This New Hotel Summit in Antigua Is Changing How Caribbean Resorts Drive Bookings

In a pivotal move to help regional hoteliers regain control of their revenue streams, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association is launching the inaugural Direct Booking Summit – Caribbean Edition this May in Antigua. 

The one-day business event, set for May 22, aims to arm hospitality leaders with the digital strategies and distribution tactics necessary to reduce dependency on online travel agencies and wholesalers.

The summit arrives at a critical juncture for the Caribbean hospitality sector, where rising OTA commissions and fluctuating demand are prompting a renewed focus on profitability. 

Sanovnik Destang, the renowned Saint Lucia hotelier and president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, said the idea is to help hoteliers “take control” of their distribution, increase profitability and deepen their engagement with guests. 

“It’s an unmissable opportunity to ‘future-proof’ your business in an increasingly competitive landscape,” he said. 

Backed by industry tech firm Triptease, the event will bring together sales, marketing, and revenue executives from across the region for a tightly focused program of workshops, panels, and networking.

Topics on the agenda include digital advertising optimization, CRM personalization, rate parity management, and the growing influence of TikTok and influencer marketing on hotel direct channels. 

Attendees will also hear case studies from properties in the region that have successfully reduced their reliance on third-party bookings by implementing targeted email campaigns, conversion tracking, and automation.

The event follows on the heels of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace, leveraging existing regional momentum and allowing hotel executives already on island to extend their stay for an operationally focused day.

Registration fees are set at $495 for CHTA members and $595 for non-members. To encourage participation from across the region, the CHTA has negotiated a 25 percent discount on airfare with LIAT and Sunrise Airways for summit attendees.

With nearly every session structured around measurable ROI and digital execution, the summit signals a shift in tone for Caribbean hospitality events—away from broad-brush networking and toward data-driven, bottom-line outcomes.

For more information or to register, visit directbookingsummit.com/home-caribbean.

Our Take: This is a much-needed boost for hoteliers in the region. Bringing in new guests (and deepening ties with existing ones) isn’t getting any easier, and education has never been more important. A welcome addition to what is already the region’s top travel event.

Our Take: This is a much-needed boost for hoteliers in the region. Bringing in new guests (and deepening ties with existing ones) isn’t getting any easier, and education has never been more important. A welcome addition to what is already the region’s top travel event.