There are an increasing number of persons booking rooms in Barbados through Expedia.
This was confirmed by Director of Expedia’s Caribbean offices, Demetrius Canton, during the recently-concluded Connect Barbados 50 Conference organised by the Barbados Tourism Management Inc.
He explained that room nights were up by 28 per cent and revenue up by 37 per cent in the first quarter of this year.
The Director also noted that at the end of 2015, Expedia’s Barbados business was up, with revenue and room night sales increasing by 36 percent and 34 percent, respectively.
“Many companies would die for that kind of growth. So I think I have to tip my hat to the partnership we have with our hotel partners, as well as the destination marketers with the BTMI,” he said.
Expedia has also reported that the booking pace – the rate at which reservations are made for a particular date, had increased by more than 37 percent in the first quarter of this year compared with the previous year, with the top three of Barbados primary source markets – the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, reporting bookings up to 29, 31 and 32 per cent, respectively.
Expedia, the second-largest producing tour operator for Barbados, delivered approximately US$17 million in business to local hotels in 2015. The Connect Barbados 50 Conference was designed to thank the tour operators for their efforts in promoting the island, while strengthening the relationship with them.
It also sought to educate them about the island’s tourism products, including new attractions and experiences; provide local tourism partners with the opportunity to conduct business-to-business meetings with the major tour operators on home soil; and to position Barbados as the preferred global warm-weather destination.
The Conference was also designed to highlight Barbados’ efforts as a romance and golf destination; and with respect to its 50th anniversary of Independence celebrations, media awards and accommodation.
