Caribbean Travel Advisor
St. Kitts Launches Travel Advisor Board to Strengthen Trade Collaboration
Antigua and Barbuda Hosts U.S. Travel Advisory Board for On-Island Strategic Retreat
Hartling Group’s Karen Whitt Talks Luxury, Turks and Caicos, and the Growth of Experiential Travel
Barbados Is Launching a New Destination Weddings Program
Barbados has introduced a new wedding initiative designed to drive group bookings and strengthen the island’s romance market in partnership with JetBlue and several of its top hotels. All Aisles Lead to Barbados, launched this week, rewards qualifying couples with a collection of high-value perks including JetBlue flights for the bride and groom and a complimentary five-night stay at participating resorts.
The program runs through Mar. 31, 2026, and is aimed at newly engaged couples planning destination weddings with thirty or more guests. Eligible couples may submit entries beginning today through the program’s dedicated online portals, with flexible travel dates available from Jan. 1, 2026 through Mar. 31, 2027.
The initiative brings together an influential hotel lineup that includes The Crane Resort, O2 Beach Club and Spa, Sea Breeze Beach House, Waves Resort & Spa, and Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle. Destination management companies will collaborate with couples and advisors, providing elevated planning support, VIP arrivals, private island experiences and on-the-ground coordination to ensure smooth execution for wedding groups.
Barbados’ position in the romance market has grown steadily. The island was recently named the Caribbean’s Leading Wedding Destination at the 2025 World Travel Awards, reaffirming its longstanding appeal for celebrations ranging from cliffside ceremonies to intimate events in historic sugar mills and quiet stretches of white sand. The new promotion is designed to build on that momentum and reinforce Barbados as a year-round option for weddings and milestone travel.
“This promotion brings Barbados’ romance story to life in a meaningful way,” said Peter Mayers, director of BTMI USA. “Couples today want destinations that blend beauty, authenticity and ease of planning. This program shows that Barbados is not only stunning, it is effortless, warm and deeply rewarding for couples and their guests. We are grateful to JetBlue and our hotel partners for helping us celebrate the couples who choose Barbados for this milestone.”
Stephanie Evans Greene, senior vice president of marketing and brand at JetBlue, underscored the airline’s role in connecting wedding travelers with the island. “It’s an honor to bring couples to Barbados for some of life’s biggest moments, and we’re committed to making sure their trip starts with the comfort, care and award-winning service JetBlue is known for,” she said. “This promotion celebrates what makes Barbados truly special and gives our customers the chance to create new memories with the people they love most.”
The package for qualifying couples includes a complimentary ocean-view five-night stay at a participating resort, roundtrip JetBlue flights for the bride and groom, dedicated on-island wedding concierge service, VIP Fast Track arrival, private airport transfers, spa credit, a professional photoshoot at a scenic location, a private island experience arranged by BTMI partners and a welcome bottle of Bajan rum. Wedding guests receive their own set of on-island experiences, including a group rum tasting, a welcome reception, curated gifts and destination concierge support.
Travel advisors play a central role in the initiative. BTMI has created a dedicated suite of tools for the trade, including webinars, targeted communication, a two-hundred-fifty-dollar gift card incentive for every confirmed group of twenty-five or more, and a grand-prize stay for top-performing advisors. Advisors must submit proof of hotel bookings and confirmed wedding arrangements at participating properties to qualify.
The booking window for All Aisles Lead to Barbados runs from Dec. 8, 2025 through May 31, 2026, with weddings eligible for travel from Jan. 1, 2026 to Mar. 31, 2027.
St. Kitts Tourism Authority Concludes Global 2025 Fam Trip With Advisors From Four Key Markets
Petra Roach Talks Barbados, All-Inclusive Demand, and the Growth of Immersive Travel
2025 seems to be the year that experiential travel has fully recovered — and now demand is surging as travelers want to get out and explore.
Many hospitality representatives are seeing a comeback in several niche markets, from all-inclusive to family travel.
And Petra Roach, the new director of sales and marketing at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle All Inclusive Resort, is seeing all of it.
Roach, the former CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority and Head of Global Sales and CEO for Barbados Tourism, said her hotel specializes in offering guests immersive experiences since that seems to be a top priority as of late.
Here’s what she said about that, the hotel’s’ relationship with travel advisors, and more.
What are today’s Barbados travelers looking for? And how does that relate to what Wyndham Grand Barbados offers its guests?
Today’s traveler is driven by purpose, and personalization. They’re seeking space, wellness, and culinary discovery — a chance to exhale, to reconnect with themselves, and to experience local flavors in an elevated way.
They want to experience the destination fully, not just look at it from behind a resort wall. That’s why Wyndham Grand Barbados has leaned into experiential travel — from cliffside yoga and rum-blending sessions to island-inspired dining that celebrates Barbadian ingredients and artistry.
It’s about offering guests a sense of being a part of our family, not just a beautiful backdrop.
What are the hottest or most buzzed-about types of accommodations in Barbados, and how does the Wyndham Grand Barbados meet those demands?
Travelers today are looking for more than just luxury — they want distinctive design, authentic connection, and meaningful experiences.
The buzz is around high-design resorts with personality, wellness-focused stays, and properties that offer a genuine sense of place rather than a sense of sameness.
Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle captures all of that beautifully. It combines heritage and storytelling — the legendary castle site reimagined — with a modern, sophisticated all-inclusive concept that brings together culinary excellence, wellness, and culture.
Every touchpoint, from architecture to amenities, is designed to evoke both awe and authenticity, creating a product that stands out in Barbados and across the Caribbean.
What is Wyndham Grand Barbados doing for travel advisors? Are there any new initiatives, programs, or incentives?
We’ve always believed that travel advisors are our greatest storytellers — they are the bridge between the dream and the destination.
At Wyndham Grand Barbados, we’ve created a dedicated travel agents training program to give advisors access to personalized service, and booking support.
We’re also hosting familiarization trips in partnership with Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., enhanced by bonus commissions, complimentary nights, and special rates for advisors and trade partners.
We want them to experience the product first-hand because nothing replaces the authenticity of speaking from experience.
We also leverage Wyndham Rewards, which gives them another layer of value to offer to their clients.
How important is the travel advisor to Wyndham Barbados’s tourism success, and how do you work with them?
They’re absolutely vital — the heartbeat of our success. Advisors are not just booking rooms; they’re interpreting dreams and aligning them with the right experience.
We work closely with them through regular training sessions and product updates, joint marketing campaigns with key partners, and exclusive events and familiarization programs that keep them inspired and informed.
In short, we treat them as extensions of our own sales and marketing team — partners in storytelling and our commercial success.
What are the top three client trends you’re seeing in Barbados right now?
Multi-generational and celebration travel — families and friends reuniting to celebrate milestones together.
Extended-stay luxury and remote-work escapes — guests blending leisure with business and staying longer.
Purpose-driven travel — visitors are seeking to engage meaningfully with the community, support sustainability, and connect with local makers and artisans.
Each of these aligns perfectly with what Barbados offers naturally — authentic warmth, safety, and depth of experience — and what Wyndham Grand Barbados delivers daily.
Personally, what has been the main challenge and advantage of moving from leading an entire country’s tourism to focusing on a single hotel?
For me, personal development has always been a priority — I constantly want to challenge myself, learn, and keep growing. I don’t see one role as better than the other; they simply offer different perspectives.
When I was leading a destination, my focus was on the bigger picture — strengthening brand equity, building airlift, and creating the kind of halo effect that uplifted the entire sector.
Now at Wyndham Grand Barbados, I’m applying those same strategic principles, but through a much sharper, more focused lens on my property. It’s about being intentional with the commercial outcomes of a single entity — understanding every lever that drives revenue, guest satisfaction, and long-term sustainability.
What’s exciting is that I can still draw on my destination-level experience to see how a property like ours fits into the broader tourism ecosystem. At the same time, I’m looking beyond sales and marketing to ensure we’re evolving as a product — translating global trends into experiences that feel relevant, fresh, and uniquely Barbadian.
Ultimately, my goal is the same as it’s always been: to make an impact. But now that impact is measured not just in visitor numbers and development of the tourism ecosystem for the destination but rather in the depth and quality of the experience we deliver at Wyndham Grand Barbados every single day.
Advisor Spotlight: Lindsay Taylor on an Impressive Hotel, a Booking That Really Stood Out, and Her Favorite Caribbean Travel Memory
How to Plan the Perfect Group Pickleball Vacation in the Caribbean
Pickleball has made its way across the Caribbean, but nowhere has embraced it quite like Antigua. With a cluster of all-inclusive resorts investing in dedicated courts, clinics and group programming, this is now one of the easiest islands in the region for planning an organized, court-forward escape.
For travel advisors, that means friend groups, clubs, and multigenerational families can enjoy a full pickleball itinerary without worrying about logistics. Four Antigua resorts — Pineapple Beach Club, The Verandah Antigua, Hammock Cove Antigua and St. James’s Club & Villas — all offer multiple courts and easy group coordination.
Here’s how to put together a Caribbean pickleball vacation that plays like a retreat and still feels like a vacation.
Choose the Season and Understand the Island Layout
Antigua works especially well because everything is close. The main resorts sit within a short drive of one another, allowing groups to fly in on the same flights and choose different resort styles if needed. Shoulder-season periods are ideal for group play, with plenty of sun and more flexibility for reserving blocks of rooms and court time.
Know Your Group Before Choosing the Resort
Start by clarifying how your travelers want to play. Are they looking for daily clinics? A structured round-robin format? Or a lighter mix of morning play and beach afternoons? Once you understand the skill levels, number of players and interest of non-players, matching the group to the right resort becomes much easier.
Pineapple Beach Club Antigua: Adults-Only Pickleball Hub
Pineapple Beach Club is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort built for social groups. It has six dedicated pickleball courts set on a sprawling waterfront property overlooking one of the island’s prettiest beaches. With 180 rooms, three pools and a full schedule of included activities, it’s a natural base for medium-size groups who want a social environment and dependable daily play. Courts are open throughout the day, and equipment can be provided for guests.
The Verandah Antigua: Adults-Only All-Inclusive with Four Courts
Spread across Antigua’s quiet east coast, The Verandah Antigua offers a more relaxed, village-style setting with spacious suites and villas. The resort features four dedicated pickleball courts with lights for evening play and shaded seating for courtside downtime. It’s an excellent fit for adult groups who want a balance of open play, downtime, and a more low-key all-inclusive experience.
Hammock Cove Antigua: A Luxury Upgrade for Top Players
Hammock Cove is an adults-only, five-star enclave with freestanding villas, private plunge pools and a focus on high-end dining. The resort offers two dedicated pickleball courts and curated experiences that position play as part of a broader luxury escape. Many advisors use Hammock Cove as a pre- or post-stay upgrade for couples or group organizers who want quiet time and premium service before joining a larger group at another property.
St. James’s Club & Villas: Family-Friendly with Serious Play
Set on a private peninsula with two beaches, multiple pools and a mix of rooms and villas, St. James’s Club is ideal for multigenerational groups. Dedicated pickleball courts complement a long list of family-friendly amenities, and the resort’s programming encourages both beginners and casual players to join in. Villa accommodations offer flexible space for families while still enjoying the convenience of an all-inclusive stay.
Build Your Group Itinerary Around Court Time
Once the resort is selected, block off court time before adding everything else. Morning and late-afternoon sessions tend to work best, with mid-day reserved for the beach, sailing excursions or quiet pool time. A mix of formats — structured play, social mixers, evening games — keeps all skill levels engaged.
Add the Caribbean to the Pickleball Schedule
Antigua is full of easy off-court experiences: sailing in English Harbour, hikes near Devil’s Bridge, beach afternoons at Half Moon Bay, or simple sunset catamaran cruises. The best group pickleball trips blend great play with great memories.
With four pickleball-ready resorts and built-in group support, Antigua has become one of the Caribbean’s easiest destinations for planning a full-court getaway. The only question is how many extra paddles your clients should pack.
For more, visit Elite Island Resorts.
St Kitts to Host ASTA Caribbean Showcase in 2026
St. Kitts is set to welcome one of the travel industry’s premier gatherings next year. The island has been named the official host destination for the fifth ASTA Caribbean Showcase, taking place Aug. 23–27, 2026.
The announcement follows the Tourism Authority’s active participation at the 2025 Caribbean Showcase in Jamaica, where the team engaged with global travel professionals to strengthen St. Kitts’ positioning as a leading Caribbean destination.
Hosting the 2026 edition is a milestone moment for the island, underscoring its rising profile within the travel advisor community. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience St. Kitts’ authentic culture, lush landscapes, and vibrant local experiences firsthand — creating personal connections that often lead directly to future travel bookings.
“St. Kitts being selected as the host country for the 2026 ASTA Caribbean Showcase is a testament to the significant strides that the island has made in increasing its brand visibility,” said Kelly Fontenelle, Chief Executive Officer at the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. “Travel agents play a critical role in driving visitation, which is integral to our marketing strategy.”
Hon. Marsha T. Henderson, Minister of Tourism, emphasized the power of relationships with the travel trade. “In St. Kitts, we prioritize the art of personal connections with our travel agents,” said Minister Henderson. “ASTA’s travel agents will benefit tremendously through fostering deeper connections with the island, which ensures that when they sell the destination to their clients, it is executed meaningfully.”
Zane Kerby, President and CEO of American Society of Travel Advisors, praised the partnership: “The Caribbean Showcase is a cornerstone of ASTA’s commitment to building meaningful, mutually beneficial partnerships between advisors and the destinations they sell. We’re thrilled to bring this program to St. Kitts in 2026, where advisors will gain firsthand knowledge and inspiration to better serve their clients while supporting the region’s sustainable growth.”
With its focus on cultivating strong trade relationships and elevating its global visibility, St. Kitts continues to prove itself as a small island with a powerful tourism impact.
Full Webinar: A Deep Dive into the Island of St Kitts
The latest Caribbean Journal webinar was a deep dive into the island of St Kitts, one of the region’s hottest destinations right now.
The webinar, moderated by Caribbean Journal editor-in-chief Alexander Britell, included St Kitts experts Allison Schultz, Sales Representative – Southeast US at the St Kitts Tourism Authority: Cari Abonador-Alexander, Director of Sales, Luxury & Leisure at the Park Hyatt St Kitts; and Shariena Mills, Marketing Manager at the Marriott St Kitts resort.
You can watch the full CJ Webinar below: