antigua barbuda
Antigua has been a rising Caribbean hotspot, and now it's the centerpiece of the region's top tourism event.
Caribbean

The Caribbean’s Biggest Tourism Event Just Kicked Off in Antigua and Barbuda 

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - May 18, 2025 - 11:14 am

The Caribbean’s biggest tourism event, the Caribbean Travel Marketplace, has officially kicked off in Antigua and Barbuda.

Organized by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, this year marks the first time the twin-island nation is hosting the event, which runs through May 22 at the American University of Antigua. (Caribbean Journal will be on the ground providing updates from the event throughout the week).

The 43rd edition of what attendees simply call “Marketplace” brings together global buyers and regional suppliers for a series of business-to-business meetings aimed at strengthening the Caribbean’s tourism sector.

Delegates will engage in one-on-one appointments, networking sessions, and forums designed to foster collaboration and drive economic growth across the region.

long bay in antigua
Long Bay Beach in Antigua.

The event’s agenda includes Responsible Tourism Day on May 18, focusing on sustainable tourism practices and community engagement.

On May 19, the Caribbean Travel Forum will convene public and private sector leaders to discuss essential issues affecting regional tourism, from development to aviation.

The Marketplace’s signature buyer-seller appointments will take place on May 20 and 21, providing opportunities for direct business negotiations, it’s a lively, energetic mix of expo and trade show, with a strong pace and a focus on driving the region’s business, particularly for the upcoming summer season.

A new addition this year is the Direct Booking Summit on May 22, which will explore digital marketing strategies and AI-driven solutions to enhance the region’s competitiveness.

The event is expected to attract significant international attention, further solidifying Antigua and Barbuda’s position as a key player in the Caribbean hospitality and tourism sector. With its strategic location and state-of-the-art facilities, the nation is poised to make a lasting impression on attendees from around the world.

It also puts the twin-island hotspot of Antigua and Barbuda in the spotlight, reinforcing a destination that has been one of the fastest-growing places to visit in the broader Caribbean and the hemisphere in recent years. 

Popular Posts st kitts fortress

The Caribbean’s Hottest New Restaurant Is at a Centuries-Old Fortress in St Kitts

It’s one of the most stunning locations in the Caribbean: Brimstone Hill, the towering fortress in the mountains of St Kitts, a centuries-old UNESCO World Heritage Site.  And now it’s the home of the hottest new restaurant in the Caribbean.  […]


Jamaica Just Got an Upgraded US Travel Advisory: “A Great Step Forward” 

seven mile beach white sand

Last year’s US Travel Advisory led to a slowdown in tourist arrivals to Jamaica. But in what’s hoped to be a major shift, the US State Department just upgraded Jamaica’s rating.  Jamaica’s travel advisory has improved from Level 3 to […]


One of the Best Beaches in The Bahamas Comes With a World-Famous Blue Hole

the beach at dean's blue hole in the bahamas

It doesn’t look real at first. You step out from the pines and palms onto a curve of soft, white sand, and there it is—this perfect, impossible circle in the sea. A portal. The blue gets darker the longer you […]


Related Posts uncrowded beach in little cayman

Little Cayman Is the Unscripted, Untouched, Uncrowded Caribbean Hideaway You Dream About

You don’t stumble into Little Cayman. You choose it — or maybe it chooses you. After the second Cayman Airways flight, after the last connection, after the world begins to fall away, you arrive on an island where the pace […]


This 9,000-Square-Foot Cruise Ship Suite Will Cost You $25,000 Per Night

regent seven seas suite

It’s the kind of suite that redefines luxury at sea — not with gimmicks, but with scale, privacy, and meticulous detail. At nearly 9,000 square feet, the newly unveiled Skyview Regent Suite aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ forthcoming Seven Seas Prestige is the largest […]


JetBlue Launches First-Ever Honduras Route With New York to San Pedro Sula Flights

honduras jetblue new flight

JetBlue has officially launched its first-ever service to Honduras, with a new daily nonstop route between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and San Pedro Sula, a city that is heating up — with another new flight launched this […]