Teams participating in the ‘Hearts of Many – Connecting The World Through Aviation’ (HOM) Aviation Football Tournament being held today, Thursday, February 27, were welcomed to the island at a reception at the Barbados Coast Guard Headquarters, last evening.

Those teams are British Airways Virgin Atlantic and Delta, JetBlue, American Airlines, O2 Beach Club – Barbados, British Airways (Barbados), Barbados Defence Force (BDF) and Weymouth Wales FC.

The games will be played at the Barbados Football Association’s Technical Centre from 4:00 to 9:30 p.m.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Andrea Franklin, welcomed the teams, noting that HOM is more than just a football cup.

“This tournament is far more than a competition, it is a celebration of sport, tourism, and the meaningful connections that emerge when individuals from diverse backgrounds unite with a shared passion…. The Aviation Cup is a powerful testament to the way sports transcend boundaries, bridging cultures, industries and communities,” she said.

The BTMI CEO stated that Barbados is committed to enhancing sports tourism endeavours, as it seeks to position itself as a location for hosting premier sporting events.

“Barbados remains committed to expanding the scope and impact of sports tourism, recognising it as a driving force behind economic growth and international engagement. 

“According to the Barbados Statistical Service, in 2024, the island welcomed 12,140 visitors, who travelled specifically to participate in or spectate at sporting events.  This remarkable figure underscores the increasing global interest in Barbados as a premier sports tourism hub.  As we look to the future, we are determined to further strengthen our position on the international stage by actively marketing Barbados as the ideal destination for major sporting events,” Ms. Franklin stated.

She thanked the Co-Ordinator of the Aviation Cup, British Airways’ Performance Development Co-Ordinator, Kurt Morlese, for organising the initiative and for his “dedication and unwavering passion” for making the Barbados ‘leg’ possible.

According to Mr. Morlese, HOM is an event where the world of aviation professionals and the love for football converge.

He said it took three years of planning to pull off the initiative with the first leg being held in October 2024 in London. He pointed out that the initiative aids in raising awareness about homelessness and supports young kids and adults who are getting into apprenticeships within the aviation industry.

Mr. Morlese noted that the British Airways team comprised various persons from within the aviation sector, including cabin crew, pilots, engineers, global senior management, and persons in cyber security, and loading and baggage.

Also welcoming the teams were BTMI’s UK-based Business Development Officer, Cedric Lynch, and BDF Captain, Shane Drakes.

Ms. Franklin and Mr. Morlese thanked those who made the Barbados leg possible and wished the participants a successful and safe tournament. They also encouraged the teams to enjoy their time together as they build camaraderie on and off the field. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) CEO, Andrea Franklin (centre); British Airways’ Performance Development Co-ordinator, Kurt Morlese (ninth from left) ; BDF Captain, Shane Drakes (sixth from right); and BTMI’s UK-based Business Development Officer, Cedric Lynch (right) pose with some of the participating team members and supporters at the welcome reception yesterday.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and its member destinations will be in the spotlight at Routes Americas 2025, the region’s leading air service development forum, scheduled for February 10 – 12 at Atlantis Paradise Island, The Bahamas. 

This critical gathering of airline, airport and tourism executives will serve as a platform to strengthen Caribbean air connectivity, explore new route opportunities, and position the region for continued tourism growth.

CTO will maintain a strong presence throughout the event, hosting a dedicated booth staffed by its media team. The booth will serve as a hub for member destinations to engage with the team for interviews, meetings and discussions. 

The conference represents a significant milestone for The Bahamas, reinforcing the destination’s commitment to enhancing global air connectivity and fostering sustainable tourism growth. Over 900 senior industry professionals from airlines, airports and destinations will participate in Routes Americas 2025 in The Bahamas. 

Also in attendance will be CTO Chairman Ian Gooding-Edghill, Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport and the Chair of the CTO Board of Directors and CEO of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Andrea Franklin. The impact of the large number of conference delegates will be felt across multiple sectors of the local tourism industry, from transportation and accommodations to retail and tour excursions.

CTO’s participation will include hosting the official luncheon on Monday, February 10, where CTO Chairman Ian Gooding-Edghill will address delegates on the organization’s vision for strengthening Caribbean airlift and tourism resilience. 

CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper will play a hands-on role in strategic meetings with airline partners, advocating for enhanced connectivity, improved intra-regional travel, and expanded international air service to Caribbean destinations.

She will also moderate a Ministerial Dialogue on “Shaping the Future of Caribbean Tourism”, featuring Minister Gooding-Edghill; Valérie Damaseau, President, Saint Martin Tourist Office; Kenneth Bryan, Deputy Premier & Minister for Tourism & Ports, Cayman Islands; and Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, The Bahamas.

“Strengthening air connectivity to and from the Caribbean requires a unified approach between aviation and tourism stakeholders. Routes Americas 2025 offers an invaluable platform to foster deeper collaboration, unlock new opportunities, and build strategic partnerships that will drive strengthen our aerial highways and bolster sustainable tourism growth and economic prosperity for our region,” said Regis-Prosper.

With The Bahamas serving as host, Routes Americas 2025 presents an unparalleled opportunity for CTO and its member destinations to shape discussions on regional air service competitiveness, tourism expansion, and public-private partnerships.

As the Caribbean continues to prioritize airlift as a catalyst for economic growth, this forum will be instrumental in fostering new airline agreements, securing increased accessibility, and positioning the region as a premier travel destination for global visitors.

Immediately following Routes Americas, the CTO Board of Directors and Ministerial Council will hold their first official meetings of the year, on February 13 at Atlantis Paradise Island. (PR/GIS)

The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) has appointed two employees to its growing team. They are Sade Deane, Tourism Liaison Officer and Kemuel Burke, Administrative Office Assistant.

Deane brings a wealth of experience in the tourism and business development sectors with emphasis on the environment and sustainability, having previously worked with a climate change organisation and as a Solutions Consultant, providing project management, administrative and corporate social responsibility services.

The holder of a MSc in Tourism with Project Management and a BSc in Tourism Management (Special) from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Deane explained that her new role has been enriching and full of learning opportunities.

She said, “As Tourism Liaison Officer I am responsible for translating external needs into business benefits for our members and assisting with the process of facilitating any internal adjustments or changes necessary to support the industry.

“After my initial assessment over the past few months, we now have a number of programmes planned, some of which we have already started to roll out. These include information and demonstration sessions with stakeholders as well as projects to improve the emergency management response levels among our members, to strengthen our environmental sustainability efforts and to enhance our connections with communities and the non-profit sector.” 

Burke, who previously interned with the Association in 2023 while pursuing a BSc in Hospitality and Tourism Management at UWI, is now responsible for enhancing the administrative efficiency of the Association.

He explained that his stint as an intern prepared him for his new position, “Starting as a full-time member of staff has not felt like a new experience but like coming back to work after a weekend away.   From engaging with stakeholders to foster stronger relationships, to assisting with event management, supporting marketing promotions, handling member queries and, of course, managing the day-to-day administrative activities of the Association, the last few months have been both dynamic and rewarding.

“Not only am I contributing to the services the Association provides to its members, but I am also developing my organisational, communication and teamwork skills, while deepening my understanding of the tourism and hospitality industry. I am excited for the opportunity to continue growing and contributing to the BHTA’s success.”

CEO of the BHTA, Ryan Forde stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Sade and Kemuel to the team as they have both added strengths to areas that we were previously operating at a weakness, due to the limitation of resources of skillset and manpower.

“Sade’s experience and diligence allowed us to address many challenges and concerns alongside our public sector partners across varying ministerial  and NGO agencies especially with reference to water, waste disposal, hurricane preparedness and reaction to storm impact as well as agriculture, to name a few. This allows the business community to have areas addressed quicker and lend assistance to the government agencies programmes to help build resilience.

“Kemuel has really stood out for his energy and enthusiasm as a younger member of the team, coupled with his experience gained from training in the industry while studying. His internship allowed us to be exposed to his willingness to learn, to communicate a newer vision of Tourism of the future and to also be essential in supporting the team, our members and the industry as a whole, on a day to day basis.” (PR)