Two successful events: Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean in the UK

The Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) accomplished two major events in the UK recently aimed at enhancing the profile of Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean. The first was the 18th Unite Caribbean (March 11). Main sponsorship of the event saw GTA Marketing Manager Francine Stewart undertake 27 meetings with key airline and tour operator partners.  Ms Stewart also presented to over 160 Unite Caribbean delegates, hoteliers and buyers, highlighting what’s new on the three islands, and our hotel partners’ recent achievements, whilst showing the very well received Free to Wonder video.

This year, a strong delegation represented the destination including Radisson Grenada, Silversands Grenada, Sandals Grenada Resort & Spa, Coyaba Beach Resort, Mount Cinnamon Resort and Beach Club, Blue Horizons Garden Resort, Spice Island Beach Resort, St. James Travel and Tours, True Blue Bay Resort, Laluna Boutique Beach Hotel and Royalton Grenada. Stewart praised the event saying, “Ensuring Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique remains the destination of choice for the travel industry is at the heart of our strategy and there’s no better way to achieve this than speaking with decision makers face to face. In such a competitive market it is essential we continue to market Grenada proactively and persistently with the support of our valued industry partners”.

Mr Leo Garbutt of Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel said: “Unite Caribbean provides an unrivalled opportunity to meet industry partners and promote our excellent product to the UK travel industry. Working together means we create maximum impact”.

The following day (March 12), Pure Grenada hosted its first ‘Grenada Ambassador Rewards’ Awards, attended by nearly fifty award-winning travel agents and tour operator reservation staff guests. Specially invited guests included Lorraine Grant, representing the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), and Darren Pearson of GTA partner, My Booking Rewards, which oversees the Grenada Ambassador Rewards programme.

Partners from the island were invited to co-host the evening, namely: Sir Royston Hopkin KCMG representing, Spice Island Beach Resort and Blue Horizons Garden Resort; Mr Leo Garbutt of Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel; Mr Daniel Nicholas and Mrs Arleen Redhead of Radisson Grenada; Mrs Magdalena Fielden of True Blue Bay Boutique Resort; and Mrs Marielle Alexander of St James Travel and Tours.  They were joined by the teams from UK sales offices of Laluna Boutique Beach Hotel & Villas; Mount Cinnamon Resort & Beach Club; Sandals Grenada Resort & Spa and Silversands Grenada.

The event was enhanced with Grenadian cuisine and culture, culminating with an award ceremony to recognise excellence in sales to the islands, with each of the hotel partners rewarding their top sellers.  Stewart said: “Pure Grenada is proud to be a member of the My Booking Rewards programme driving our Grenada Ambassador Programme membership - that now totals over 1,400 UK travel agents - in growing their knowledge of the islands of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Most importantly, it encourages the agents to sell Grenada and rewards them when they make bookings.  Tonight, we have celebrated the success of our registered agents and look forward to many more years of growth in members and the visitors they send to our beautiful islands.” Both events were supported by the GTA’s Representatives for the UK, Eyes2Market.