While major hoteliers are forecasting a merry Christmas for the upcoming winter tourist season, the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) is taking no great comfort in this.
BHTA president Patricia Affonso-Daas told the association’s final quarterly meeting for 2013 yesterday that while reported bookings in excess of 80 per cent for Christmas and the New Year, “and in some cases beyond”, were encouraging, more needed to be done.
“Do not let us be fooled that a good winter can sustain this economy for an entire year,” she told the gathering of industry players and media at Hilton Barbados.
“I would hope the pattern is reflective of the majority of properties. It is critically important to note, however, that the timing of the destination’s marketing initiative is critical to shoring up the end of the winter period and securing a solid base of bookings for the summer,” she added.
