The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, as part of an overall strategy to grow and strengthen the MICE market for Antigua and Barbuda, is now a member of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE).

SITE concentrates and delivers major benefits for stakeholders, including destinations like Antigua and Barbuda, around incentive travel, a key pillar of the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) market.

Recognizing the strategic value, the ABTA-US sponsored the participation of its Sales and Marketing Officer Andy Liburd in a course that provided him with broad knowledge of the various aspects of incentive travel. As a result of successfully completing the training programme, Mr. Liburd is now the first Certified Incentive Specialist on the ABTA. His accreditation further qualified the ABTA for membership in SITE, which has a presence in over 90 countries around the globe.

Membership in SITE provides Antigua and Barbuda with access to an international network of incentive travel professionals, industry knowledge and opportunities for collaboration that can support the destination’s positioning within the global MICE market. It also strengthens the ABTA’s capacity to develop and promote incentive travel experiences that leverage the country’s tourism product, hospitality partners and destination strengths.

ABTA-US Director Dean Fenton, who has always advocated for strengthening group travel for the destination, said this was a crucial step in the ongoing development of Antigua and Barbuda’s MICE strategy.

“Andy’s initiative in pursuing this opportunity, and the ABTA’s membership in SITE, provide a foundation for us to build greater awareness of Antigua and Barbuda as a destination for incentive travel,” Fenton stated.

Also offering congratulations were The Hon. H. Charles Fernandez, Minister of Tourism and his Ministry’s Relations Manager Senator Angelica O’Donoghue, both of whom were featured prominently in the discussions at the ABTA’s annual strategy meeting now taking place at the Blue Waters Hotel in Antigua.

“Incentive travel presents valuable opportunities for Antigua and Barbuda to truly showcase the destination in ways that extend beyond our traditional tourism offerings. So, this is certainly a positive development,” Minister Fernandez stated.

“I am delighted to congratulate Andy on this achievement. Having been a member of his team when he served as Communications Lead for the historic SIDS4 Conference, I have seen first-hand his commitment to delivering at a high level, and his understanding of the importance of effective communication in major projects,” Senator O’Donoughe added.

Antigua and Barbuda was named the Caribbean’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination at the World Travel Awards and has secured nine combined nominations for the upcoming World MICE Awards as it prepares to host November’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Tourism strengthens MICE Strategy with SITE membership and first Certified Incentive Specialist.