Julia Hendry has put a 30-plus-year experience under her belt while working in the Caribbean’s travel and tourism industry, both in the private and public sectors. She’s one of the most authorized voices in the region in this respect and now that she’s ready to go into semiretirement, she’s also willing to share her valuable knowledge with the new breed of leaders. In this exclusive interview with Caribbean News Digital, Mrs. Hendry, who’s still the European marketing director for CTO, reminisces about the past and looks to the future of Caribbean tourism in the face of economic hardships.

2009 will certainly be a challenging year for the world of travel and tourism, a realm in which the Caribbean is one of its centerpieces. That’s why one of the area’s main tourist organization –the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)- will go the extra mile to try make things right and pave the way for the full-blown rebound of the number-one regional industry that, as Alec Sanguinetti puts is, is expected to happen in the second half of 2010. About this and other issues, Caribbean News Digital talked exclusively with CHTA’s Director General and CEO within the framework of the FITUR 2009 fair in Spain’s Madrid.

2009 will certainly be a challenging year for the world of travel and tourism, a realm in which the Caribbean is one of its centerpieces. That’s why one of the area’s main tourist organization –the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)- will go the extra mile to try make things right and pave the way for the full-blown rebound of the number-one regional industry that, as Alec Sanguinetti puts is, is expected to happen in the second half of 2010. About this and other issues, Caribbean News Digital talked exclusively with CHTA’s Director General and CEO within the framework of the FITUR 2009 fair in Spain’s Madrid.

The Trinidad & Tobago Tourism Board has just rolled out a promotional campaign in Spain because its front office believes the twin-island nation could draw far more visitors from this country based on common cultural values they share –like the language. Within the framework of the EIBTM 2008 tradeshow held in Barcelona, Spain, Caribbean News Digital talked exclusively with Mr. Littles about these topics.

Jamaica is determined to raise the bar as a MICE travel destination by taking advantage, among many niceties the island nation has to offer, of the opening of new Spanish hotels, a move that’s will also make the Caribbean country get a tighter hold on its traditional outbound markets in the Old World and open up to emerging ones in such regions as Eastern Europe. Patricia Samuels talked exclusively with Caribbean News Digital about these issues.

Anthony’s Keys Resort is perched on a lavish natural setting of a private island off Honduras. For more than 40 years, its dolphin programs has turned the resort into the dreamland of people interested in both the habitat and smart behavior of these fascinating sea mammals. With occupancy rates way above 80 percent all throughout 2008, Anthony’s Keys Resort continues to aim high on the road ahead. In this exclusive interview with Caribbean News Digital, its general manager talks about the facility’s future plans and expectations.