Barbados has been confirmed as host destination for the 45th edition of Caribbean Travel Marketplace, bringing the region’s flagship tourism business event back to the island in 2027.
The announcement was made by Sanovnik Destang, president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, during the closing ceremony of this year’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Antigua and Barbuda.
The 2027 edition will take place from May 18-21, marking the return of the event to Barbados four years after the island last hosted the conference in 2023.
Widely regarded as the Caribbean’s most important business-to-business tourism forum, Caribbean Travel Marketplace brings together tour operators, wholesalers, airlines, hoteliers, destination leaders and senior travel trade decision-makers from across the world.
Barbados minister of tourism and international transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, said the selection represented a significant endorsement of the island’s tourism strategy, infrastructure and international appeal.
“Our selection is a powerful vote of confidence in Destination Barbados, our tourism product, our people, our infrastructure, and our vision for the future of Caribbean tourism,” he said.
He added that hosting the event would provide Barbados with a major platform to showcase its hospitality sector, cultural offer and wider visitor economy to key global buyers.
“Hosting Caribbean Travel Marketplace will create meaningful economic opportunities across our tourism ecosystem, elevate our global visibility, and provide an unmatched platform to showcase the very best of Barbados,” Gooding-Edghill said.
The early confirmation of the 2027 host destination gives Barbados a longer runway to prepare for the event and to align the conference with its broader tourism development priorities.
Gooding-Edghill said Barbados would work closely with regional partners to ensure the event strengthens relationships with both established and emerging source markets, while creating new commercial opportunities for the Caribbean tourism sector.
The minister also paid tribute to Antigua and Barbuda, which hosted Caribbean Travel Marketplace for a second consecutive year, thanking tourism minister Max Fernandez, the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association, and local organisers for their work in delivering the 2026 edition.
Barbados is expected to use the 2027 gathering to reinforce its position as one of the Caribbean’s leading tourism destinations, while placing renewed emphasis on connectivity, hospitality investment, culture and regional collaboration.
