NEW YORK – The Caribbean’s positioning as a valuable and viable brand took a major step forward this month with the launch of the Caribbean Tourism Development Company’s (CTDC) new consumer travel site www.caribbeantravel.com
CTDC, the marketing and business development unit owned equally by the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), presented the new site to members of the travel press, describing it as a colorful and content-rich site designed to be the central portal to all things related to Caribbean travel.
Extending her congratulations to CTDC, Caroline Racine, Director of Caribbean Franchise Development for Choice Hotels International, said the new website represented “another landmark initiative in Caribbean collaboration” as she commended the partners from both the public and private sector.
“The Caribbean has only scratched the surface to increase its share of international travel and tourism revenues, and this branding strategy should help reap rewards not just for the businesses that operate in the region, but for the people and communities who call the Caribbean home,” she said.
The CTDC will soon introduce an interactive consumer web video contest with the theme “Why My Life Needs the Caribbean,”offering Caribbean vacations as prizes for winners.
“Our goal with CaribbeanTravel.com is to create a one-stop shop for travelers and travel agents with all necessary information, images and vacation offers at their fingertips,” said Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, co-CEO of the CTDC and Secretary General of the CTO. “Our goal since day one of the creation of the CTDC has been to create buzz and business for the Caribbean,” said CHA Director-General Alec Sanguinetti, who doubles as co-CEO of the CTDC.
Choice Hotels International, the strategic hotel partner of the Caribbean Hotel Association, seeks to help increase the profitability of Caribbean small hotels with state-of-the-art revenue management systems, a powerful reservations system, a US$175 million marketing campaign, and dedicated Brand Performance Consultants.
(From left) President of the Caribbean Hotel Association Peter Odle, Caroline Racine of Choice Hotels International, Antigua & Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism Harold Lovell, and Senator Allen Chastanet, St. Lucia’s Minister of Tourism at the Caribbean website launch in New York earlier this month.
