ABTA/ABHTA team completes successful engagements at ITV in Berlin

A joint team from the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and the Antigua
and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association has just concluded what has been
described as ‘a very successful’ round of engagements at ITB, in Berlin, Germany,
the world’s largest travel trade show.
Chief Executive Officer of the ABTA, Colin C. James said the weeklong event was
especially productive for Antigua and Barbuda, the highlight of which was the
announcement that the German airline, Condor, will restart direct flights to
Antigua and Barbuda from November this year.
“This is great news for our destination and for our hotel partners as well. It now
means that we can actively ramp-up our marketing efforts in Central Europe as this
is what the flight would normally support. It brings visitors from Germany,
Austria, the Czech Republic and Switzerland all of whom will connect out of
Frankfurt for the direct flight to VCBIA,” he revealed.
Additionally, James said the team met with multiple travel partners while at the
trade show and that they were all ‘very excited’ with the announcement. The
German-based travel trade representatives have also given a commitment to work
with the local team in its marketing efforts to make the flight successful.
James noted that the fact that the service runs from November 5 to May 6 is ‘a
good thing’ as this means that it will conclude after the end of Sailing Week, 2025,
making it possible for ‘yachties’ out of Germany to be able to participate in Sailing
Week as there will be a direct flight back home at the end of the regatta.
“This means that all the German yachties who had problems coming down to
Antigua or if they did, had problems going back home, the Condor service comes
to an end pass the end of Sailing Week and this gives us an opportunity to target
the German market to support the yachting industry so its good news all around.
We are excited about what will happen in the upcoming winter tourist with the
return of the service and the potential brisk business for the ten hotels that
participated with us on this campaign,” he stated.