Bringing the local industry face to face with USA and Canadian Product buyers, the Saint Lucia Tourist Board hosts the third Annual Saint Lucia North American Showcase July 30th – August 2nd 2015 at the Johnson Centre in Rodney Bay.
The two main components of the Annual Saint Lucia North American Showcase pursue specific marketing objectives for the Board, namely destination marketing, the pursuit of niche markets, the creation of networking opportunities for tourism sub-sectors, and relationship building through incentive and recognition of top producing partners.
The first component comprises a marketplace forum connecting Saint Lucian providers of products and services with North America tour operators who package and sell Saint Lucian travel and vacation products. This year, the Showcase is expected to bring product buyers representing 18 international wholesale and tour operator companies from across the USA and Canada to Saint Lucia for the purpose of boosting their product knowledge and to meet face-to-face with over 50 owners and executives of Saint Lucian-owned tourism-related businesses.
According to the Director of Tourism, Louis Lewis, “Showcase is an ideal opportunity for the Saint Lucia Tourist Board and our local product and service suppliers to meet and connect with the North American buyers in a relaxed, yet productive atmosphere to conduct business for the upcoming seasons of fall and winter. Showcase further enables the buyers to re-acquaint themselves with Saint Lucia and experience new developments and aspects of the product. It is a mutually beneficial conference that is a core component of our marketing programme and we look forward to welcoming our guests for a third year”
The second highlight for Saint Lucia North American Showcase takes the form of an annual awards ceremony to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding producers in various tour operator categories. This year Saint Lucia Tourist Board will present the following awards:
– Most improved Sales Support from a Tour Operator ?
– Top Producing Canadian Tour Operator ?
– Top Producing Online Tour Operator ?
– Top Producing Traditional Tour Operator ?
– Fastest Growing Tour Operator ?
– Best Producing Tour Operator for Weddings & Honeymoons.
Wholesale partners will also be treated to “themed” social events and receptions where further networking and discussions can be extended during their visit on-island. ?
The Saint Lucia Tourist Board, in association with the Ministry of Tourism and the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association, welcomes this “Boutique” style event in Saint Lucia as it provides an avenue for the destination to showcase its world class offerings while interacting with experts from North America who provide knowledge and feedback
for improvement for the island. ?
Among the sponsors for the 2015 Showcase are – Windjammer Landing Beach Resort, Capella Marigot, Ladera, Jade Mountain, Anse Chastanet, NatMed, Holiday Taxi, FLOW, Barefoot Holidays and Sugar Beach Resort and Spa. ?
