Tourism conference hopes to promote Cayman
(CNS): Members of the country’s tourism industry will be looking to boost the sectors fortunes next week with the annual Cayman Islands Tourism Exchange (CITE) when local businesses have the opportunity to promote themselves to overseas travel partners. Organisers of the forum said the exchange presents an opportunity to promote Caymanian culture and hospitality through networking functions, presentations and the business forum. Given the present state of the economy, CITE 2010 is the perfect opportunity to stand out from other destinations, CITA said and showcase the evolving tourism product.
“It is crucial that our travel trade is given the opportunity to experience first-hand what they will promote and sell to our potential guests, “ CITA said in a release. “A select group of the top performing travel wholesalers mainly from the US, identified and recommended by local tourism operators, CITA and the CI Department of Tourism, are invited to attend.”
International travel wholesalers, both traditional and web based, members of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) and both international and local media will attend the 9th Annual Cayman Islands Tourism Exchange 2010 from May 19th – May 21st which is hosted at The Westin Casuarina Resort and Spa.
The format of the event includes a business session with presentations and updates on tourism developments, property tours, prescheduled appointments, networking functions and activities for all delegates.
The wholesalers will be met by local tourism operators including hotels, condo/villas, transportation tours, attractions and watersports who will provide information on their products and services directly to the wholesalers during the three day event, CITA explained. 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 largely geared toward properties, there is still room for other businesses to showcase their products.
CITE opens on Wednesday, May 19th with a welcome receptionfrom 6:30–8pm hosted at the Governors House. The opening ceremony will be on Thursday morning at The Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa from 8:30am–10am with opening remarks and presentations by various tourism officials. Prearranged, one-on-one business appointments between the international wholesalers and local operators will makeup remainder of the day.
Thursday night’s networking function will be hosted at Camana Bay. A ‘Team Building Scavenger Hunt’ for delegates is scheduled for Friday, May 21st followed by many excursions including a day trip to Cayman Brac,site inspections and watersports activities. The ‘Farewell Party’ takes place Friday evening.
Category: Business
