Providing a behind the scenes look at the region’s biggest tourism marketing event – Caribbean Travel Marketplace – the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has released in-depth details about the buyers and suppliers who participated in the 2012 event.

Buyer registration for Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2013 is currently highlighted by 16 tour operators from France hosted by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board as well as buyers from four new countries including Belgium, Ireland, Poland and Switzerland. The event is taking place January 20-22, 2013 at the Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas.

Themed “All Tourism, All Caribbean, All Business,” the 2012 event had over 20 countries from major markets represented by tour operators and wholesalers, 32 Caribbean countries represented and 12,250 pre-scheduled 20-minute appointments, up from 11,880 appointments in 2011. Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2012 also saw a 17% increase in buyer companies with 142 in attendance, 11 of which were from Russia, as well as an increase in buyer delegates which totaled 344 versus 314 in 2011.

Buyer companies that were in attendance at the 2012 event responded to marketing questions by CHTA that they were interested in conducting business with properties that had the following types of accommodations:

Resort – 111 buyers
All Inclusive – 108 buyers
Small Hotel (Under 100 rooms) – 104 buyers
Medium Hotels (under 300 rooms) – 103 buyers
Beachfront Property – 103 buyers

Buyer companies identified themselves as the following type of business:

Tour Operator – 80 buyers
Individual Travelers – 62 buyers
Wholesaler – 61 buyers
Internet – 53 buyers

Buyer companies identified themselves as selling products by the following price points

Deluxe – 90 buyers
Luxury – 85 buyers
Moderate – 85 buyers
Economy – 45 buyers

Buyer companies identified the following countries as the top destinations that sell:

Jamaica – 115 buyers
Bahamas – 113 buyers
Cancun – 102 buyers
Dominican Republic – 102 buyers
St. Lucia – 102 buyers

At Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2012, there were 274 supplier companies and 25 tourist and promotion boards. The supplier companies classified their type of accommodations as follows:

Resort – 163 suppliers
Small Hotel (Under 100 rooms) – 115 suppliers
Spa – 110 suppliers

Suppliers indicated that their property’s location can be identified as follows:

Beachfront – 167 suppliers
Oceanview – 92 suppliers
Close to Airport – 67 suppliers
Waterfront – 53 suppliers

CHTA, events@caribbeanhotelandtourism.com, www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com