BHTA records huge success in recent years: CEO Ryan Forde

The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) in accordance with the Intimate Hotels of Barbados (IHB) has achieved the height for the island nation, where the period of peak tourism has rapidly exerted from a mere six-month period to about nine to ten months throughout the year.

This collaboration was also assisted by the members of Barbados Hotels and Tourism Association and other partners who held their hand for the overall development of the nation.

Moreover, the association also expressed delight on witnessing the significant boost in the tourism sector following the extensive renovations and rebranding of the hotels and resorts. All these data of the transformation of the island’s tourism landscape were emphasised by the Chief Executive Officer Ryan Forde.

The CEO extended credits to the investment made by the members of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association and Intimate Hotels of Barbados. He stated that this growth is a commitment to the unwavering commitment and dedication of all the members towards positioning Barbados as a premier destination for all the travellers.

While shedding light on the ongoing upgrades at Wyndham Sam Lords, Atlantis Hotel, O2 Hotel and Spa, Hilton Barbados Resort, South Gap, and Pirates Inn, the CEO stated that it is a testament to the commitment of the tourism sector towards enhancing Barbados appeal to both visitors and its own citizens.

The CEO, Ryan Forde also emphasised on the increasing number of members within the Barbados Hotels and Tourism Association. He stated that they were 18 in number last year which has expanded to 35 and that also in just the September of 2024.

While encouraging all the members and their work towards development of the tourism sector of Barbados, the CEO asserted that they should be proud of the product offered by the Barbados and the remarkable upgrades.

“We must be loud with the positive and not just the negatives, noted CEO Ryan Forde.

Moreover, the CEO also shed light on his plan to collaborate with the Venezuelan Embassy on business Spanish training in order to cater to the increasing and diverse visitor base by focusing on language skills development.

Through this development, the association is aiming towards more future exchange programmes across Latin America, enhancing their reach and appeal worldwide.

Also, the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association is continuously making efforts towards enhancing the tourism profile of the island nation. While stressing on the 2021 reports by Professor Dr Rudolph Alleyne which outlines the investment in the sector to be about $102 million to $154 million annually for the session 2018-2019.

The CEO noted that there is a need to attract more funds into the sector with a vision to lead the Growth Sensex at global level and bring about steady and sustainable phase for the travel and tourism sector for the Barbados.