From May 18 to 22, 2025, Antigua and Barbuda hosted the 43ᵉ edition of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the flagship event of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA). Richès Karayib was there, affirming its positioning as a Caribbean media player at the service of regional unity, tourism innovation and sustainable economic connections.
Several territories were represented, testifying to the regional scope of the event: St. Kitts, Dominica, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Martin, Sint Maarten, Montserrat, Barbados, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Grenada, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, among others. The show also welcomed international hotel groups, airlines, travel agencies, digital platforms, as well as Caribbean and international institutions to exchange ideas, prospect and conclude agreements.
A look back at an immersion rich in encounters.
An event at the heart of Caribbean tourism strategy
The Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM) is the leading B2B trade show dedicated to Caribbean tourism. Each year, it brings together over 800 participants: hotels, tourist offices, tour operators, investors, airlines, media and institutional representatives. Its aim is to promote business meetings, forge lasting partnerships and anticipate major industry trends.
The 2025 edition, hosted on the campus of the American University of Antigua, was marked by a dense and structured program:
– Caribbean Travel Forum (political and economic issues),
– Responsible Tourism Day (sustainability and resilience),
– Caribbean Travel Marketplace (Professional meetings)
– Direct Booking Summit (digital innovation and direct sales).
For Caribbean territories, the Caribbean Travel Marketplace is a strategic opportunity to assert their attractiveness, attract new markets and reinforce their image.
Through conferences, exchanges and field demonstrations, the Marketplace confirmed its role as a platform for accelerating growth and visibility for Caribbean destinations.
Meet the people who shape Caribbean tourism
The Caribbean Travel Marketplace was an opportunity to meet many personalities involved in the development of tourism in the region. Rich exchanges, full of meaning and perspectives, with women and men who, each in their own way, are helping to shape a more connected, more ambitious and more attractive Caribbean.
We met some of the key players:
These meetings will be the subject of a series of articles and content to be published shortly on Richès Karayib’s channels.
Direct Booking Summit: digital strategies to boost direct bookings
On May 22, 2025, at the close of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the first-ever Direct Booking Summit – Caribbean Edition was held at Sandals Grande Antigua. Organized by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA ) in partnership with Triptease, the event aimed to provide Caribbean hoteliers with tools and strategies to increase their direct bookings and optimize their distribution channels.
The day was punctuated by interactive sessions covering topics such as website optimization, digital marketing, customer relationship management (CRM), rate parity, and the use of social networks to stimulate direct bookings. Industry experts shared their insights on best practices for reducing reliance on third-party platforms and boosting hotel profitability.
This initiative marks an important step in the digital transformation of the Caribbean hotel sector, with a focus on empowering establishments and creating more direct, personalized relationships with customers.
“The Wicket Fete”: a colorful finale in the heart of the Caribbean spirit
The closing evening of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2025, dubbed “The Wicket Fete”, was held on May 21 at the legendary Coolidge Cricket Grounds in Antigua. Designed as a vibrant tribute to local culture, the party fused the spirit of cricket with the energy of carnival, in a festive and authentic atmosphere.
The program included live performances by Tian Winter, Claudette Peters, The Kutting Edge Band and the legendary Burning Flames, accompanied by steel bands and entertainment throughout the evening.
Local artisans and creators were also on hand, displaying their products and know-how in a Caribbean market atmosphere, blending art, crafts, flavors and traditions.
A memorable evening, punctuated by local gastronomy, music and informal encounters, which brought the event to a close on a warm and deeply Caribbean note.
A key moment for understanding the Caribbean on the move
The Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2025 will have captured the energy, challenges and ambitions of Caribbean territories in terms of tourism. The wealth of profiles met, the diversity of approaches, and the desire to strengthen regional cooperation bear witness to a Caribbean in the throes of transformation.
➡️ Coming soon on richeskarayib.com and our networks: portraits, testimonials and exclusive analyses from these meetings in Antigua.
