ITB Berlin 2025: Focus on the Caribbean

Find out all the exclusive news now

At ITB 2025, the Connoisseur Circle team was able to learn a lot of exciting news from its Caribbean partners. Here is an overview of the most important developments:

Jamaica: Growth in the premium segment and new flight connections Gregory Shervington, Director of Visit Jamaica for mainland Europe, reported on significant new developments for the destination. The Swiss airline Edelweiss will fly to Montego Bay twice a week in future. In addition, Jamaica has been recognized as a Virtuoso destination, which further strengthens its positioning in the luxury travel market. Visit Jamaica is increasingly focusing on curated experiences that introduce travelers to the diversity of the island. Sustainable programs such as cooking classes in upscale hotels that offer authentic culinary experiences, including the preparation of the traditional callaloo vegetable stew, are particularly popular.

Barbados: Hotel expansions and exclusive golf tournament Tracy Jones, European Director of Barbados Tourism, announced the opening of new luxury hotels. IHG brand Indigo Hotel will open a 132-room property on the country's south coast later this year. On the exclusive Paynes Bay Beach, the Blue Monkey Hotel & Beach Club with 28 deluxe suites will open at the end of March. In addition, the "Legends Barbados" golf tournament will take place in April on the renowned Apes Hill Golf Course, which boasts a unique view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The flight connections to Barbados are in great demand: Condor flights from Frankfurt are already 80% fully booked.





Dominican Republic: Sustainable tourism development and luxury hotels Petra Cruz, European Director of the Dominican Tourist Board, provided exciting insights into the future of the destination. The Marriott luxury brand "W" will open its first all-inclusive resort worldwide in Punta Cana in April 2024. One focus is on the sustainable tourism hotspot Miches, where 4,500 new hotel rooms will be built by the end of the year. In Las Terrenas, a charming village on the Samaná peninsula, the fishing village that was destroyed by fire has been extensively restored and is now once again home to first-class gourmet restaurants. A new cruise port is also being built in Pedernales. There is good news for nature lovers: Air Europa will be offering direct flights from Madrid to Santiago de los Caballeros in the future, making it easy to travel to the tropical mountain world for exploration tours.





Sint Maarten: Airport modernization completed Suzy N. Kartokromo, Manager of Aeronautical Services, announced the completion of the extensive renovation of Princess Juliana International Airport. Following the severe damage caused by Hurricane Irma, the airport has now been equipped with modern self-service check-in counters and electronic passport control to streamline the check-in process. Last year, a JW Marriott Beach Resort & Spa also opened on the idyllic Dawn Beach.

Antigua & Barbuda: An up-and-coming film destination! In an interview with Connoisseur Circle, Bert Kirchner, Ambassador-at-Large of Antigua & Barbuda, emphasized the growing importance of the island state as a film location and talent hotbed for the film industry. As the representative responsible for the film business in the Commonwealth state, Kirchner emphasizes that Antigua & Barbuda not only offers an inspiring backdrop for international productions, but also invests specifically in the expansion of the local film industry. A prominent example of this commitment is Robert De Niro's planned opening of the exclusive Nobu Hotel on Barbuda. In addition, Kirchner has initiated a strategic partnership with Screen Masters International, the world's largest casting agency, to expand talent scouting to the entire Caribbean region.





Belize: Tourism growth at record level. Saskia Strobl, Senior Account Executive at Finn Partners, presented the impressive development of tourism in Belize at ITB. In 2024, the country recorded 562,405 overnight guests, which corresponds to an increase of 21% compared to the previous year and an increase of 11.8% compared to the previous record year of 2019. Particularly attractive for discerning travelers are the diverse opportunities for unforgettable private experiences. Belize offers exclusive backdrops for special moments: from weddings in front of imposing Mayan temples or picturesque waterfalls to unforgettable ceremonies during a snorkeling trip in the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea.

Curaçao: Luxury hotels and lifestyle at the cutting edge. Susan Vrolijk, European Manager of the Curaçao Tourist Board, reported strong growth in visitor numbers: Last year, over 700,000 guests traveled to the island, including 14,406 tourists from Germany - a remarkable increase of 23% compared to the previous year. The Pietermaai district, where the Art Hotel Curaçao recently opened, is developing particularly dynamically. This exclusive, adults-only boutique hotel offers just 30 individually designed suites and was created by renowned local architect Cas Aalbers in collaboration with design studio Piet Boon. Handmade art objects by local artists give the interior a distinctive touch. Another highlight of the destination is the new Lemon Beach Boutique Club in Willemstad: with a spacious infinity pool, spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea and upscale gastronomy with regionally inspired specialties, it sets new standards in upscale dining.





St. Lucia: New adventure tourism collaborations and local promotion Dexter Percil, Director of Marketing for the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, unveiled plans for a joint adventure tourism package with Martinique and Guadeloupe. Travel will be via Paris or Gatwick with onward travel by ferry. Support for local small businesses in the hotel and tourism sector is also being promoted. A highlight of the year is the St. Lucia Carnival from July 21 to 23 with a big parade. For nature lovers, the new "Little 6" program offers unique bird watching of six rare small bird species.





interCaribbean Airways: Expansion of the route network Carolina Torres, international marketing coordinator of interCaribbean Airways, presented new connections: The airline now serves the routes San Juan (Puerto Rico) - Anguilla as well as Guyana - Barbados and Guyana - Grenada. This makes island hopping in the Caribbean even more attractive.





Friends of the Caribbean: New B2B networking format The announcement of the Connoisseur Circle network "Friends of the Caribbean and Central America" aroused particular interest. This free networking service offers tourism professionals the opportunity to exchange ideas in an exclusive LinkedIn group and get to know each other personally at a planned event. Further information is available at ccircle.cc/caribbean/en.





The Caribbean continues to position itself as an exclusive destination with a combination of luxury, culture and sustainability - a potential that is of great interest to both travelers and B2B partners.

ITB Berlin 2025: Focus on the Caribbean

Find out all the exclusive news now

At ITB 2025, the Connoisseur Circle team was able to learn a lot of exciting news from its Caribbean partners. Here is an overview of the most important developments:

Jamaica: Growth in the premium segment and new flight connections Gregory Shervington, Director of Visit Jamaica for mainland Europe, reported on significant new developments for the destination. The Swiss airline Edelweiss will fly to Montego Bay twice a week in future. In addition, Jamaica has been recognized as a Virtuoso destination, which further strengthens its positioning in the luxury travel market. Visit Jamaica is increasingly focusing on curated experiences that introduce travelers to the diversity of the island. Sustainable programs such as cooking classes in upscale hotels that offer authentic culinary experiences, including the preparation of the traditional callaloo vegetable stew, are particularly popular.

Barbados: Hotel expansions and exclusive golf tournament Tracy Jones, European Director of Barbados Tourism, announced the opening of new luxury hotels. IHG brand Indigo Hotel will open a 132-room property on the country's south coast later this year. On the exclusive Paynes Bay Beach, the Blue Monkey Hotel & Beach Club with 28 deluxe suites will open at the end of March. In addition, the "Legends Barbados" golf tournament will take place in April on the renowned Apes Hill Golf Course, which boasts a unique view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The flight connections to Barbados are in great demand: Condor flights from Frankfurt are already 80% fully booked.





Dominican Republic: Sustainable tourism development and luxury hotels Petra Cruz, European Director of the Dominican Tourist Board, provided exciting insights into the future of the destination. The Marriott luxury brand "W" will open its first all-inclusive resort worldwide in Punta Cana in April 2024. One focus is on the sustainable tourism hotspot Miches, where 4,500 new hotel rooms will be built by the end of the year. In Las Terrenas, a charming village on the Samaná peninsula, the fishing village that was destroyed by fire has been extensively restored and is now once again home to first-class gourmet restaurants. A new cruise port is also being built in Pedernales. There is good news for nature lovers: Air Europa will be offering direct flights from Madrid to Santiago de los Caballeros in the future, making it easy to travel to the tropical mountain world for exploration tours.





Sint Maarten: Airport modernization completed Suzy N. Kartokromo, Manager of Aeronautical Services, announced the completion of the extensive renovation of Princess Juliana International Airport. Following the severe damage caused by Hurricane Irma, the airport has now been equipped with modern self-service check-in counters and electronic passport control to streamline the check-in process. Last year, a JW Marriott Beach Resort & Spa also opened on the idyllic Dawn Beach.

Antigua & Barbuda: An up-and-coming film destination! In an interview with Connoisseur Circle, Bert Kirchner, Ambassador-at-Large of Antigua & Barbuda, emphasized the growing importance of the island state as a film location and talent hotbed for the film industry. As the representative responsible for the film business in the Commonwealth state, Kirchner emphasizes that Antigua & Barbuda not only offers an inspiring backdrop for international productions, but also invests specifically in the expansion of the local film industry. A prominent example of this commitment is Robert De Niro's planned opening of the exclusive Nobu Hotel on Barbuda. In addition, Kirchner has initiated a strategic partnership with Screen Masters International, the world's largest casting agency, to expand talent scouting to the entire Caribbean region.





Belize: Tourism growth at record level. Saskia Strobl, Senior Account Executive at Finn Partners, presented the impressive development of tourism in Belize at ITB. In 2024, the country recorded 562,405 overnight guests, which corresponds to an increase of 21% compared to the previous year and an increase of 11.8% compared to the previous record year of 2019. Particularly attractive for discerning travelers are the diverse opportunities for unforgettable private experiences. Belize offers exclusive backdrops for special moments: from weddings in front of imposing Mayan temples or picturesque waterfalls to unforgettable ceremonies during a snorkeling trip in the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea.

Curaçao: Luxury hotels and lifestyle at the cutting edge. Susan Vrolijk, European Manager of the Curaçao Tourist Board, reported strong growth in visitor numbers: Last year, over 700,000 guests traveled to the island, including 14,406 tourists from Germany - a remarkable increase of 23% compared to the previous year. The Pietermaai district, where the Art Hotel Curaçao recently opened, is developing particularly dynamically. This exclusive, adults-only boutique hotel offers just 30 individually designed suites and was created by renowned local architect Cas Aalbers in collaboration with design studio Piet Boon. Handmade art objects by local artists give the interior a distinctive touch. Another highlight of the destination is the new Lemon Beach Boutique Club in Willemstad: with a spacious infinity pool, spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea and upscale gastronomy with regionally inspired specialties, it sets new standards in upscale dining.





St. Lucia: New adventure tourism collaborations and local promotion Dexter Percil, Director of Marketing for the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, unveiled plans for a joint adventure tourism package with Martinique and Guadeloupe. Travel will be via Paris or Gatwick with onward travel by ferry. Support for local small businesses in the hotel and tourism sector is also being promoted. A highlight of the year is the St. Lucia Carnival from July 21 to 23 with a big parade. For nature lovers, the new "Little 6" program offers unique bird watching of six rare small bird species.





interCaribbean Airways: Expansion of the route network Carolina Torres, international marketing coordinator of interCaribbean Airways, presented new connections: The airline now serves the routes San Juan (Puerto Rico) - Anguilla as well as Guyana - Barbados and Guyana - Grenada. This makes island hopping in the Caribbean even more attractive.





Friends of the Caribbean: New B2B networking format The announcement of the Connoisseur Circle network "Friends of the Caribbean and Central America" aroused particular interest. This free networking service offers tourism professionals the opportunity to exchange ideas in an exclusive LinkedIn group and get to know each other personally at a planned event. Further information is available at ccircle.cc/caribbean/en.





The Caribbean continues to position itself as an exclusive destination with a combination of luxury, culture and sustainability - a potential that is of great interest to both travelers and B2B partners.

ITB Berlin 2025: Focus on the Caribbean

Find out all the exclusive news now

At ITB 2025, the Connoisseur Circle team was able to learn a lot of exciting news from its Caribbean partners. Here is an overview of the most important developments:

Jamaica: Growth in the premium segment and new flight connections Gregory Shervington, Director of Visit Jamaica for mainland Europe, reported on significant new developments for the destination. The Swiss airline Edelweiss will fly to Montego Bay twice a week in future. In addition, Jamaica has been recognized as a Virtuoso destination, which further strengthens its positioning in the luxury travel market. Visit Jamaica is increasingly focusing on curated experiences that introduce travelers to the diversity of the island. Sustainable programs such as cooking classes in upscale hotels that offer authentic culinary experiences, including the preparation of the traditional callaloo vegetable stew, are particularly popular.

Barbados: Hotel expansions and exclusive golf tournament Tracy Jones, European Director of Barbados Tourism, announced the opening of new luxury hotels. IHG brand Indigo Hotel will open a 132-room property on the country's south coast later this year. On the exclusive Paynes Bay Beach, the Blue Monkey Hotel & Beach Club with 28 deluxe suites will open at the end of March. In addition, the "Legends Barbados" golf tournament will take place in April on the renowned Apes Hill Golf Course, which boasts a unique view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The flight connections to Barbados are in great demand: Condor flights from Frankfurt are already 80% fully booked.





Dominican Republic: Sustainable tourism development and luxury hotels Petra Cruz, European Director of the Dominican Tourist Board, provided exciting insights into the future of the destination. The Marriott luxury brand "W" will open its first all-inclusive resort worldwide in Punta Cana in April 2024. One focus is on the sustainable tourism hotspot Miches, where 4,500 new hotel rooms will be built by the end of the year. In Las Terrenas, a charming village on the Samaná peninsula, the fishing village that was destroyed by fire has been extensively restored and is now once again home to first-class gourmet restaurants. A new cruise port is also being built in Pedernales. There is good news for nature lovers: Air Europa will be offering direct flights from Madrid to Santiago de los Caballeros in the future, making it easy to travel to the tropical mountain world for exploration tours.





Sint Maarten: Airport modernization completed Suzy N. Kartokromo, Manager of Aeronautical Services, announced the completion of the extensive renovation of Princess Juliana International Airport. Following the severe damage caused by Hurricane Irma, the airport has now been equipped with modern self-service check-in counters and electronic passport control to streamline the check-in process. Last year, a JW Marriott Beach Resort & Spa also opened on the idyllic Dawn Beach.

Antigua & Barbuda: An up-and-coming film destination! In an interview with Connoisseur Circle, Bert Kirchner, Ambassador-at-Large of Antigua & Barbuda, emphasized the growing importance of the island state as a film location and talent hotbed for the film industry. As the representative responsible for the film business in the Commonwealth state, Kirchner emphasizes that Antigua & Barbuda not only offers an inspiring backdrop for international productions, but also invests specifically in the expansion of the local film industry. A prominent example of this commitment is Robert De Niro's planned opening of the exclusive Nobu Hotel on Barbuda. In addition, Kirchner has initiated a strategic partnership with Screen Masters International, the world's largest casting agency, to expand talent scouting to the entire Caribbean region.





Belize: Tourism growth at record level. Saskia Strobl, Senior Account Executive at Finn Partners, presented the impressive development of tourism in Belize at ITB. In 2024, the country recorded 562,405 overnight guests, which corresponds to an increase of 21% compared to the previous year and an increase of 11.8% compared to the previous record year of 2019. Particularly attractive for discerning travelers are the diverse opportunities for unforgettable private experiences. Belize offers exclusive backdrops for special moments: from weddings in front of imposing Mayan temples or picturesque waterfalls to unforgettable ceremonies during a snorkeling trip in the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea.

Curaçao: Luxury hotels and lifestyle at the cutting edge. Susan Vrolijk, European Manager of the Curaçao Tourist Board, reported strong growth in visitor numbers: Last year, over 700,000 guests traveled to the island, including 14,406 tourists from Germany - a remarkable increase of 23% compared to the previous year. The Pietermaai district, where the Art Hotel Curaçao recently opened, is developing particularly dynamically. This exclusive, adults-only boutique hotel offers just 30 individually designed suites and was created by renowned local architect Cas Aalbers in collaboration with design studio Piet Boon. Handmade art objects by local artists give the interior a distinctive touch. Another highlight of the destination is the new Lemon Beach Boutique Club in Willemstad: with a spacious infinity pool, spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea and upscale gastronomy with regionally inspired specialties, it sets new standards in upscale dining.





St. Lucia: New adventure tourism collaborations and local promotion Dexter Percil, Director of Marketing for the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, unveiled plans for a joint adventure tourism package with Martinique and Guadeloupe. Travel will be via Paris or Gatwick with onward travel by ferry. Support for local small businesses in the hotel and tourism sector is also being promoted. A highlight of the year is the St. Lucia Carnival from July 21 to 23 with a big parade. For nature lovers, the new "Little 6" program offers unique bird watching of six rare small bird species.





interCaribbean Airways: Expansion of the route network Carolina Torres, international marketing coordinator of interCaribbean Airways, presented new connections: The airline now serves the routes San Juan (Puerto Rico) - Anguilla as well as Guyana - Barbados and Guyana - Grenada. This makes island hopping in the Caribbean even more attractive.





Friends of the Caribbean: New B2B networking format The announcement of the Connoisseur Circle network "Friends of the Caribbean and Central America" aroused particular interest. This free networking service offers tourism professionals the opportunity to exchange ideas in an exclusive LinkedIn group and get to know each other personally at a planned event. Further information is available at ccircle.cc/caribbean/en.





The Caribbean continues to position itself as an exclusive destination with a combination of luxury, culture and sustainability - a potential that is of great interest to both travelers and B2B partners.

ITB Berlin 2025: Focus on the Caribbean

Find out all the exclusive news now

At ITB 2025, the Connoisseur Circle team was able to learn a lot of exciting news from its Caribbean partners. Here is an overview of the most important developments:

Jamaica: Growth in the premium segment and new flight connections Gregory Shervington, Director of Visit Jamaica for mainland Europe, reported on significant new developments for the destination. The Swiss airline Edelweiss will fly to Montego Bay twice a week in future. In addition, Jamaica has been recognized as a Virtuoso destination, which further strengthens its positioning in the luxury travel market. Visit Jamaica is increasingly focusing on curated experiences that introduce travelers to the diversity of the island. Sustainable programs such as cooking classes in upscale hotels that offer authentic culinary experiences, including the preparation of the traditional callaloo vegetable stew, are particularly popular.

Barbados: Hotel expansions and exclusive golf tournament Tracy Jones, European Director of Barbados Tourism, announced the opening of new luxury hotels. IHG brand Indigo Hotel will open a 132-room property on the country's south coast later this year. On the exclusive Paynes Bay Beach, the Blue Monkey Hotel & Beach Club with 28 deluxe suites will open at the end of March. In addition, the "Legends Barbados" golf tournament will take place in April on the renowned Apes Hill Golf Course, which boasts a unique view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The flight connections to Barbados are in great demand: Condor flights from Frankfurt are already 80% fully booked.





Dominican Republic: Sustainable tourism development and luxury hotels Petra Cruz, European Director of the Dominican Tourist Board, provided exciting insights into the future of the destination. The Marriott luxury brand "W" will open its first all-inclusive resort worldwide in Punta Cana in April 2024. One focus is on the sustainable tourism hotspot Miches, where 4,500 new hotel rooms will be built by the end of the year. In Las Terrenas, a charming village on the Samaná peninsula, the fishing village that was destroyed by fire has been extensively restored and is now once again home to first-class gourmet restaurants. A new cruise port is also being built in Pedernales. There is good news for nature lovers: Air Europa will be offering direct flights from Madrid to Santiago de los Caballeros in the future, making it easy to travel to the tropical mountain world for exploration tours.





Sint Maarten: Airport modernization completed Suzy N. Kartokromo, Manager of Aeronautical Services, announced the completion of the extensive renovation of Princess Juliana International Airport. Following the severe damage caused by Hurricane Irma, the airport has now been equipped with modern self-service check-in counters and electronic passport control to streamline the check-in process. Last year, a JW Marriott Beach Resort & Spa also opened on the idyllic Dawn Beach.

Antigua & Barbuda: An up-and-coming film destination! In an interview with Connoisseur Circle, Bert Kirchner, Ambassador-at-Large of Antigua & Barbuda, emphasized the growing importance of the island state as a film location and talent hotbed for the film industry. As the representative responsible for the film business in the Commonwealth state, Kirchner emphasizes that Antigua & Barbuda not only offers an inspiring backdrop for international productions, but also invests specifically in the expansion of the local film industry. A prominent example of this commitment is Robert De Niro's planned opening of the exclusive Nobu Hotel on Barbuda. In addition, Kirchner has initiated a strategic partnership with Screen Masters International, the world's largest casting agency, to expand talent scouting to the entire Caribbean region.





Belize: Tourism growth at record level. Saskia Strobl, Senior Account Executive at Finn Partners, presented the impressive development of tourism in Belize at ITB. In 2024, the country recorded 562,405 overnight guests, which corresponds to an increase of 21% compared to the previous year and an increase of 11.8% compared to the previous record year of 2019. Particularly attractive for discerning travelers are the diverse opportunities for unforgettable private experiences. Belize offers exclusive backdrops for special moments: from weddings in front of imposing Mayan temples or picturesque waterfalls to unforgettable ceremonies during a snorkeling trip in the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea.

Curaçao: Luxury hotels and lifestyle at the cutting edge. Susan Vrolijk, European Manager of the Curaçao Tourist Board, reported strong growth in visitor numbers: Last year, over 700,000 guests traveled to the island, including 14,406 tourists from Germany - a remarkable increase of 23% compared to the previous year. The Pietermaai district, where the Art Hotel Curaçao recently opened, is developing particularly dynamically. This exclusive, adults-only boutique hotel offers just 30 individually designed suites and was created by renowned local architect Cas Aalbers in collaboration with design studio Piet Boon. Handmade art objects by local artists give the interior a distinctive touch. Another highlight of the destination is the new Lemon Beach Boutique Club in Willemstad: with a spacious infinity pool, spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea and upscale gastronomy with regionally inspired specialties, it sets new standards in upscale dining.





St. Lucia: New adventure tourism collaborations and local promotion Dexter Percil, Director of Marketing for the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, unveiled plans for a joint adventure tourism package with Martinique and Guadeloupe. Travel will be via Paris or Gatwick with onward travel by ferry. Support for local small businesses in the hotel and tourism sector is also being promoted. A highlight of the year is the St. Lucia Carnival from July 21 to 23 with a big parade. For nature lovers, the new "Little 6" program offers unique bird watching of six rare small bird species.





interCaribbean Airways: Expansion of the route network Carolina Torres, international marketing coordinator of interCaribbean Airways, presented new connections: The airline now serves the routes San Juan (Puerto Rico) - Anguilla as well as Guyana - Barbados and Guyana - Grenada. This makes island hopping in the Caribbean even more attractive.





Friends of the Caribbean: New B2B networking format The announcement of the Connoisseur Circle network "Friends of the Caribbean and Central America" aroused particular interest. This free networking service offers tourism professionals the opportunity to exchange ideas in an exclusive LinkedIn group and get to know each other personally at a planned event. Further information is available at ccircle.cc/caribbean/en.





The Caribbean continues to position itself as an exclusive destination with a combination of luxury, culture and sustainability - a potential that is of great interest to both travelers and B2B partners.