Last evening, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) joined with eGroup Communications to welcome delegates to the sixth Land X-Change Meetings Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) conference, being held in partnership with the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle.
BTMI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Andrea Franklin, noted that Barbados’ tourism arrival numbers have been encouraging and with the further expansion of services and amenities being offered, the island can facilitate new and increased business in areas such as the MICE market.
“This year’s land X-Change being held in Barbados is a testament to Barbados’ growing prominence as a preferred destination for MICE tourism. Our journey to this point has been marked by strategic collaborations and a steadfast commitment to excellence in hospitality and event management,” she said.
The CEO noted that with the introduction of the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle with its “exceptional conference amenities”, Barbados’ capacity to cater to the diverse needs of MICE buyers was further enhanced.
She told participants that over the next few days, the island and its MICE suppliers would showcase why Barbados should be a preferred choice for upcoming events.
“Over the next few days, our objectives are clear and compelling. Firstly, to drive heightened demand for Barbados as a premier destination for MICE events, and we will do so by illustrating to you how Barbados has the infrastructure, support, and services to cater to your clients.
“Secondly, we will amplify Barbados’ visibility on the global stage through the dynamic discussions and networking opportunities this conference affords. And finally, we intend to show you some of the best experiences that Barbados has to offer, to inspire you to create programmes that we are confident will appeal to your clients,” Ms. Franklin stated.
She said to enhance the offering as a MICE destination the BTMI plans to capitalise on the new airlift options to Barbados, especially the allure of first class and premium seating, which are pivotal in attracting discerning MICE clientele.
Ms. Franklin expressed thanks to eGroup Communications for selecting Barbados for the sixth land conference, a decision she explained is based on Barbados’ past successes “in similar forums and our unwavering dedication to offering world class facilities and experiences”.
Back in 2010, eGroup Communications launched the MICE industry land exchange conference where buyers and sellers in the industry could network and find out about product offerings.
President and Founder of eGroup Communications, Robert Burke, noted that globally, these conferences are highly sought and “the X-change is known as the number one ROI event in the MICE industry and the success of the X-change is the combination of the hosted buyers that attend. All these buyers are fully qualified with RFPs for the region or for the product itself.”
He indicated that after engagement with BTMI’s Directors, Peter Mayers and Eusi Skeete, Barbados was chosen for this year’s conference.
“We decided that this would be perfect as we call our land X-change venues world class meeting and incentive destinations. We’ve got DMCs; we’ve got hotels and resorts; we have cruise lines; we have global gifting; we have every aspect of the incentive business including air,” Mr. Burke said.