On location at CTM 2016

The new challenges facing the travel industry were cast into the spotlight last night during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM) in the Bahamas, where nearly 1,100 trade professionals from countries around the world have gathered for two days of networking and more than 11,800 pre-scheduled appointments.

Karolin Troubetzkoy, who was appointed president of Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) only yesterday by the organization's board of directors, addressed the importance of facing the evolution of the travel industry head-on - particularly by supporting and protecting the many resources available within its own region.

"We live in interesting and unsettling times," she began, touching briefly on Cuba's emergence as a destination to the mass U.S. market, as well as the challenges faced by the cost of air travel to the Caribbean.

"Tourism business laws have changed, as have consumer tastes and travel preferences... To adapt, survive and thrive requires ongoing dialogue."

"More than ever before, the president continued, "sound, effective working partnerships between the public and private sectors are crucial to our ensure the future of our Caribbean tourism product."

To that effect, Frank Comito, CEO and director general of the CHTA announced that the organization has entered three strategic partnerships for the 2016 year: Ask Me Inc., an online Caribbean-focused wedding & hotel resource which intends to provide trade professionals with tools for improving the rapidly-expanding destination wedding market; Clear Channel Airports, an airport advertising company that will work with CHTA to bring enhanced pricing and placement opportunities to the region, and JetBlue Getaways, the vacation arm of the airline, with the promise to add more seats to their service to the Caribbean in exchange for lower airport taxes.

Comito also revealed that Airbnb to be a new buyer at this year's marketplace, confirming the CHTA's acknolwledgement of the sharing sector of the hospitality industry, remarking that "it's here to stay" - although he also admitted that health and safety standards regarding the sector "remains a concern."

PAX is on the floor at CTM this week, bringing you updates on Caribbean tourism on our Twitter and Instagram platforms.

PHOTO: Matt Cooper, chief marketing officer, CHTA; Karolin Troubetzkoy, president, CHTA; Hugh Riley, Secretary General & CEO, Caribbean Tourism Organization & Frank Comito, CEO & director general, CHTA.