The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) announced that Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures and one of the travel industry's most influential entrepreneurs, will deliver the keynote address at the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) 2026, taking place November 16-18 at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle All-Inclusive Resort.

Under the theme “Caribbean Tourism 2030: Resilient. Regenerative. Ready. – Practical Strategies to Lead Smarter, Operate Better and Grow Stronger,” CHIEF 2026 will bring together Caribbean hospitality leaders and industry experts to address the business challenges and opportunities shaping tourism across the region.

Poon Tip founded G Adventures in 1990 at the age of 22, launching the company with two maxed-out credit cards. The business has since grown into the world's largest small-group adventure travel company, carrying more than 200,000 travelers annually across approximately 1,000 trips in more than 100 countries.

At CHIEF, Poon Tip will draw on 35 years of experience challenging traditional tourism models to examine the relationship between tourism businesses and the destinations where they operate. His keynote will focus on strengthening local economies, ensuring communities capture more of the value generated by tourism and giving residents a meaningful voice in how tourism develops.

“Bruce built a global business by rethinking how travel was supposed to work, and that is exactly the kind of thinking our industry needs as we look toward 2030,” said CHTA President Sanovnik Destang.

The 2026 program will focus on practical strategies related to artificial intelligence, technology, revenue growth, direct bookings, workforce development, operational performance, resilience and new revenue opportunities.

Confirmed industry experts include Chris Davidson, Managing Director of MMGY Travel Intelligence; Paul Salmon, Chairman and CEO of Rockhouse; Manny Melendez, Director of Direct Bookings & Distribution at Amadeus; Kalina Kennedy, General Manager of Margaritaville Vacation Club St. Thomas, Elysian Beach Club and Limetree Beach Club; and Gregor Nassief, CEO of GEMS Holdings Limited.

CHIEF 2026 will provide hospitality owners, operators and tourism professionals with an opportunity to exchange ideas, strengthen industry connections and gain practical insights to apply within their organizations as the Caribbean prepares for 2030.