As Caribbean destinations from the United States Virgin Islands to Saint Lucia begin to reopen their borders to travelers, it’s a time of great change and opportunity for the Caribbean. 

This week’s Caribbean Travel Outlook webinar presented by Caribbean Journal gathered top industry leaders from across the region to discuss what’s next for the Caribbean travel industry. 

“We look forward to continue partnering with the Caribbean to bring tourism back to this important region. In the meantime our hotels are working to implement elevated cleaning protocols and other measures to ensure that we are ready to welcome guests when restrictions are lifted. The Caribbean is a key region for Marriott International with existing 46 hotels and many more in the pipeline,” said Diana Plazas, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Marriott International, Caribbean and Latin America. “And we are committed to the recovery of the islands.”

The slate of executives included Frank Comito, CEO of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association; Diana Plazas, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for the Caribbean and Latin America at Marriott International; Mariela Sanchez, General Manager for Specialty Sales Development at Delta Air Lines; Leah Chandler, CDME, CMO at Discover Puerto Rico; and Ronella Tjin-Asjoe-Croes, CEO of the Aruba Tourism Authority. 

“As travelers begin to return to the Caribbean, airlines, hotels and destinations are faced with dual challenges: regenerating demand to travel, and building out the health and safety infrastructure to ensure travelers and locals feel safe and confident,” said Alexander Britell, Editor-in-Chief of Caribbean Journal. “From Delta’s impressive new protocols for safety to Marriott’s industry-leading health and hygiene measures, it’s remarkable to see how the region has responded to the new challenges presented by COVID-19.”

Watch the webinar in its entirety below:

Also find the presentation here. 

— CJ