Above: the Puerto Rico Convention Center

By Alexander Britell

SAN JUAN — The Caribbean’s largest travel marketing conference officially began with an opening ceremony Wednesday night in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Caribbean Travel Marketplace conference brings together hotels, destinations, attractions and transportation companies with international wholesalers selling Caribbean vacation travel.

Last year, buyers from 20 countries attended the Caribbean Travel Marketplace, participating in 12,000 appointments, according to data from the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, which hosts the annual event.

Also on hand were Ministers of Tourism and tourism directors from across the Caribbean, from Antigua and Barbuda to Trinidad and Tobago, among others.

Last year’s CHTA Marketplace was hosted at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Jamaica.

Each year, around 1,200 delegates visit the conference.