From left: Rolf Masshardt, Stacey Liburd, Chris and Sandra Richardson, Chantelle Richardson, (Coordinator, International Markets, ATB); Lorine Charles (St. Jules, Sales Director, USA); Cardigan Connor and Janine Edwards.
ANGUILLA--Anguilla came in for high praise at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace held in Nassau, the Bahamas, last week. It is one of the region’s largest and most important business forums with more than 1,000 hoteliers, tourist boards, tour operators and suppliers in attendance along with representatives from 28 Caribbean countries.
The tour operators and wholesalers attending the buyer-seller meet expressed enthusiasm and optimism regarding Anguilla’s tourism product and congratulated the Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) representatives on the island’s remarkable recovery. The comments reflected on the island’s tourist arrivals for 2019, which is expected to be a record-breaking year.
Parliamentary Secretary with Responsibility for Tourism, Cardigan Connor led the Anguilla delegation, which included Chantelle Richardson, ATB Coordinator, International Markets; Lorine Charles St. Jules, Sales Director, USA; and Noel Mignott, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PM Group, which represents the ATB in North America.
Connor delivered a comprehensive destination update at a press conference attended by local, regional and international media representatives. In his remarks he highlighted the many successes of 2019, including record-breaking tourist arrivals; the designation as #1 Island in the Caribbean for an unprecedented third year in a row by Travel + Leisure magazine; a brand new and completely renovated tourism product with new global brands; and the dynamic Beyond Extraordinary! Marketing Campaign, which highlights the unique experiences on Anguilla.
The Anguilla representatives met with buyers from all over the world during the course of the two-day trade show. They 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.
“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 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 said.
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.
