Since 2014 we have been charged with displaying to the world the sensational sights, tantalizing tastes and exhilarating experiences that make Barbados an island destination like no other. Here is the news on how we’ve been tracking and how you can get more involved in making our goals a reality.
WINTER 2018
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2018: The Year of Culinary Experiences
William ‘Billy’ Griffith CEO, BTMI
Until then, we work diligently to ensure the stability of our brand worldwide, and trust that a resolution will come quickly.
As the year turns and we make our resolutions, it’s often helpful to have a strategic focus that pulls it all together. That’s why we have officially dubbed 2018 the Year of Culinary Experiences.
changes coming and look forward to seeing this festival grow to its greatest potential.
For years, visitors have enjoyed the diverse gastronomic fare Barbados has to offer - from Cuz’s to The Cliff and everything in between. This fact, coupled with the success of our annual Food & Rum festival, makes culinary the perfect focus for us.
Barbados Family & Friends Club It has been a long time coming and I am happy to say that one of our greatest achievements thus far for 2018 has been the relaunch of our Barbados Family and Friends Club. We have enhanced the programme with new digital assets for easier use, as well as doubling the rewards offered.
We are therefore integrating these delicious culinary experiences into our marketing and PR efforts in each source market. We kicked off with the Barbados Sugar and Rum Season, the brainchild of the Barbados Tourism Product Authority, and have received lots of attention in international media. Next up is the fresh, revamped Oistins Fish Festival happening over Easter weekend, which has become a staple on Barbados’ culinary calendar. We’re very interested in the
For more on the Year of Culinary Experiences, click here.
I am confident that the programme will continue to be successful in delivering quality referral business to our shores. New opportunities In addition to the numerous new accommodations and attractions slated for this year, we are also looking forward to the developments within our source markets. Of particular interest is the introduction of the new Copa service between Barbados and Panama starting this July, and I’m
happy to announce that packages are already in place and bookings are open on the Copa website. We expect the arrival of Copa to result in significant new business for us, and have retained the services of CIIC PR agency to manage our efforts in Latin America pre and post launch. South Coast sewage leak Still of much concern to our partners and stakeholders has been the leak in our South Coast sewerage system. To date we have been working closely with our PR agencies to manage any messages internationally; our Directors have been communicating one-on-one with travel agents, tour operators and other partners globally; and we have also been responding to traveller queries directly via email and social media. We continue to stress to the above that we are anxious to see this problem rectified as it does not reflect the standard of a Barbados holiday. Until then, we work diligently to ensure the stability of our brand worldwide, and trust that a resolution will come quickly.