Tourism

Barbados To Showcase Investment Opportunities At CHICOS 2024

Barbados is proud to be the host location of the 2024 Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference & Operations Summit (CHICOS), taking place from November 13 to 15, at the Wyndham Grand Sam Lord’s Castle Resort.

Chairman of CHICOS, Parris Jordan, noted that hosting the event will provide significant benefits for the hotel sector and Barbados’ economy.

“We are excited to partner with the Government of Barbados and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts to bring CHICOS to the island for the first time. The Barbados hotel market continues to perform well, and the addition of a new branded product and a strong hotel pipeline bodes well for the nation.”

Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, agrees that the hosting of CHICOS will be beneficial to the island. He indicated that having over 300 delegates and investors will provide a significant impetus to the island’s hospitality industry, resulting in heightened bookings and increased visibility for local hotels and accommodation providers.

“This influx is expected to catalyse long-term partnerships and unlock new avenues for investment. Furthermore, CHICOS will showcase Barbados’ compelling appeal as a destination for future tourism projects, potentially driving a wave of new developments and enhancements in our tourism infrastructure,” Mr. Gooding-Edghill said.

He went on to say that in addition, the global exposure garnered from CHICOS will bolster Barbados’ standing as a leading destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), and this elevated profile will attract future major conferences and events to Barbados.

Opportunities for investment in entertainment facilities, medical and dental tourism, and the island’s attractive package of incentives will also be highlighted during CHICOS. Updates will be provided on several other projects, including Needham’s Point, Jemmotts Lane, Pierhead, Kensington Oval, and the government headquarters.

The Tourism Minister said: “Delegates will have the rare opportunity to engage deeply with Barbados’ distinctive investment landscape, forge meaningful connections with local enterprises, and acquire a nuanced understanding of the island’s vast potential.”

He reported that among the projects to be highlighted at the conference is the Bridgetown Transformation – UNESCO World Heritage Site of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison, which will feature seven development zones and 12 sites for hotel development.

“The project will expand the economic base and coordinate a redevelopment process that seeks to transform the area into a city of diversity, operating 24/7 and blending commerce with culture, heritage, and sports, as well as traditional tourism, accommodation, and entertainment.” Mr. Gooding-Edghill said.

He also said Barbados will promote the Carlisle Bay Development, which covers over two kilometres of beachfront land and is a unique tourism investment project that will feature an iconic performing arts/conference facility and five new hotels with a total of 1,500 rooms.

Opportunities for investment in entertainment facilities, medical and dental tourism, and the island’s attractive package of incentives will also be highlighted during CHICOS. Updates will be provided on several other projects, including Needham’s Point, Jemmotts Lane, Pierhead, Kensington Oval, and the government headquarters.

“We are dedicated to making CHICOS a landmark event that is both a transformative event for investment professionals and an unforgettable journey through the unparalleled allure of Barbados,” the Minister said.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, President, Latin America and the Caribbean, Gustavo Viescas, said: “We are thrilled to host CHICOS at Wyndham Grand Barbados. The newly completed all-inclusive resort perfectly illustrates the country and all its natural beauty—lush gardens and uninterrupted ocean views that make it the perfect escape for travellers everywhere. As we continue to expand Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in the Caribbean, hosting CHICOS demonstrates our commitment to tourism development and showcasing the unique features of our resorts.”

The Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference & Operations Summit (CHICOS) is the premier hospitality conference in the region. Having completed its 12th edition in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands in 2023, CHICOS brings together over 350 regional and international investors and operators, as well as the region’s leading decision-makers.

Also participating as attendees or speakers are government representatives, opinion leaders, developers, bankers and other lenders, tourism officials, investment fund representatives, hotel brand executives, tourism developers seeking investors, franchise and operations company delegates, public and private institution members, consultants, advisors, architects, and designers. (PR/GIS)

Tourism

BARBADIAN REUBEN LEROY BROWNE NAMED GENERAL MANAGER AT WYNDHAM GRAND BARBADOS SAM LORDS CASTLE

Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle has appointed Barbadian Reuben Leroy Browne as General Manager of the all-inclusive luxury resort in St. Philip.

With over 30 years of experience in the tourism industry with major international brands across the Caribbean, Browne will be responsible for the hotel’s operations including enhancing guest experiences and revenue growth, while focusing on strategic planning, resource management and prioritizing environmental and social responsibility activities, among other tasks.

The new General Manager, who took up the post last month (October), said, “Over the past few weeks, I have had the privilege of getting to know our amazing team and exploring everything our beautiful resort has to offer. Our team is truly dedicated, and together we are committed to enhancing the guest experience as we approach the winter season.

“I’m proud to share that all of our resort’s food and beverage outlets are all operational, including the Mediterranean Restaurant for all-day dining, Sam Lords Grill, and our signature fine-dining venue, Castle View. Our Lucy’s Lounge, named in honor of Sam Lords’ wife, adds a unique touch to the resort, and we also have six well-appointed bars throughout the property to cater to our guests’ needs.”

He added that the spa, 24 hour gym and Kid’s Club are also functioning at full steam for both locals and visitors to utlise and said, “Our next steps will be to fill key vacancies starting with the Director of Sales and Marketing. We are also continuing our promotion of the property in key source markets at events such as World Travel Market in London, which our Revenue Manager attended earlier this month.”

Browne, who has a strong educational background from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and several management development programmes, most recently served as General Manager of an all-inclusive 294 suite property in Antigua.

Since starting his career in the industry in 1984, he has developed a successful track record in various leadership roles including Food and Beverage Manager, Operations Manager, Residence Manager, Director of Operations and Chief Commercial Officer at renowned hotels and resorts in Barbados and the region.

An active member in various professional associations including the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) and past member of the Downtown Nassau Partnership, he also dedicates his time to charitable endeavors including the Optimist Club. (PR)

Caption: Barbadian Reuben Leroy Browne has been appointed General Manager of the all-inclusive Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle.

Tourism

BHTA BARBADOS NATIONAL CULINARY TEAM OFF TO TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN 2024

Members of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) Barbados National Culinary Team left the island last Saturday to compete in the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Taste of the Caribbean, which takes place in Miami from November 18 to 20.

They are Chef Rynaldo Joseph, Junior Chef Dejuan Toppin, Pastry Chef Rickeena Kirton and Mixologist Alex Chandler, along with Team Manager Adrian Cumberbatch, Assistant Team Manager Javon Cummins and Coaches Damian Leach and Rohan Hackshaw.

Cumberbatch noted that the team is ready to put their best plates and beverages forward: “There has been a lot of preparation over the past few weeks to get everyone ready for the competition. Our focus was on strengthening a number of areas ranging from time management to concepts and flavor profiles. After weeks of hard work and dedication I can confidently say that the team members are all ready to showcase their talent and skills and to make Barbados proud.”

BHTA’s Special Projects Manager, Tessalee Moore, who is among a BHTA contingent, including Chairman Javon Griffith and CEO Ryan Forde, attending Taste to support the team, explained that the Association was more than happy to be facilitating the process to get team Barbados to the prestigious event.

Caption: Members of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) Barbados National Culinary Team at the GAIA yesterday with BHTA CEO Ryan Forde (left) and Special Projects Manager Tessalee Moore (second from left) on the way to the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Taste of the Caribbean in Miami.

“We are extremely happy that Taste is back and that Barbados can attend and defend our title as Caribbean Team of the Year. But beyond that, for the BHTA, Taste is more than a competition. It is also a major training and developmental tool for our chefs and mixologists as it provides educational opportunities by way of seminars, workshops and demonstrations on the trends and emerging concepts in Food and Beverage.

“While we would love Team Barbados to bring home gold and the bragging rights as Team of the Year again, we equally want the members to gain from this experience in a way that will propel their careers and for them to willingly share their knowledge with their peers when they return. This is their opportunity to showcase their skills on an international platform and we want them to take full advantage of that opportunity.” (PR)

Tourism

EXPLORA 11 DOCKS FOR THE FIRST TIME

The Explora II docked at the Port of Bridgetown for the first time yesterday, bringing 427 passengers to the island’s shore.

During a plaque exchange ceremony on board the vessel, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding- Edghill, thanked Captain Serena Melani for guiding what he described as a “magnificent” ship into the Port of Bridgetown.

“We certainly want to thank you and your team on board, and certainly the executives at MSC, for taking the opportunity to continue to have the confidence in Barbados as a home port,” he said.

Captain of the vessel, Serena Melani, who was the first woman in cruise industry history to captain a new ocean cruise ship launch in February 2020, said it was “nice to be back”, and that she was happy to bring another vessel to the Barbados. She previously brought the Explora I to the island during the 2023-2024 winter season.

*Minister of Tourism Ian Gooding Edghill & Captain Serena Melani*

The Explora Journeys’ Explora II transatlantic cruise itinerary, which began in Barcelona, Spain, will make six homeporting visits to Barbados during the 2024-2025 winter season.

The next port of call for the cruise vessel is Fort-de-France, Martinique.

In addition to the Explora II, the Port of Bridgetown also welcomed the MSC Magnifica for the first time. Britannia P&O and Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas also docked yesterday, bringing a total of 8,000 visitors to the island. (PR/GIS)