The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) has held its first Meetings Incentive and Corporate Events (MICE) familiarization trip this September.
The four-day familiarization trip was held this September that invited 16 buyers from the US to experience the island’s hotels and attractions on behalf of their clients. The group were hosted at the Harbor Club and Marigot Bay Marina, and had a chance to meet with local DMCs and tourism officials while on island.
“With the addition of new hotels and new nonstop airlift, Saint Lucia is in the best position to grow the mice market,” said Kelly Fontenelle-Clarke, director of marketing USA for the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority in a press release. “We are constantly receiving RFPs from buyers who have not been to the island and are quite interested to see what Saint Lucia has to offer.”
“It’s the perfect Caribbean destination for meetings and incentives,” added Irina Tuluca travel & meeting specialist at Southwestern Travel. “Its charm and hospitality blew me away and the stunning hotels and resorts exceeded my expectations. The island has something for everyone—from the history to the culture to the mountains to the white-sand beaches. I can’t wait to come back.”
SLTA contracted Atlanta-based company Connect to help select the buyers, who all have groups looking for destinations and venues in 2019 and 2020. The buyers represent companies such as stock holders’ meetings, merit medical presidents club incentives and automotive companies and include businesses such as Helmsbriscoe, Conference Direct and Global Cynergies. All buyers must organize more than one trip each year.
“We are looking forward to this familiarization trip and many more to come so that the mice buyers are aware that Saint Lucia is a rewarding destination for their clients and hope to make this an annual trip, bringing new buyers each year,” said Fontenelle-Clarke.
