No.14/2009 - 26th August, 2009

 

In this edition
Brides fly free....

First ever TV advert in UK
  
UK Press trip
 
Royal Suites at St James' Club
 
UK Media Lunch
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New Members
  
- Columbian Emeralds
 
- Island Gems Publications
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On the Move
  
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Average Hotel occupancies 2009 & 2008
 
                         2009            2008
January -    62.4%  -     74.1%
February -   73.9% -     81.1%
March -         69.3% -    72.7%
April -            60.2% -    72.4%
May -             55.0% -    63.7% 
June -            50.5% -    57.3% 
July -             52.0% -    58.2%
 
2008
August - 57.8%
September - 42.1%
October - 50.9%
November - 63.8%
December - 58.1%
Total year 2008 - 63.1%
 
 
For more detailed information
click here
 
For the latest CTO statistics on international arrivals to the Caribbean for 2009
click here. (last update August 21st)
 
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Summer 2009 Closures
 
Admirals Inn - 2nd June - 14th November
Blue Waters - 30th August - 10th October
Carlisle Bay - 29th August - 17th October
Copper & Lumber - 15th August - 15th October
Curtain Bluff - 31st July - 31st October
Hermitage Bay - 6th September - 5th October
Galleon Beach - 1st June - 24th October
Long Bay - 1st September - 12th October
The Inn - 7th June - 1st November
 
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 Upcoming Events
     
TOP RESA - Paris
22nd - 25th September
 
Small Hotels Retreat - Saint Thomas
30th September - 2nd October
 
World Travel Market - Excel, London
9th - 12th November
 
Marketplace 2010 - San Juan
10th - 12th January 2010
 
BIT Milan
22nd - 25th February 2010
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is at your service to help you fill those vacant positions. At no cost we will post any vacant positions to the website.
 
Just send in the details to the AHTA Office
 
       
Welcome to the Newsletter of the Antigua Hotels & Tourist Association.  
 
                 Brides fly free ..
 
WHY WALK DOWN THE AISLE WHEN YOU CAN STROLL DOWN THE BEACH?
 
The Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority recently launched a ‘Brides Fly Free’ initiative at Scotland's Exclusive Wedding Event held at the luxurious Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on August 22 and 23. During the two days, the event attracted 6,500 visitors.

Joel Henry, Marketing and Business Development Executive comments: “The Brides Fly Free Promotion, created quite a stir amongst consumers searching for that perfect wedding and honeymoon destination. Being the only destination present we sealed quite a few deals as we captured the attention of thousands and created awareness of Antigua and Barbuda as the Romance Capital of the Eastern Caribbean.”

The Brides Fly Free promotion offers five lucky brides who book at any one of the upcoming five wedding shows being attended by the UK office within the next several months, a chance to win a free flight to Antigua for their wedding or honeymoon.

As the sole destination exhibitor at the recent Exclusive Wedding Event in Glasgow, the Tourism Authority was able to capitalize on their position and maximise brand awareness to all the potential honeymooners attending. Antigua and Barbuda also received exposure via a localised radio campaign across Scotland.

First Ever Antigua & Barbuda TV destination Ad airs in the UK
Antigua and Barbuda will be re-introduced to UK travelers for the first time since its re-brand, with a fresh, new destination TV advert. The ad which will appear on television and internet, features exciting images of the destination, carries a catchy up-tempo island beat, and reminds viewers that in “Antigua and Barbuda, the beach is just the beginning”
 
“Antigua and Barbuda has needed a strong destination marketing push for a while now. The creation of this ad for the upcoming winter season means that we are in a better position to utilize both the TV and web, and so raise the profile of our destination for maximum recall with consumers,” said CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority Colin C. James.

The new advertising campaign is part of the Tourism Authority’s overall global marketing campaign. According to James the primary objective is “to market the Antigua and Barbuda destination brand using a creative mix of marketing and PR programs, to drive visitor arrivals from all source markets." The advert created using spectacular destination footage is available in 30 second, 20 second and 10 second versions which will allow for maximum flexibility for placement in the media.

On August 15, the advert premiered on Sky Travel channel in the United Kingdom. It will run free of charge, five times a day for a period of two weeks. The advertising project although developed by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority’s UK office is generic enough for use in all source markets.

The new ad can be viewed on the Tourism Authority’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/antiguabarbuda
 UK Press Trip
 
More press out of the UK will be visiting our twin islands to experience the Antigua & Barbuda tourism product. Virgin Holidays, is the core sponsor of this trip of 5 journalists and a KTA Public Relations Representative, Lucy Quilliam. The journalists represent a wide range of media ranging from print to web that targets a professional demographic that has the travel bug. Representing www.handbag.com is Rebecca Taylor, Krista Madden is the Editor of www.beautyandthedirt.com, Daniel Coughlin freelance for AOL (UK) Travel, Mike Lockley writes for Trinity Mirror Newspapers and Marnie Wilson represents Surrey Advertiser Group.

This group will be accommodated at Virgin Holidays Beach Club for the next five days from the 29th – 2nd September. With a packed agenda, the journalists will be visiting Verandah Resort, Sandals and O J’s Restaurant for site inspections and to sample the local and international cuisine being offered by our member properties. A day trip to Barbuda with a stop at the Bird Sanctuary, and then for a swim at one of Barbuda’s pink sand beaches completed with lunch onboard The Excellence, The Antigua Rain Forest Canopy Tour Adventure and Barbeque Dinner at the famous Shirley Heights Lookout are some of the outdoor activities our guests will enjoy.

We appreciate the assistance and support of our members for making this UK press trip possible.

      

   

Announcing Antigua's Newest Luxury Waterfront Suites - the Royal Suites
 
It Doesn't Get Any Better!
St. James’s Club has added 50 new Royal Suites that are expected to be amongst the most popular waterfront accommodations on the island. With sophisticated décor, private verandahs and new sleek boardwalk, we know your clients will be impressed.
Situated on Mamora Bay all Royal Suites (568 sq. ft.) feature:
Spectacular waterfront views
Private check-in area
Concierge Bar & two new pools
Sunken living room with marbled top wet bar
Floor-to-ceiling windows
Private furnished balcony
 Expansive bathroom with his-and-hers showers and deep-soaking tub Caribbean-style décor with striking island furnishings
and art
King size bed and sofa
37-inch HD flat-screen TV iPod docking stations DVD players Internet access
ABTA Hosts exclusive Media Lunch in London
 
                      
The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority’s UK Office, recently hosted an exclusive lunch for select members of the media at St James’ Hotel & Club, London, with Richie Richardson as the special guest.

Committed to cementing positive relationships with the UK media, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority invited specialist press from the full travel journalism gamut.

Hilary Modeste commented; “We were pleased that so many influential journalists were able to attend this exclusive event and afforded us the opportunity to convey our latest news and key tourism messages directly. We were delighted to have Richie Richardson as our guest of honor at the event. He captivated so many of the journalists with anecdotes from his cricketing past and was a real draw for the journalists.”

Dedicated to maintaining Antigua’s position in the wedding and honeymoon sector, the Tourism Authority was delighted that Gemma Askam from Cosmopolitan Bride attended, and was able to provide an update on the wedding and honeymoon market.

The Tourism Authority was pleased that travel trade representatives from the Association of British Travel Agents Magazine, Selling Long Haul and the Travel Trade Gazette attended the lunch, as well as freelancers from a variety of media including national newspapers such as The Daily Express, The Sunday Express, The Mail on Sunday plus consumer titles like Caribbean World and Real Travel. Journalist and cricket enthusiast Geoffrey Dean from The Times also attended as well as Matthew Hinchliffe, editor of ethnic publication, The Flyer.

During the lunch a raffle was held and Judith Baker won a trip to Antigua. The elated winner indicated that she will be using the opportunity to write about the destination for several UK newspapers.
 
 
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Antigua Hotels & Tourist Association
PO Box 454, Island House, Newgate Street
St John's
Antigua
 E-mail: neil@antiguahotels.org
http://www.antiguahotels.org