CTO has been training staff in preparation for possible service to the Caribbean by Emirates Airlines

​The Caribbean region may see some service through the largest airline tour operator in the Middle East, as it has been given a detailed introduction to the Caribbean by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), as Emirates Airlines prepares to service the region.
 
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) recently conducted an in-house training program in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for 40 Emirates Holidays reservations, sales & operation staff, to familiarize them with the Caribbean product. The training included key selling points, & information on attractions, events & accommodations options.
 
The invitation to the CTO to conduct the training, is part of a growing relationship between the region’s tourism development agency and Emirates Holidays, the tour-operating arm of Emirates Airline, which has now chosen to operate flights from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with connections to the Caribbean, on Jet Blue.
 
Carol Hay, the CTO’s director of marketing for the UK and Europe said, “We have been nurturing this relationship for a number of years, meeting with Emirates Holidays at the Arabian Travel Market to ensure that the Caribbean remained a viable option”.
 
Ms. Hay added, “Once the flight to Fort Lauderdale was announced, we were really pleased to be given the opportunity to provide technical support, and train their frontline staff. We will continue to work with Emirates Holidays and develop strategic programmes to increase awareness of the Caribbean and grow business to the Caribbean. We have the product, so with airlift there is increased potential”.
 
The CTO was joined in Dubai by the Bahamas Tourist Office, Jamaica Tourist Board, and Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board. The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. also supplied brochures & information. The product executive at Emirates Holidays Anish Mohan said the tour operator now had a better understanding of what the Caribbean has to offer.
 
 
Mr. Mohan said “Destination knowledge is key in order to confidently sell the products in the destination. The Caribbean training was well structured and gave us a detailed insight as to what the Caribbean destinations can offer to each client segments – couples, families, group of friends. We also understood why the Caribbean destination are unique, gained a perspective of the tourism seasonality and the must- do attractions and the choice of accommodation options available in each destination. The highlight was the explanation by the relevant destination experts about the culture and various Caribbean festivals”.
 
Discussions are currently underway between the CTO and Emirates Holidays, to continue the training with the travel trade across the UAE in 2017, supported by a multi destination fam trip.
 
The CTO is currently coordinating the Caribbean’s participation at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2017, and welcomes enquires from CTO member countries and hotel partners.