MIAMI, FL - President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Sanovnik Destang, unveiled what he describes as a bold vision for 2025 centered on innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, while promising to position the region as a global leader in tourism and economic development.
CHTA president, Sanovnik Destang“The Caribbean achieved unparalleled success in 2024, thanks to the collective strength of our community. We recorded historic visitor numbers, tackled legislative challenges, and made strides in connecting tourism with other vital economic sectors,” said Destang after the region last year shattered visitor records and delivered transformative advocacy wins.
The CHTA said among the most significant achievements for economic growth was a tax advocacy effort in the Dominican Republic, which helped preserve vital tax incentives for hotels and tourism businesses that had been under threat of removal due to proposed tax reforms.
Last year, the industry also saw the establishment of the Linkages Task Force, led by former CHTA president Nicola Madden-Greig, designed to strengthen connections between tourism and sectors such as agriculture and local businesses, fostering a more inclusive economic model.
Additionally, the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) and the return of “Taste of the Caribbean” provided valuable platforms to showcase regional excellence, foster collaboration, and drive innovation, the CHTA said.
It said that with the momentum from a record-breaking year, CHTA is now setting its sights on 2025 and according to travel intelligence company Forward Keys, the island of Curaçao has seen a 16 per cent increase in flight bookings for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, while Sint Maarten and Antigua and Barbuda have each recorded an 11 per cent increase.
The CHTA said that capitalizing on these strong early trends, the 2025 strategy will focus on three transformative pillars, including developing the “Region’s Workforce: New training initiatives” that will equip hospitality professionals with the skills needed to keep the Caribbean competitive on a global scale.
In addition, the strategy calls for enhancing guest experiences and improving operational efficiency through digital transformation remains a top priority as well as deepening connections between tourism and local industries to drive sustainable growth and enrich visitor experiences.
“A key part of this vision is our 2025 work plan, which also includes updates to our bylaws to modernize governance and ensure CHTA remains agile, inclusive, and future-focused,” Destang said.
Antigua and Barbuda, will for the first time host the Caribbean Travel Marketplace that CHTA describes as one of the most anticipated events of the year.
It said this marks only the third time the event has been held in the Eastern Caribbean. Marketplace 2025 will offer an enhanced experience with features such as the Linkages Trade Show, Responsible Tourism Day, and the Direct Booking Summit – Caribbean Edition, all designed to foster collaboration, innovation and drive business to the region and CHTA members.
“Caribbean Travel Marketplace, along with supplemental CHTA events this year, will serve as a catalyst for collaboration and new ideas, setting the stage for the future of Caribbean tourism,” Destang added.