Richès Karayib met with Grégoire Dumel, regional and local manager at the Saint-Martin Tourist Office, at the 43ᵉ edition of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2025. For Grégoire Dumel, participation in this key Caribbean tourism event is more than just shaking hands: it involves a concrete, long-term strategy involving regional coordination, sales follow-up and action on the ground.
A strategic meeting to structure the future
For Grégoire Dumel, the Caribbean Travel Marketplace is much more than a trade show: it’s an essential networking platform for all Caribbean destinations wishing to strengthen their foothold in North American, European and Latin American markets.
“The CHTA brings together all the buyers and sellers at these major markets. For us in Saint-Martin, it’s vital to be there to coordinate our future marketing and communication actions.”
Saint-Martin Tourist Office present on both sides of the island (French and Dutch), is part of a global of cooperation and global visibility to promote the destination.
A trade show, and then what? The next step is in the field
Contrary to a superficial view of these events, Grégoire Dumel emphasizes the post-show work often invisible, but decisive.
“The show is 20% of our work. Now we have to call, relaunch, build. That’s where our action really begins.”
These meetings should give rise to concrete partnerships, negotiated packages and targeted campaigns. The aim is clear: to boost the number of visitors to Saint-Martin, by relying on a network of committed agents, tour operators and professionals.
Love Days 2025 - The next big event on Saint-Martin
The post-show period does not mean a return to routine. Quite the contrary, in fact. From June 6 to 8, 2025 Saint-Martin will host a new edition of its Love Days, an event designed to appeal to couples and lovers of the destination alike.
“We’re inviting our neighbors from Guadeloupe and Martinique, as well as Trinidad and Tobago, to come and discover the island over the Whitsun long weekend,” explains Grégoire Dumel.
Supported by a joint Franco-Dutch delegation the seduction operation is not limited to a simple weekend: it is part of a regional appeal. The campaign is in line with Saint-Martin’s presence in Trinidad from June 3 to 9 for a direct promotional campaign aimed at the general public and agencies.
Saint-Martin, between strategic monitoring and festive hospitality
In Grégoire Dumel’s words, it’s all about Saint-Martin’s strategic maturity presence at major forums, rigorous sales follow-up and the ability to rapidly activate targeted operations in the field. The Caribbean Travel Marketplace is a springboard, but it’s consistency and coordination that will make the difference in the months ahead.
With the Love Days and the mission to Trinidad, the island shows that it knows how to move from words to action, always at the service of authentic, shared and ambitious tourism.
