Island time & festivals shine at One Caribbean Canada’s media marketplace

As geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty ripple through the travel industry, Caribbean tourism is finding new opportunities amid the storm.

That was one of the key takeaways at a media marketplace on Tuesday (May 27) hosted by One Caribbean Canada, a tourism organization and website dedicated to connecting Canadians with the Caribbean’s many islands.

Held at Toronto’s Old Mill, the event gathered journalists and Caribbean representatives for an evening of networking and news sharing, with a strong focus on long-stay travel, cultural festivals, and inter-island exploration.

Nancy Drolet, founder of One Caribbean Canada, explained the timing and intent of the event: “We wanted to remind Canadians that the Caribbean remains open and welcoming—regardless of the issues happening south of the border,” she told PAX, referring to recent U.S. tariffs and airline route changes that have impacted travel patterns.

“Airlines are looking at where they think they can fill their aircraft, and the Caribbean is going to benefit from that,” Drolet said. “Not just this summer, but hopefully right through next winter.”

Members of the media last night had the opportunity to mix and mingle with representatives from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Nassau and Paradise Island, Barbados, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Martin (French and Dutch) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Caribbean’s overall Canadian arrivals haven’t fully bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, Drolet said. “but it depends on which country you’re speak to. Some are overwhelmingly up, while others have gone down a smidge,” she said.

Some nations, like Antigua and Barbuda, and Grenada, are grappling with the loss of key flights, while others are seeing increases as aircraft are reallocated from U.S. routes to more Caribbean-bound services.

Last week’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Antigua offered attendees a deep dive into how Caribbean tourism is performing these days. Click here to read PAX’s in-depth report from the event.

A resource hub for Canadians

One Caribbean Canada launched in 2024 with a simple goal: to provide a comprehensive, Canada-centric travel resource that puts all things Caribbean in one easy-to-navigate place.

“Our website is a central resource for information about Caribbean travel – for consumers, travel advisors, meeting planners and the media,” Drolet explained. “It's not a selling platform, but an electronic resource.”

The site serves as a reference hub where Caribbean destinations are presented uniformly—with links to tourism offices, travel requirements, and now, thanks to recent updates, a list of practical tools for extended stays.

One Caribbean Canada started with 18 countries and now has 24 – with its 25th coming soon. Martinique and Guadalupe are on the way, while Turks and Caicos was just loaded.

“We’re just waiting to hear back from Bermuda,” Drolet said.

One of the newer features highlighted at yesterday’s event was a Caribbean Events Calendar, a month-by-month guide to Caribbean festivals, carnivals, culinary happenings, and cultural celebrations.

“Events are such a big part of what we do in the Caribbean,” said Drolet. “We wanted a place where someone could say, ‘I want to get away in February—what’s happening?’ and find everything in one spot.”

The calendar is updated several times a year, incorporating multimedia links, event pages, and social media content. A third update is planned for July, with a final 2025 update later this year that will introduce early listings for 2026 activities.

Building for long-stay travellers

One Caribbean Canada has also launched a long-stay guide, accessible from the site’s homepage.

It includes visa information, grocery and pet travel tips, mobile phone service providers, and other everyday details for Canadians planning to spend several months abroad.

Each country page now features a dedicated long-stay tab, and new sections cover inter-island travel—including public and private ferry services, with a future update planned to include inter-island airline routes.

Supporting the travel trade

Travel advisors are a central part of One Caribbean Canada’s mission.

The website includes a dedicated portal for travel professionals, summarizing specialist programs, hotel incentives, and weekly updates from tourism boards and partners.

Advisors can also opt in to receive e-blasts with current deals, hotel openings, and marketing materials they can share with clients.

Yesterday’s marketplace event was geared toward content creators and journalists, but it was only the first of several planned initiatives.

This Thursday, One Caribbean Canada will host a trade event in Durham Region, featuring Caribbean cuisine and destination updates for travel advisors.

And next year, the team plans to introduce an awards program, recognizing top media stories that highlight the Caribbean.

For more info, click here. 

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.