The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) has officially announced its 2026 calendar of flagship events, confirming dates and host destinations for a series of high-impact gatherings aimed at strengthening business performance, leadership, innovation and cultural excellence across the Caribbean tourism sector.

The 2026 portfolio includes the Caribbean Travel Marketplace and the Direct Booking Summit in Antigua and Barbuda, as well as the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) and Taste of the Caribbean in Barbados. Together, these events position CHTA as a central platform for deal-making, professional development and strategic collaboration within the region’s hospitality industry.

“Our 2026 event portfolio represents CHTA’s commitment to providing attendees with actionable tools, strategic connections and real-world solutions they can immediately apply to grow their businesses,” said CHTA President Sanovnik Destang. “Each event is designed to deliver measurable value that participants can take back to their organizations.”

Caribbean Travel Marketplace returns to Antigua and Barbuda

The Caribbean Travel Marketplace, scheduled for May 12–15, 2026, will once again take place in Antigua and Barbuda, reaffirming its role as the region’s premier commercial tourism event. Widely regarded as the economic engine of Caribbean tourism, Marketplace brings together hotels, resorts, destinations and tourism suppliers with leading wholesalers and travel buyers from key source markets worldwide.

Through pre-scheduled, one-on-one business meetings, participants negotiate contracts, launch new products and establish commercial relationships that directly influence travel demand and revenue flows for the year ahead.

Direct Booking Summit strengthens revenue strategies

Immediately following Marketplace, the Direct Booking Summit Caribbean will return for its second edition on May 15, 2026, also in Antigua and Barbuda. Building on the success of its inaugural year, the Summit focuses on practical, hands-on strategies to help Caribbean accommodation providers optimize revenue and reduce dependency on third-party channels.

The forum offers actionable insights into direct booking tools, guest engagement strategies and digital solutions that participants can implement immediately to improve profitability and long-term competitiveness.

CHIEF 2026 heads to Barbados

The Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) will be held November 16–18, 2026, at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle All-Inclusive. Designed as a leadership and solutions-driven forum, CHIEF blends strategic vision with real-world application, addressing the most pressing challenges facing Caribbean hospitality today.

Through case studies, cross-sector dialogue and peer-to-peer collaboration, CHIEF equips industry leaders with practical tools to support decision-making, adaptation and business transformation.

Taste of the Caribbean celebrates culinary excellence

Running in parallel with CHIEF, Taste of the Caribbean will take place November 16–19, 2026, also in Barbados. Recognized as the region’s premier culinary event, Taste of the Caribbean celebrates Caribbean culture while fostering talent development and professional growth within the hospitality and food service sectors.

The event brings together chefs, mixologists and culinary professionals for competitions, educational exchanges and supplier engagement, strengthening operational excellence while showcasing Caribbean identity on a global stage.

With its 2026 calendar, CHTA reinforces its role as a catalyst for economic growth, innovation and collaboration, offering the Caribbean tourism industry a comprehensive platform to connect, evolve and compete in an increasingly dynamic global market.