BTMI making steady progress in German market

Significant inroads are being made into the German market.

So says Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), William “Billy” Griffith.

Addressing a FVW German Travel workshop yesterday at the Hilton Barbados, he said this and other initiatives were critical in increasing “the island’s exposure
as a destination in the German market, to focus attention on the new Lufthansa flight to start in October, to discuss the tourism development and latest trends with experts, to increase the active support of German travel agents and to provide Barbados accommodation managers, destination management companies and other trade partners with valuable contacts, and insights to get a first-hand feedback and expertise from travel agents”.

Saying the island was looking forward to welcoming the Lufthansa flight, which will service from Frankfurt to Bridgetown three times a week come October, he also thanked long-standing partner Condor, which has been the mainstay of the German air service for several years.

“This new flight and all surrounding initiatives are all part of our overall strategic and long term vision for the German market. Over the last five years the BTMI has made significant inroads and we strive to keep top of minds in Europe. We have set ourselves a healthy target of growth over the next three years and are taking every effort to mark up our sales and our marketing efforts,” he told those gathered.

Griffith also shared that as part of BTMI’s marketing strategy for Germany, it had been partnering with airlines and operators on incentives for both consumers and travel agents, increasing its attendance in trade shows and enhancing the island’s brand visibility directly to both the consumer online and offline in prominent markets.

“Barbados is more than just a beach and has a tremendous amount to offer German visitors,” he told the German travel experts gathered. (JMB)