{"id":239940,"date":"2025-06-06T17:24:44","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T21:24:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=239940"},"modified":"2025-06-06T17:27:49","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T21:27:49","slug":"caribbean-hoteliers-gather-for-first-ever-direct-booking-summit-caribbean-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/caribbean-hoteliers-gather-for-first-ever-direct-booking-summit-caribbean-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"Caribbean Hoteliers Gather for First-Ever Direct Booking Summit, Caribbean Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT\u2019S APP GROUP<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>

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CHTA and Triptease deliver practical strategies to drive profitability and future-proof hotel distribution<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA \u2013 June 6, 2025<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The\u00a0Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)<\/a>, in partnership with\u00a0Triptease<\/a>, successfully hosted the inaugural\u00a0Direct Booking Summit, Caribbean Edition<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0in Antigua last month, immediately following the 2025 Caribbean Travel Marketplace. <\/p>

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The sold-out event brought together independent hoteliers, digital marketers, and revenue leaders from across the region to explore proven strategies for growing direct bookings, strengthening guest relationships, and boosting profitability.<\/p>

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\u201cThis summit was about more than revenue, it was about strengthening our distribution strategy as a whole,\u201d said CHTA <\/a><\/strong>President Sanovnik Destang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDirect bookings play a key role in building guest relationships and improving profitability, but it\u2019s about diversification, not elimination. Wholesalers remain vital to many properties in the region. <\/p>

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The real opportunity lies in creating a balanced approach that empowers hoteliers to take greater control of their mix.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With momentum building across the Caribbean, speakers emphasized the importance of collaboration, smart technology, and a guest-centric mindset.<\/p>

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\u201cDirect Booking Summit Caribbean was electric. There\u2019s a palpable sense of momentum among Caribbean hoteliers right now,\u201d said Triptease Co-founder Charlie Osmond.<\/p>

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\u201cWhat struck me most was the openness, the willingness to share challenges, swap strategies, and collaborate across borders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s clear this region is ready to lead when it comes to intelligent, guest-centric distribution. From rate parity tactics to leveraging metasearch and on-site personalization, we saw a real hunger to take action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m proud Triptease could play a part in kickstarting this movement alongside CHTA.\u201d
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Key Takeaways from the 2025 Caribbean Edition<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Parity isn\u2019t just about price, it’s about strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Undercutting remains a challenge in the Caribbean. Most Online Travel Agency (OTA) rate discrepancies are under 10%, but leaked wholesale rates cause bigger issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Triptease data revealed that using tools like\u00a0Price Match<\/strong>\u00a0on metasearch improved conversion rates by\u00a0+26%<\/strong>\u00a0and click-through rates by\u00a0+15%<\/strong>.
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Customer Relationship Management (CRM) drives repeat business and direct revenue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With an estimated 60% of hotel revenue generated by loyal guests<\/strong>, hoteliers were shown how low-effort automations can help turn one-time visitors into loyal, high-value repeat guests, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n