The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) proudly announces its official partnership with Atlanta United, one of Major League Soccer’s most iconic clubs. The strategic alliance marks a significant milestone in promoting Belize as a premier travel destination and underscores the country’s commitment to fostering meaningful connections with global communities. As the “Official Caribbean Tourism Partner of Atlanta United,” Belize is poised to showcase its breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture and unparalleled hospitality to the passionate fanbase of Atlanta United and the broader Atlanta community. From special sweepstakes opportunities to integrating the brand into the team’s home at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the partnership is one fans should look forward to.
U.S. Tourism CEOs Get Paid
07.05.2024 - 11:17 / skift.com / Spirit Airlines / Ted Christie / Dennis Schaal / Rashaad Jorden / Brand / Jose Marmolejos
Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, May 7. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
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Skift has unveiled its list of the U.S.’s highest-paid tourism marketing CEOs. Visit California CEO Caroline Beteta took the top spot, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.
Beteta collected more than $1.5 million in compensation during the 2022 fiscal year. Former San Francisco Travel Association CEO Joseph D’ Alessandro came in second at just under $965,000. Skift used the 2022 fiscal year because it contains the most recent comprehensive up-to-date records.
Habtemariam notes Skift focused on CEOs from the top 20 cities and major tourism states with large, non-profit destination marketing organizations. Pay packages of CEOs of Brand USA and Destinations International were also included in Skift’s list.
Next, Spirit Airlines CEO Ted Christie blasted the current state of the airline industry, describing it as a “rigged game,” writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi.
Christie said during the company’s first-quarter earnings call that smaller non-legacy carriers like Spirit are struggling to return to profitability. He added that profits in the airline industry are concentrated around two companies. Maharishi notes the “Big 4” carriers — American, Delta, United and Southwest — have recorded record revenues since the pandemic.
Spirit reported a $142 million first-quarter loss.
Finally, Expedia Group has given a more complete explanation of the cause of a tech outage that took down several of its websites on Sunday, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal.
Expedia Group had first blamed maintenance issues for the widespread outage. But Schaal writes that Monday Expedia acknowledged it was a “backend software issue.”
Schaal also confirmed that the affected Expedia sites had a common backend technology stack, and the problem went beyond just the consumer-facing websites and included some internal operations.
Producer/Presenter: Jose Marmolejos
Bahamas Tourism Officials to Attend 42nd Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Jamaica
With things looking up for tourism in The Bahamas, representatives of the country’s Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (BMOTIA) are set to build on their success at the 42nd edition of Caribbean Travel Marketplace. Hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and scheduled for 20 - 23 May 2024 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Jamaica, the Caribbean’s largest tourism marketing event will offer opportunity for The Bahamas to shine as buyers and sellers of tourism products and services from countries across the region convening for business. In 2023, The Bahamas saw record-breaking tourism growth accounting for 9.6 million visitors, up 38% from 2022. While foreign air arrivals rose 17% to record 1.7 million in 2023, cruise arrivals surged 43.5% to record 7.9 million. The country’s 16 islands all enjoyed significant increases, with visits to New Providence, for instance, up 36% in 2023, to Grand Bahama up 44%, and the Out Islands up 40%.
CHTA Presents Caribbean Travel Forum 2024: Visioning A New Tourism Landscape for the Region
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) aims to reimagine the region’s tourism landscape at the third annual Caribbean Travel Forum, taking place Monday, May 20 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Kicking off this year’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the annual event brings together leading regional and international thought leaders to discuss tourism business opportunities and strategies for success in the Caribbean, the heart of the global travel industry.
May 23 is Responsible Tourism Day
From Monday, May 20 to Thursday, May 23, the Caribbean Travel Marketplace, a showpiece of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association (CHTA), will convene at the Montego Bay Conference Centre in St James. It is the premier event for connecting suppliers of Caribbean travel products and services with global buyers. On the final day, which happens to be Labour Day in Jamaica, the marketplace for the first time in its 42nd staging will be observing Marketplace Responsible Tourism Day, a new addition to Caribbean Travel Marketplace Conference, dedicated to sustainable tourism in Jamaica.
UK visitors drive interest in Fiji tourism
Fiji has seen increased interest from UK and global tourists for the first quarter of the year, with UK visitor numbers rising by 20 per cent in February 2024 versus 2023.
Travel & Tourism Set to Add a Record QAR 81BN to Qatar’s Economy
The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR) has revealed the Qatari Travel & Tourism sector reached new heights last year, with GDP contribution, jobs and domestic traveller spend all surpassing previous peaks. Last year, the Travel & Tourism’s GDP contribution grew by 31% to reach a record-breaking QAR 81.2BN, representing 10.3% of Qatar’s total economic output, demonstrating the sector’s importance to the national economy.
Incoming Brand USA CEO Ready to Help 'Continue To Advance US Economy Through the Power of Inbound Travel'
Amid the fanfare of a press conference about the growth of inbound United States tourism, Brand USA Today officially introduced its new president and CEO and bid goodbye to its longtime leader after a dozen years of service.Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, welcomed Fred Dixon into the DMO’s top role. Dixon is the current president and CEO of NYC Tourism + Conventions.He will take over in July for Chris Thompson, who announced his retirement from the role last year. Thompson held the role of Brand USA president and CEO from 2012 until 2024.
Spirit CEO Slams Airline Industry as Carrier’s Losses Widen
Spirit CEO Ted Christie criticized the current state of the airline industry, saying that profits have been “concentrated around two companies,” during a call with analysts on Monday.
How Much Do U.S. Tourism Marketing CEOs Make?
Many American tourism marketers are well-paid. Visit California CEO Caroline Beteta recently collected more than $1.5 million in compensation. Brand USA CEO Chris Thompson recently took home over $700,000.
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky Reveals Its Big Plans
Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, May 2. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
Chinese Tourism to the U.S. to Recover Earlier Than Expected
The U.S. travel industry will see a full recovery in Chinese and Japanese tourism by 2026 — one year earlier than previously projected, according to the U.S. National and Travel Tourism Office’s latest annual forecast released Tuesday.
Visit Florida's Playbook: Tourism CEO's Marketing Strategy
Visit Florida is about to jump start tourism to its overlooked hidden gems in its northwestern region. The destination marketing organization was awarded a $10.5 million grant earlier this month to promote the eight counties in that region, said Visit Florida CEO and President Dana Young.