth,” Minister Bartlett noted.ADVERTISEMENTThe CHTA Travel Forum panel also looked at the impact of climate change and new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence on the tourism industry. Minister Bartlett in these discussions made another call for the establishment of a Resilience Fund that would allow every traveller to contribute a monetary sum towards their carbon footprints. He also embraced the new technologies that will shape tourism in the future by advocating for “training, training, training to ensure a better understanding to leverage them.”
The 41st CHTA Caribbean Travel Marketplace, being held in Barbados from May 9-11, is the largest regional annual event, which brings together buyers and sellers of the region’s tourism products and services.

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The climate crisis was under the spotlight during the opening session of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023 today at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The discussion gathered tourism and economy figureheads from across the Middle East region to address how the travel industry needs to adapt to tackle the issue of climate change and meet current regulations by implementing new sustainable policies, funds and support.
Taking place on the Global Stage at ATM, the discussion was moderated by Eleni Giokos, Anchor and Correspondent CNN, and the prestigious line-up of speakers included Sujit Mohanty, Regional Division for the Arab States, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR); Dr Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, Managing Director, Jordan Tourism Board; and H.E. Walid Nassar, Minister of Tourism, Lebanon.
According to Sustainable Travel International, tourism is responsible for approximately 8% of global carbon emissions from transport, food and beverage, accommodation and related goods and services. The opening session at ATM looked at the industry’s crucial role in climate change – a particularly pertinent topic as the UAE prepares to host COP28 later this year.
The UNDRR works closely with governments, the private sector and stakeholders across the globe, including 22 Arab nations, to reduce disaster risk. Building a picture of the current situation, Mohanty said, “Globally, in the last 20 years, there have been $2.97 trillion in economic losses due to disasters. Climate change is leading to more frequent and severe climate-related hazards such as floods, heatwaves, cyclones and hurricanes. In turn, the tourism industry loses enormous amounts of money due to these hazards.  Therefore the return on investment is clear – invest now to help protect the future.”  ADVERTISEMENTJordan is one of the highest-ranking countries in the region on The Euromonitor Environmental Sustainability Index and responsible tourism is now a key focus for the nation. “Educating both businesses and travellers on how they contribute to the carbon footprint is one of our key priorities. In parallel with education, we are offering incentives to hotels, businesses and other stakeholders to encourage sustainable practices, ”  said Dr Arabiyat.
Despite political and economic challenges, Lebanon has attracted a significant number of tourists since 2022. In the summer of last year, Lebanon welcomed two million tourists, a quarter of which were international. As a result of the growth in visitor numbers, rural tourism has seen a boost, an area of tourism which is more sustainable and, therefore, more favourable to the issue of climate change. 
Speaking on the growth of rural tourism, H.E. Nassar said, “The guest house sector has grown in the last two to three years in Lebanon, which has been a welcome trend. We have now established a syndicate of over 150 guesthouses, encouraging tourism in more remote areas.”   
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME for Arabian Travel Market, said: “The issue of climate change has never been more topical or urgent, and the strategies discussed at today’s opening session provided the perfect launchpad for ATM 2023 as we explore the future of sustainable travel under the theme: “Working towards net zero.” 
Curtis added: “Over the next three days, we will be hearing from leading voices across diverse segments of the global travel and tourism sector, all aligned on a shared vision to improve the climate change situation and ensure environmental protection.” 

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IHG Hotels & Resorts, a leading global hotel company with more than 6,000 hotels across 18 distinct brands, has signed an agreement with the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) at the Arabian Travel Market 2023 in Dubai, UAE.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) provides a framework for both entities to explore methods to increase inbound visitation to Saudi Arabia from key markets across Middle East and Africa region. This includes developing customised promotions, joint marketing campaigns, and promotion through loyalty programs which will showcase Saudi Arabia as one of the world’s most exciting destination to an international audience. 
The MOU was signed at the Saudi pavilion at the Arabian Travel Market 2023, by James Britchford, Vice President Commercial at IHG for India, Middle East and Africa, and Munirah Abanomy, Head of Marketing Partnership for Middle East & Africa at Saudi Tourism Authority.
With Saudi Arabia targeting 100 million visitors by 2030, the Kingdom is a priority market for IHG Hotels & Resorts in the Middle East. The hospitality group aims to support the tourism sector in the country by growing the footprint of its existing brands, as well as introducing new brands from its global portfolio, in addition to running campaigns to promote various destinations within the country. IHG also plans to further support the Kingdom’s economic Vision by investing in developing Saudi talent in the Kingdom, with an ambition to hire 6,000 nationals across it’s growing portfolio by 2030.
James Britchford, Vice President, Commercial, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG Hotels & Resorts said: “As a reflection of our commitment to support the growth of the tourism industry within the Kingdom, we are delighted to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Saudi Tourism Authority. Collaborations with key government entities, such as the STA, enable us to position and promote attractive destinations and exciting tourism offerings that the country has developed, to our guests across markets.”ADVERTISEMENTAbdulkarim Aldarwish – President of Middle East & Africa Markets at the Saudi Tourism Authority, commented: “Signing of an MOU with IHG comes within the framework of the Saudi Tourism Authority’s keenness to strengthen strategic partnerships with major international companies and prestigious brands with global reach. Such partnerships enhance the efforts of the Saudi Tourism Authority in attracting tourists and enriching their experience by providing best-in-class products, offers and packages.”
To expand its presence in key cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, Makkah, Dammam, Al Khobar and Mega projects, IHG Hotels & Resorts is positioned to add over 10,000 additional rooms to its portfolio in the next 2-3 years. This is set to significantly boost the tourism infrastructure in the country and provide a diverse range of accommodation options — across luxury, leisure, religious and business tourism.
IHG Hotels & Resorts currently operates 37 hotels across five brands in Saudi Arabia, including: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites, and voco, with 31 hotels in the development pipeline set to open within the next three to five years.
Source – TradeArabia News Service

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Saudi Arabia has kicked off its largest and most impressive presence at an international trade event to date at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) with 67 partners, showcasing more than 500 bookable experiences and packages.
The 30th edition of ATM runs from May 1 to 4 at Dubai World Trade Center.
The Saudi stand will deliver exceptional cultural activations from around the country, bringing to life its rich culture and heritage, unique flavours and sounds and dynamic entertainment offering as one of the world’s last frontiers of tourism. Visitors will have the opportunity to embark on their own Saudi journey through an interactive exploration into its top destinations and resorts, from the stunning coastline of the Red Sea, the Great Arabian Dunes, to the ancient landmarks of AlUla and Diriyah.
Harnessing the very latest in technology, visitors can experience Makkah and Madinah through virtual reality and the history of Saudi through Diriyah’s five senses activation. The very best of Saudi culture will resonate through traditional dance performances from around the country. Not to be missed, the renowned Saudi café will be joined this year for the first time by an authentic Saudi ice-cream cart to tantalize the tastebuds.
The strength of this presence reflects the unrivalled scale of the transformation in Saudi as the world’s fastest growing tourism destination. With an extraordinary +121% increase from pre-pandemic international tourism levels, Saudi achieved 93.5 million visits in 2022 and is outpacing global tourism sector recovery as recognized by the UNWTO. As the world’s biggest investor in tourism, Saudi has committed $550bn to new destinations by 2030.ADVERTISEMENTSaudi is a regional enabler and is facilitating collaboration and accelerating growth across the Middle East. The opportunities in the Middle East for initiatives like Nusuk, an integrated digital platform to facilitate seamless Umrah journeys are unmatched, transforming the experience for spiritual travelers and providing an opportunity like no other for partners.
Launched in September 2022 by Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), Nusuk continues to gain momentum around the world, already hitting key milestones, and its presence will be further strengthened through its first participation at ATM 2023 with more than 20 partners.
Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Member of the Board of Saudi Tourism Authority said: “Saudi is the biggest opportunity for businesses in tourism today. Unrivalled in growth, we are on an accelerated journey to achieving our ambitious tourism vision. We continue to outpace and outperform, and our success is reflected in the numbers, exceeding both Umrah visit numbers and inbound in the first quarter of this year.
“Saudi is a tourism destination like no other. From Diriyah, the 300-year-old city and birthplace of Saudi to the first hotel openings of Red Sea Global, the world’s most ambitious luxury tourism development later this year, to the opening of NEOM’s Sindalah Island, these projects are no longer sketches on paper, they are the heart of the future of the country.
“As we position Saudi on the global map as a diverse, unique, year-round destination, we will continue to build our dynamic entertainment and events offering. The last events season witnessed record-breaking numbers, Riyadh Season, MDLBEAST, F1, Jeddah Season and this summer promises to deliver an exceptional line-up of events and experiences.
“We are committed to delivering a whole new experience for the adventurer, the explorer, the intrepid traveler, and our presence at ATM is an opportunity to celebrate the key milestones of Saudi’s tourism growth story and inspire our trade partners to join us in this journey.”
On-stand, visitors will hear from the STA CEO during Saudi Talks, in conversation with world leading partners Wego and Meeting Point International, on the collaborative environment that is delivering unprecedented levels of shared success.
Source – TradeArabia News Service

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Visa and Saudi Tourism Authority sign MoU at Arabian Travel Market 2023

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Visa, the world’s leader in digital payments, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) to collaborate and explore innovative initiatives that will enhance the visitor journey as well as promote Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector.As part of the MoU, the two entities will set a framework for collaboration to build the first Tourism Data Lab in the region to provide data-driven insights into travel and tourism trends, enabling STA, Visa and all industry stakeholders to make informed decisions to support the Saudi government’s tourism ambitions.
Visa and STA will also explore opportunities to launch Visa’s digital payment solutions and exclusive packages to enhance the experience of Visa cardholders and tourists to Saudi. The packages for hassle-free payments and value deals will be finalised through consultation with relevant authorities with the goal of promoting the Saudi tourism sector.
The MoU was signed in Dubai at the Arabian Travel Market 2023, the leading global event for the inbound and outbound travel industry in the Middle East, by Walter Lironi, Visa SVP for Visa Consulting and Analytics for CEMEA, and Abdulkarim Aldarwish, President of MEA Markets at Saudi Tourism Authority.
Commenting on the partnership, Walter Lironi, Visa’s SVP for Visa Consulting and Analytics for CEMEA region, said: “Saudi Arabia is fast emerging as tourism hub with diverse and enriching experiences awaiting visitors. The industry is also a pivotal pillar in achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to diversify the economy and create new job opportunities. We are therefore pleased to enter into this partnership with STA to explore multiple pathways we can enhance the tourism experience of visitors to Saudi Arabia and support the government’s tourism ambitions.”
Abdulkarim Aldarwish, President of MEA Markets at Saudi Tourism Authority, said: “The agreement with Visa, the world leader in digital payments, confirms that the Saudi Tourism Authority is keen to enhance its capabilities by providing, exchanging and analyzing data as well as offering products and promotional package programs that improve the experience of tourists and attract more segments from the main markets in the region.”ADVERTISEMENTThe strategic collaboration will be powered by the world’s largest payments database, VisaNet, which provides a comprehensive wealth of data on inbound tourism and extensive insight into how governments can optimize their cashless strategy. The insights generated from the data include visitor journeys and spending behaviors across different categories, seasonality, digital adoption, and customer types, allowing for a holistic overview of how to create customer-centric payments experiences.
Source: Zawya.com

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