From March 4 – 9, 2015, the Messe Berlin has become a melting pot of global tourism excellence as key decision-makers negotiate important travel partnerships and unveil innovative holiday products. In 2014 a total of 10,147 companies and organisations from 189 countries exhibited their products and services to 174,000 visitors, including 114,000 trade visitors.
The Barbados booth is staffed by a high-level delegation including Chairman of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Alvin Jemmott, and BTMI CEO, William Griffith. They are joined by Suresh Monickoraja of Accra Beach Hotel & Spa; Glynis Jeffrey from Elegant Hotels; and Andrea Quinn-Ward of St. James Travel & Tours.Olaf Päpke of Star Clippers. Waves Hotel’s Gary Orr and Titti Kerr Axelsson of West Indian International Tours have also made the trip to this important travel trade fair.
Through advanced planning, the Barbadian team has secured back-to-back meetings with tour operators, wholesalers, online retailers, airlines, media partners and press.
Representatives at the BTMI also plan to use this opportunity to launch their latest promotion, “Brilliant Barbados”. CEO Griffith recently stated that Brilliant Barbados has been designed “to drive incremental business in the traditionally softer period of the year”. He added that “the battle for growth and sustainability for visitor arrivals will not be won solely by winter performances. It requires greater effort and more targeted marketing activity in the summer and fall months”.
The booking window for the Brilliant Barbados promotion will open from early March for five weeks and travel will be required between May 9 and December 19, 2015. Thirty participating hotels and a number of local attractions have come on board to offer visitors discounts.
