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BHTA 2025 NEW YEAR’S DAY MESSAGE

BY CHAIRMAN JAVON GRIFFITH

My fellow Barbadians, as we usher in the new year of 2025, the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) wishes to extend absolute best wishes to the people of Barbados.

I extend heartfelt gratitude to all tourism stakeholders, particularly our esteemed tourism workers, for their unwavering support and commitment to our island’s tourism industry.

The past year presented us with new and exciting business prospects. We are profoundly thankful, to the many valued investors for consistently believing in our country’s ability, to elevate Barbados’ status as a premier luxury Caribbean holiday destination.

In the eleven months of 2024 from January to November, Barbados welcomed to its shores a total of 617,228 stay-over arrivals, according to the Barbados Statistical Service (BSS). This is up 10% from the 559,701 stay-over arrivals, recorded for the same period in 2023.

This growth has been primarily driven by the island’s resounding success, in significantly growing the United States market. For January to November 2024, this market has already accounted for 201,005 visitors compared to 157,023 visitors, for the exact same period in 2023.

This 28% increase in North American visitors to our shores, is being positively felt in every corner of the tourism industry and across our membership. From the restaurants to the car rental firms, from the surf instructors to the taximen, from the villa management companies to the hotels and from the beach vendors to the merchants in Bridgetown.

This is being driven by the return of American Airlines to Barbados from New York-JFK and Philadelphia, the return of Delta Airlines to Barbados from Atlanta and New York-JFK, the introduction of Frontier Airlines to Barbados from San Juan, the increases in United Airlines flights to Barbados from Newark-EWR, the increases in JetBlue flights to Barbados from Boston and the increases in American Airlines flights to Barbados from Charlotte.

2025 promises to be an exciting year on many fronts and I look forward to the many months ahead with a great sense of optimism. Barbados’ tourism industry is poised for more expansion as various tourism investments, including the InterContinental Hotels Group Hotel Indigo and the Blue Monkey Beach Club continue to take shape. Excitement is also building for Marriott’s long-awaited transformation as they introduce the world to the new Autograph Collection (Waves Hotel and Spa, Treasure Beach, Tamarind and The House), the Luxury Collection (Colony Club) and in February 2026 to the Tribute Portfolio (Crystal Cove and Turtle Beach).

With both American Airlines and Delta Airlines collectively providing 10,000 new seats into Barbados per month in summer 2025, we are projected to have a great summer performance as an industry.

The BHTA will continue to advocate on our members’ behalf, and we eagerly anticipate further collaboration with local, regional and international partners, to realise our strategic business objectives. The rebound of our industry could not have been possible without the extensive work done by our invaluable and key tourism partner, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI). I have high praises for our tourism partners, who have been integral to our successful navigation of these choppy post COVID-19 seas; and because of this united front, we are seeing encouraging signs that the sector is fully back on its feet.

It would be very remiss of me not to highlight the recent stellar performance of the Barbados Culinary Team at the 2024 edition of Taste of the Caribbean held in November in Miami, Florida. The team was led by the Management Team of Adrian Cumberbatch, Javon Cummins, Rohan Hackshaw and Damian Leach. The four competing members of the team were Rickeena Kirton – Pastry Chef, Dejuan Toppin – Junior Chef, Rynaldo Joseph – Senior Chef and Alexander Chandler – Mixologist. The team returned victorious as the Caribbean National Culinary Team of the Year 2024 and have made Barbados exceptionally proud.

The future of tourism in Barbados is looking bright, despite the challenges we have and continue to face because of external factors. As you have previously heard, our vision speaks to strategic initiatives and partnerships that will diversify our product, build human capital and expand linkages with other sectors, while targeting new markets, driving a more collaborative approach to our tourism sector, while still ensuring that the growing tourism industry benefits all Barbadians. The resetting of our tourism sector to build forward and stronger, can only be achieved by focusing on building strong local capacity with a relentless focus on quality and excellent customer service.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire Secretariat of the BHTA, I wish all citizens of Barbados and our cherished visitors a healthy, happy and prosperous 2025!

Javon Griffith, BHTA Chairman

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SANDALS BARBADOS RECEIVES (CARPHA) AWARD

Sandals Barbados is the proud recipient of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Healthier Safer Tourism (HST) award.

The presentation was made recently at the Ministry of Health and Wellness office located in the Frank Walcott Building, St. Michael, Barbados.

Accepting the award for the Luxury Included Resort was General Manager Bruno Couesnon.

In his brief remarks Couesnon thanked every one of the team members who contributed to the resort’s recent accolade.

“It’s always nice to win awards; but it takes a team effort to achieve the results for which we are being recognized, today. The health and safety of our guests and team members are important to us and it is great to be selected and celebrated by CARPHA for doing our part and succeeding,” said Couesnon.

Executive Director of CARPHA Dr. Lisa Indar commended the hotel for achieving this internationally recognized award and praised its commitment to health and safety procedures.

“The 2019 Covid pandemic led to global shut down of tourism but it also demonstrated the resilience of the Caribbean by being able to bounce back. Part of that bouncing back was to be able to create a healthier and safer tourism experience and the reason you are here today is by being part of the tourism health programme and implementing proactive measures,” said Dr. Indar.

Some of the benefits of this award include being regionally and internationally recognized for healthier safer tourism endorsed by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO); the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

The award is the only traveler’s health award where compliance is assessed – it is measurable and verifiable, ensuring the safety of the tourist facility, staff and guests. It also gives a comparative, marketing advantage and gives value to the quality of service.(PR)

CAPTION: Sandals Barbados General Manager General Manager Bruno Couesnon (L) accepting the CARPHA award from Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kenneth George

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Data in Action: Youth Data Literacy as a Tool for Change workshop

In an era increasingly shaped by data, equipping young people with data literacy skills is essential for fostering informed decision-making and effective advocacy.

This perspective was shared by De-Jane Gibbons, UNFPA Liaison Officer for Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), during the launch of the Data in Action: Youth Data Literacy as a Tool for Change workshop. The event, hosted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO), took place on Tuesday at UN House.

Addressing the young participants, Gibbons underscored the critical role of data in shaping impactful social policies and emphasized the need for citizens in the region to grasp its importance.

“We all understand that we live in a world driven by data [and] by information. It’s all around us in everything we do. From tracking climate change to addressing community needs, data enables us to understand challenges and, more importantly, to create meaningful solutions. This workshop is more than speaking about numbers and spreadsheets, it’s about telling stories, making informed decisions, and amplifying your voice… it’s about turning insights into action, and action to impact the communities that we serve.

“We want to emphasise the role of data in strengthening advocacy efforts to shape government policies and to cultivate community empowerment across the Eastern Caribbean,” she stated.

The initiative is one of several by the UN aimed at reinforcing advocacy efforts, shaping policy, and empowering communities across the Eastern Caribbean. Gibbons highlighted that supporting youth data literacy is particularly crucial in an era where misinformation is widespread. She also stressed the importance of young advocates accessing reputable data sources to strengthen their efforts.

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Barbados Joins Celebrations To Mark Japan Emperor’s 65th Birthday

The cultural relationship between Barbados and Japan, as well as efforts to deepen and strengthen bilateral ties, will continue.

This was expressed by Minister of Training and Tertiary Education, Sandra Husbands, during a reception hosted, last Friday, by the new Ambassador of Japan to Barbados, Miyasaka Yusuke, to celebrate the 65th birthday of Japan’s Emperor Naruhito.

Government and private sector officials and members of the diplomatic corps participated in the event, including the President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason; Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw.

Minister Husbands, who offered congratulations to Emperor Naruhito on behalf of the Government and people of Barbados, said: “I extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes to His Majesty and the people of Japan on this joyous occasion. May this day be a reflection of peace, prosperity, and continued progress for your great nation.”

She noted that the Emperor’s characteristics personify not only its people but the bilateral relationship that exists between Barbados and Japan.

“His Majesty the Emperor has come to personify the very best characteristics of the people of Japan. Respect the pursuit of common ground and advocacy for peace. These same characteristics underpin the bilateral relationship between Barbados and Japan. Though geographically distant, Japan and Barbados share a deep commitment to democracy, economic development, innovation and environmental sustainability.

“Over the years, our bilateral relations have flourished, rooted in mutual respect, shared values, and cooperation in various fields, and we continue to pursue deeper engagement and strengthened cooperation,” Minister Husbands stated.

She also spoke of the “strong” bilateral areas that exist between the two countries. These are cooperation in disaster resilience, fisheries, renewable energy, education – Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme, sports, arts, and cultural exchanges, and most recently the donation to the Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness.

Ambassador Yusuke highlighted the deep friendship and mutual understanding between the two nations.

He said: “Since my arrival in Barbados, I have been deeply impressed by the beauty of this country, the warm hospitality of its people and the vibrancy of its culture. It has been a privilege to experience the spirit of this remarkable island through my encounters with the people of Barbados. I have come to appreciate the deep connection between our two nations, not only our shared values but also in our commitment to resilience and cooperation. This year, we commemorate the 58th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Barbados, a partnership built on mutual understanding and collaboration.”

As part of the evening’s celebrations, attendees were treated to specially curated Japanese food prepared by Japanese Chef Sakamoto, and Japanese wines and spirits. There were also origami, calendars, clothing, and artwork exhibits.

On May 1, 2019, Naruhito, the former Crown Prince, acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne, officially becoming the 126th Emperor of Japan.

Barbados and Japan established diplomatic relations on August 29, 1967. (PR/GIS)