Richès Karayib met with Craig Marshall, Regional Director of Blue Diamond Resorts, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels Association, and Vice-President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). A key figure in the organization of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2025. Craig Marshall shares with us his thoughts on this historic edition, Antigua and Barbuda’s ambitions for the future, and the importance of a collective voice within Caribbean tourism.
A strategic turning point for Antigua and Barbuda
For Craig Marshall, the success of this event is not an accident. It’s the result of an intense collaboration between the public and private sectors, notably between the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels Association and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority.
“This is the first time such a small territory has hosted the region’s largest tourism forum,” he points out. “It shows that our organizational capacity far exceeds our demographic size.”
With this year’s event, Antigua is now on the map of potential hosts for larger international events. An assertive strategy.
An island now ready for major world events
The Caribbean Travel Marketplace is just the beginning. In June 2025, Antigua will host the OAS forum with delegations from the Americas. And in 2026, the island will host King Charles, Queen Camilla and Commonwealth Heads of State at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
“These appointments confirm that we are entering a new phase. We are capable of hosting major diplomatic events, in addition to tourism events,” says Craig Marshall.
This positioning reinforces Antigua’s status as a regional hub for regional hub for political, economic and tourism dialogue.
📍 Details of the OAS forum
- Dates : June 25-27, 2025.
- Location : AUA Conference and Learning Centre, University Park, St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda.
- Theme : Building resilient and inclusive economies in the Americas.
This theme underlines the importance of resilience and inclusiveness in meeting the challenges faced by member states, large and small, with an emphasis on sustained and collective action.
A Caribbean voice strengthened by unity
Highly committed to the CHTA, Craig Marshall also stresses the importance of association membership for industry professionals. The work carried out around customs duties and regional advocacy shows the relevance of a collective voice.
“We need to speak with one voice. The more of us there are, the more that voice carries,” he insists. “The CHTA doesn’t just organize events: it defends our common interests.”
When asked to sum up the main benefit for members in one word, he answers without hesitation: growth.
A united and ambitious Caribbean
In Craig Marshall’s words, a dynamic is confirmed: that of a structured, united Caribbean structured, united, focused on action and influence. In addition to being a beautiful destination, Antigua & Barbuda now aims to be a a key player in regional and global trade. And the Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2025 will have been the signal.
Richès Karayib continues to bring you a behind-the-scenes look at this event through the testimonials of those who are building the Caribbean tourism of today and tomorrow.
