BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbados is determined to increase its share of the US Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibitions travel market, also known as the MICE tourism niche.
Director for the USA at the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Petra Roach, revealed that they were well on their way to realizing this goal with the island set to host 165 top-tier North American MICE planners at Hilton Barbados for the 2016 Caribbean Meeting & Incentive Travel Exchange (CMITE).
CMITE is part of the Global Meeting & Incentive Travel Exchanges (GMITE) portfolio of events, which are owned by the Questex Travel Group.
These meetings bring together buyers and suppliers who generate millions of dollars in business for host countries of these MICE events. Many of these events fall during the softer fall months, reducing the seasonality of the tourism sector. They also utilize the services of several ancillary tourism players including entertainers, equipment rental companies, app developers, meeting stand developers, etc.
Marilyn McHugh, vice president of global events at Questex Travel Group, joined Roach in making the announcement at this year’s sold-out event, which is underway at the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
McHugh stated that Barbados is known for its gracious and hospitable people, world-class beaches and fine-dining restaurants. “Barbados truly will be an exciting destination for our incentive travel buyers and suppliers,” she said. “We couldn’t be happier to share this news.”
“Hosting 165 of the top U.S buyers on the island lends us the perfect platform to showcase the renowned hospitality, sights and sounds that Barbados has to offer.” Roach stated.
“We are absolutely thrilled at the confidence invested in us by Questex in choosing Barbados as host destination for CMITE in 2016. Thanks to additional service by Delta and JetBlue airlines and newly opened resorts, now is the perfect time for the travel industry to reacquaint itself with Barbados.”
For more information on CMITE, visit caribbean.incentivetravelexchange.com.
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