Caribbean Travel Advisor

It was recently reported that Cancun’s international airlift numbers have dropped since this time last year, but many Mexican Caribbean-focused travel advisors are not seeing the effects in their Cancun business.

“Cancun is still my most booked destination again this year,” said Kacie Walls, an advisor for Travelista Travels.

Beaches Resorts is now taking bookings for its newest resort concept, Caribbean Travel Advisor has learned. 

The new $150 million development is a 100-acre, 101-room resort pegged to debut next spring.

Caribbean Journal has unveiled the winners for the inaugural Caribbean Travel Advisor Awards top advisors from around the country in such categories as Best Big Agency to Best New Agency.

The results were the product of two months of voting by members of Caribbean Travel Advisor, the world’s only Caribbean-focused travel agent publication.

Several Caribbean advisors are reporting an overall drop in spring break travel amongst college students, a trend that has been evolving for years, but especially post-COVID.

Emily Bertsch, an advisor with VIP Vacations, Inc., said roughly 80 percent of VIP’s spring break bookings for 2025 booked earlier this year with “a bunch more” bookings expected this month.

The highly-anticipated new Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort in the Dominican Republic has a new opening date, Caribbean Travel Advisor has learned. 

The new resort is part of a growing network of resorts in the town of Miches on Samana Bay, an area that has been seeing massive investment and a wave of new properties. 

Kingston, Jamaica has been heating up as a travel destination in recent years, with more and more visitors drawn to the capital for its unique blend of art, culture and food.

Now there’s a great way to experience the destination as you begin to sell Kingston to clients. 

The Caribbean’s next big conference for travel agency owners will be in Antigua and Barbuda this fall, Caribbean Travel Advisor has learned. 

The Travel Agency Owners Forum, produced by the Travel Show Marketing Group, will run in Antigua from Oct. 25-30. 

One of the top all-inclusive resorts on Isla Mujeres has officially joined the Virtuoso global travel network. 

The adults-only, all-inclusive Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets, which opened in 2023, is the newest addition to Virtuoso. 

Since its inception roughly 16 years ago, the Ocean Hotels Group has made significant strides in transforming the South Coast of Barbados into an area of the country that is synonymous with high-end all-inclusive resorts.

Patricia Affonso-Dass, group general manager of the Ocean Hotels Group in Barbados, recently shared a brief history lesson on Ocean Hotels Group as well as the company’s future plans, including a possible expansion within Barbados and a few more in other Caribbean destinations.

The top travel and tourism tradeshow in St Maarten is back once again this year. 

This year will be the 17th annual edition of SMART, which last year saw more than 1,000 business meetings and delegates from 25 different countries. 

Hyatt is opening two major new all-inclusive resorts this spring, and now both of them have opening dates. 

The newest Secrets and Dreams resorts in the Dominican Republic are both nearing their debut, Caribbean Travel Advisor has learned. 

Carnival Cruise Line has launched a new push to court travel advisors. It’s called “Book More, Earn Big,” and the promotion is running now through March 12. 

The program is focused on its Travel Agents Rock! loyalty program; it gives agents up to 1,000 bonus points that can be redeemed for things like travel incentives and gift cards. 

The Virtuoso network of luxury travel advisors has a new member hotel in the Caribbean, Caribbean Travel Advisor has learned. 

Virtuoso has welcomed the O2 Beach jClub and Spa in Barbados to its network of more than 2,300 preferred travel suppliers. 

The latest Caribbean Journal webinar was a deep dive into Destination St Kitts, an island we’ve visited countless times and consider one of the most fascinating, beautiful places in the wider Caribbean. 

Whether you’re looking for an eco-tourism getaway, a romantic jaunt or a good old-fashioned beach vacation, there’s something in St Kitts for everyone. 

The number one all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean for 2025 has officially joined the Virtuoso network.

The move only solidifies the property’s position as the leader among Caribbean all-inclusives right now, with just a handful of all-inclusive resorts being members of Virtuoso.

One of the Riviera Maya’s top resorts has announced a sizable 25 percent commission offer, Caribbean Travel Advisor has learned. 

The VidantaWorld brand (it was known as Vidanta until rebranding last year), has announced several new programs for agents. 

The Dreams brand has a new property in the Dominican Republic, Caribbean Travel Advisor has learned. 

Hyatt’s family-friendly brand has officially opened the new Dreams Cap Cana resort in the most exclusive enclave of Punta Cana. 

Sandals just wrapped up its Global Sales Conference, a five-day retreat with more than 200 delegates ranging from company execs to government officials in Jamaica. 

The event featured a look ahead for the Beaches and Sandals brands, along with an outlook for Jamaica — which Toursim Minister Ed Bartlett says can expect an “historic year for travel for the island.”

One of Saint Lucia’s most popular adults-only resorts has unveiled a new “double” offer for travel agents. 

The Serenity at Coconut Bay resort has a new Double Bonus Offer, which gives agents the opportunity to earn up to $300 for tour operator and direct bookings as part of its REWARDS$ program. 

Some of the top Caribbean advisors in the world recently spoke out about how to grow business in 2025 by citing the hottest hotel openings, attacking potential obstacles, identifying the latest and growing trends, revealing already popular islands and emerging ones, and their business goals for the new year.

Here’s what they had to say.

Growing and Existing Trends That Will Continue in 2025

Micheal McHugh, co-owner of Dream Makers Vacation Services along with his wife Amy McHugh, said one of the biggest trends heading to 2025 was spawned from the recent Presidential election.

“Prior to the election, we saw a lot of nervousness about booking or booking last minute,” he said.  “The two weeks before the election were super quiet. I personally don’t think people were concerned about who was going to be elected.

“I think they just needed all the constant bombardment to stop,” he continued. “Prior to the election, we were seeing people booking last minute to six months before travel. Not a whole lot of longer term. We’re started to see more clients booking further out.” 

Heather D’Amico, owner and vacation designer for D’Amico Travel said four types of previously popular vacations are all beginning to pick up steam in 2025.

“A few trends we are noticing are more solo guests, small family groups and wellness travel,” said D’Amico “There has been a big uptick in cruise requests as well, where guests can see multiple islands on one vacation.”

Ian Petrulli, vice president of Holiday Travel International, said many of his clients are looking for islands they haven’t yet visited.

“Lately, I have had clients saying that they want to go somewhere else in the Caribbean that they haven’t been to yet,” said “Petrulli “Pricing comes as a real shock to them especially knowing that these islands that they haven’t been to don’t offer all-inclusive options and are still more than what they’d pay to go to more traditional destinations like the Riviera Maya, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Aruba, etc.

“It looks like the aforementioned traditional Caribbean destinations for our market will remain in high demand for 2025,” he continued.

Kendra Wagner of Kendra Wagner Travel said tailored-made trips, particularly those with a wellness theme, will be especially popular in 2025.

“The hottest trends for Caribbean agents in 2025 revolve around personalization and creating deeply tailored experiences,” she said. “Wellness travel is particularly prominent, with growing interest in spa retreats, yoga escapes, and mindful getaways.”

She said one “hidden gem” for this is VIDA Cayman.

“It offers organic, clean cuisine at its restaurant, Nourish, paired with yoga and workout spaces, off-the-beaten-path tranquility, and an ideal setting for women’s retreats,” said Wagner. “Additionally, immersive cultural experiences, such as culinary tours or local artisan workshops, are in high demand. Focusing on crafting tailor-made itineraries that emphasize local connections and authentic engagement will set agents apart in this growing market.

Anticipated Obstacles for 2025 Caribbean Travel

Michael McHugh said hotel strikes are going to be one of the top vacation disruptors in the new year.

“One of the concerns I have is with the strikes that have been happening,” he said. “We saw a number in Jamaica and now one in Antigua. Most were at resorts who have been experiencing service issues, so we didn’t have many clients there, but I’ve heard of clients being affected. I’m hopeful that the resorts we sell pay attention and really focus on employee happiness in addition to client happiness.”

McHugh also noted that expensive flight prices, which has been the norm since travel resumed post COVID, could still be an obstacle in 2025, but can also see them dipping now that the results of the election “continues to settle.”

“Flights still are higher than normal, but I see them coming down,” he said. “This Christmas rates are insane. I’m hopeful as things continue to settle after the election that rates go down. I’m sure no change fees are a factor in the cost of airfare. If so, I’d rather see them go away and get lower airfare.”

Petrulli’s main obstacle has been going on in all industries for years, but he still maintains it will cause confusion amongst clients going forward.

“Misleading information via social media, traditional media and not understanding the State Department’s travel alerts,” he said.

D’Amico fears that the growing technology that allows clients to bypass an advisor’s help will only get more robust. Specifically, AI is causing a lot of concern for advisors, she said.

“Technology and higher client expectations are obstacles that are keeping up, which is either going to make or break businesses,” she said. “The ability to have personal conversations with AI tools is helping to streamline searches, making booking easier without a professional.”

But the skilled advisor can find ways to make this an advantage, she said.

“People are looking for instant communication, more attention, and unique experiences,” said D’Amico. “We must leverage technology to our benefit while connecting deeply with each client to deliver ‘wow’ service in 2025 and show value more than ever before.”

Wagner said one of the biggest challenges for Caribbean travel advisors heading into 2025 is the rising cost of vacations.

“Over the past few years, prices for popular destinations like Turks & Caicos, Antigua, and St. Lucia have surged, with $10,000 to $12,000 now being a baseline for many trips. This can be a tough adjustment for clients unfamiliar with luxury travel budgets.”

So, what’s her solution?

“To address this, I’ve been exploring lesser-known, more affordable destinations like Dominica. However, accessibility can be a drawback, depending on the client’s location,” she said.

Lastly, Wagner said another challenge is the recent surge of new agents with limited experience.

“Additionally, another challenge is the influx of new advisors with minimal training or industry knowledge,” she said. “Educating clients on the value of working with an experienced advisor backed by a strong team is crucial. The key lies in standing out by emphasizing expertise, personalized service and the ability to navigate an increasingly crowded market.”

Caribbean Hotel Openings for 2025

AMResorts is looking to have a lucrative year as the new Secrets and Dreams branded hotels are gaining a lot of client intrigue.

“We are seeing a lot of interest in Secrets Baby Beach in Aruba,” said Amy McHugh of Dream Makers Vacation Service. “Aruba has long needed more all-inclusive options, so this is something very exciting to look forward to.

D’Amico said Secrets Baby Beach is just one of three AMResorts her clients are inquiring about, along with Jamaica’s new Unico 1877 in Montego Bay.

“We’re so excited for Unico 1877 to open in Montego Bay this year,” she confirmed. “HIC consistently adds to its portfolio throughout the Caribbean. Secrets Baby Beach in Aruba, Secrets St. Lucia and Dreams Playa Esmeralda in the Dominican Republic are all on the horizon for 2025.”

Petrulli said the best part of Secrets Baby Beach is it’s going to be brand new as Aruba is known for having a lot of older hotels.

One of the biggest challenge for the Cayman Islands is a rather good problem to have — too much demand.

But that’s par for the course for one of the Caribbean’s top luxury destinations, one that continues to see growth in the post-pandemic period.

It remains one of the fastest-growing segments in Caribbean travel: the luxury villa, for which demand continues to surge across the region. 

Of course, there are two primary ways to enjoy a villa — an independent villa, preferably with a top villa management company, or a villa resort, where you get villa accommodations with full service, housekeeping and common amenities. 

It’s one of our favorite old towns in the Caribbean: the Casco Antiguo of Panama City, a colorful, charming historic quarter that’s a refreshing departure from the bustle and skyscapers of the rest of the capital. 

Now, one of the area’s top hotels is the newest member of Virtuoso, the luxury travel group.