The largest airline tour operator in the Middle East has been given a detailed introduction to the Caribbean as Emirates Airlines prepares to service the region.
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) recently conducted an in-house training programme in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for 40 Emirates Holidays reservations, sales and operation staff to familiarize them with the Caribbean product.
The training included key selling points, along with information on attractions, events and accommodations options.
The invitation to the CTO to conduct the training is part of a growing relationship between the region’s tourism development agency and Emirates Holidays, the tour-operating arm of Emirates airline which has now chosen to operate flights from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with connections to the Caribbean on Jet Blue.
“We have been nurturing this relationship for a number of years, meeting with Emirates Holidays at the Arabian Travel Market to ensure that the Caribbean remained a viable option,” said Carol Hay, the CTO’s director of marketing for the UK and Europe.
“Once the flight to Fort Lauderdale was announced, we were really pleased to be given the opportunity to provide technical support, and train their frontline staff. We will continue to work with Emirates Holidays and develop strategic programmes to increase awareness of the Caribbean and grow business to the Caribbean. We have the product, so with airlift there is increased potential,” Ms. Hay added.
The CTO was joined in Dubai by the Bahamas Tourist Office, Jamaica Tourist Board and Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board. The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. also supplied brochures and information.
The product executive at Emirates Holidays Anish Mohan said the tour operator now had a better understanding of what the Caribbean has to offer.
“Destination knowledge is key in order to confidently sell the products in the destination. The Caribbean training was well structured and gave us a detailed insight as to what the Caribbean destinations can offer to each client segments – couples, families, group of friends. We also understood why the Caribbean destination are unique, gained a perspective of the tourism seasonality and the must- do attractions and the choice of accommodation options available in each destination. The highlight was the explanation by the relevant destination experts about the culture and various Caribbean festivals,” Mr. Mohan said.
Discussions are currently underway between the CTO and Emirates Holidays to continue the training with the travel trade across the UAE in 2017, supported by a multi destination fam trip.
The CTO is currently coordinating the Caribbean’s participation at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2017, and welcomes enquires from CTO member countries and hotel partners.
PS. The plane in the caption is not the Boeing 777-200 LR being used on this service and which has two engines. The one in the picture looks like like one of their old Airbus 340’s
I in total agreement fl diaspora. Leadership is lacking.
Dominica is left kranana again, due to lack of an airport, Skerrit must go
Stop talking rubish. …come and take him out be Pm..
Competition???
In this case Skerrit and his , will not have to change many flights from Dominica to Dubai, because that will be landing at Douglas-Charles Airport at Melville any minute now, its approaching Douglas-Charles at this moment, Skerrit aboard with two manure bags filled with passport money oui!
Oh, sorry my mistake eh, I forgot to his new Dubai adviser is aboard to advised him how good and impressive is Douglas-Charles, I hear him declare it the best in the world!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahha!
Looks like it’s flying over Dominica. Dominica is a “BY-PASS.”
“…Emirates airline which has now chosen to operate flights from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with connections to the Caribbean on Jet Blue.”
In other words, Emirates isn’t going to serve the Caribbean, JetBlue is, which is exactly zero difference from before. Tell me there’s going to be a nonstop flight between Fort Lauderdale and Melville Hall, THEN I’ll be excited.
Well boy you know Dominicans always have to make it bigger than it is; they will by all means exaggerate it out of purporting, as if to say any day now Emirates Airline will be landing at Cain Field, and Melville Hall.
Our people are always excited about the good things happening on other islands of the Caribbean, and other rich and powerful nations like America, they go to bed at night believing they, exists in the country where good things are happening, only to find at the break of day they were bewildered in a fantasy world within their mind.
If you wait long enough, some Dominica is going to say it is Skerrit connection in Dubai which cause such a development. You will wait forever, you will never see an international flight from Florida or any place in the world landing in Dominica. Lennox Honeychurch more than thirty years ago said we will never see a flight originating from Gatwitch in England landing in Dominica ever.
I hesitated to believe his prediction then, but…
Such a shame that it will never make its way to the beautiful shores of Dominica. We’ll seat back and enjoy the view and watch it land in the much more advanced islands where there is real development. But even then there still won’t be any Arabs with a ticket for transfer in Barbados to liat on route to Dominica with all Skeritt’s promotion of CBI or rather CWI (citizenship without investment) program. But I’m sure on the flip side his majesty is seeing this as easier access to Asia for lavish holidays which he call promotion where our tax payer’s money will be spent on promoting our passports with no investments coming forthcoming
This is old news. Emirates announced this service in a press release on Oct. 11. It is a daily, non-stop service using a Boeing 777-200 LR. This is good for the Caribbean but how will Dominica benefit, since the flight between Dubai & Ft. Lauderdale is in excess of 14 hrs. either way (flight schedule to arrive in Ft. Lauderdale every morning at 10.25 – currently 11.25 E.Caribbean time).
We are not serviced by Jet Blue so potential visitors would have to transfer at a second hub, more likely than not using LIAT. It is questionable whether many tourists would want to endure this after such a long journey, especially if it means that may not reach Dominica two days after their departure from Dubai. We need a direct daily jet service direct to maximise this opportunity.
service between Melville Hall and Ft. Lauderdale to maximise this opportunity.