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First local tourism booking engine launched
Date: December 21, 2021
On Monday morning, PVH Group Inc. Investment and Management Company, in collaboration with the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), launched bookBarbados.com. The website is being touted as the first locally-owned tourism booking engine for the destination, which will facilitate accommodations, car rentals, and everything else Barbados has to offer.
Founder and Executive Chair of the PVH Group, Peter Harris said the idea was in train for more than 10 years and thanked Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Minister of Tourism and International Transport Senator Lisa Cummins and the BTMI for supporting the project.
“From the time I spoke to them about this project, the response was extremely positive and they have been encouraging me to get it done as soon as possible,” said Harris at the BTMI’s Warrens, St Michael headquarters.
The businessman lauded his team that included industry stalwart Billy Griffith, lead consultant for bookBarbados.com, Josea Browne, and the PVH marketing team for pulling the initiative together.
“This is for both established and non-traditional suppliers. So it will be a great benefit to marketing smaller businesses who don’t have the marketing budget, and large businesses will not have to spend as much money on marketing and will have to redirect that money to their own product development,” said Harris.
“One of the key drivers of bookBarbados.com is the ability to direct all foreign exchange derived through the booking engine directly to Barbados. With the tourism industry being our main foreign exchange earner, this is a critical opportunity to increase our foreign exchange reserves,” he added.
Meanwhile, Browne explained that robust technologies and hours of logistical planning were employed to overcome many of the deficiencies present on similar international platforms.
“But the core premise of this platform was that the final product be a truly living organism, adaptable to our needs as a people in revamping and growing our tourism industry. But, more critically, it had to be capable of showcasing all facets of Barbadiana in a way that is authentic and allows any Bajan who chooses to get involved an opportunity to financially benefit,” said Browne.
Minister Cummins has placed her support behind the initiative as well and believes it’s just what the sector needs in the midst of a resurgence from the ravages of the pandemic.
“BookBarbados.com is an example of the kind of innovative and internationalized technology-driven start-up enterprise that needs to begin to revolutionise the tourism sector.
“We fully support this start-up and are confident that with the support of local stakeholders, we can create new revenue streams for local tourism businesses and build those brands out internationally over time, while marketing destination Barbados,” she said. (KS)
