Culture Meets Tourism

(CNS): International travel wholesalers, members of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) and both international and local media will attend the 8th Annual Cayman Islands Tourism Exchange (CITE) from 30 April to 2 May. CITE 2009 will take place at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, where local and overseas travel partners will be treated to Cayman Culture, Caymanian hospitality, networking functions, presentations and of course the important business forum. (Left: Shomari Scott, Acting Director of Tourism, with 2008 CITE delegates)

Given the present state of the economy, CITE 2009 is the perfect opportunity for the Cayman Islands to stand out from other destinations and showcase its tourism product, CITA said in a release, saying it was crucial that the travel trade is given the opportunity to experience first-hand what they willpromote and sell to our potential guests.

More than 25 travel wholesalers, mainly from the US, UK, Europe and Canada, identified and recommended by local tourism operators, CITA and the CI Department of Tourism, are invited to attend. Wholesalers include both traditional and web-based operations which have supported the Cayman Islands in the past or have the ability and interest to do so in the future. The format of the event includes a businesssession with presentations and updates on tourism developments, property tours, pre-scheduled appointments, networking functions and activities for all delegates.

The wholesalers will be met by over 20 local tourism operators who will provide information on their products and services directly to the wholesalers during the three day event. The local operators’ key objectives at CITE are to reaffirm existing business relationships and to form new ones where possible with this important group in the travel distribution chain. Although the event is geared toward properties, there is still room for other businesses to showcase their products. Our local suppliers include many of the local hotels, condos, transportation providers, watersports representatives, and attractions.

CITE will commence Thursday, 30 April with a welcome reception from 6:30–8pm hosted by Camana Bay. The opening ceremony will be on Friday morning at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman from 8:30–10am with opening remarks and presentations by various tourism officials. Prearranged, one-on-one business appointments between the international wholesalers and local operators will make up remainder of the day. Friday night the delegates are in for a real Caymanian treat when local culture will meet tourism at “Culture @ Callalloo hosted by the Cayman National Cultural Foundation and Martin & Vivian Bould. Team Building activities are scheduled for Saturday, 2 May and afterward the delegates are off on one of many excursions including a day trip to Little Cayman, Islands Tours, Site Inspections and Watersports activities. The Farewell Party will be hosted by DOT. Delegates will also have the opportunity to take part in the Batabano Festivities.

This year’s CITE events are hosted by CITA and sponsored and supported by Camana Bay, Department of Tourism, Martin & Vivian Bould and the Cayman National Cultural Association, and The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.

For more information about the Cayman Islands Tourism Exchange 2009, contact the Cayman Islands Tourism Association on phone: 345 949 8522, fax: 345 946 8522, or email cite@cita.ky.