Archive for 2026 News

Well Within: Why Employee Wellness is the Most Important Investment Caribbean Tourism Can Make

Well Within: Why Employee Wellness is the Most Important Investment Caribbean Tourism Can Make

In an industry being reshaped by AI and rapid change, the Caribbean’s greatest competitive advantage remains its people.

The global wellness tourism market crossed US$1 trillion in 2024 and is projected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2027, according to the Global Wellness Institute*. The Caribbean is a natural part of that growth story, and it is not hard to understand why. Warm waters, lush landscapes and a culture rooted in community and care make the Caribbean a natural home for this kind of travel.

And yet, while much of the conversation centers on the guest experience, the industry faces an equally important and often overlooked question: What does wellness mean for the people delivering that experience every single day? The pace of change in tourism is putting real pressure on the people at the heart of it. In an industry built on warmth, attention and human connection, a stretched and unsupported team is not just an operational challenge. It is a cultural one, and it is felt in every single guest interaction.

The Science Behind It

One of the most important things we have learned from neuroscience in recent years is that the brain can change. Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire itself through new experiences and intentional practice, is at the heart of every meaningful leadership and wellness journey. When people are stressed, overwhelmed or stuck, the brain literally falls into neural ruts, defaulting to habitual patterns of thinking and reacting rather than responding with creativity, empathy and clarity.

The good news is that the same science tells us the brain can be retrained. Specific wellness practices, when introduced consistently and intentionally, create significant shifts in how people think, feel and lead. This is exactly why, in our work with leaders and in our strategic retreats, a wellness component is not optional. It is mandatory. Before any strategic conversation can truly land, leaders need to get into the right headspace, literally.

Practical Wellness for Teams

Some of the most impactful practices being integrated into team development and leadership programs across the region include the following:

  • Sound baths and acoustic therapy using vibrational sound to calm the nervous system and reduce cortisol levels.
  • Breathwork is one of the most accessible and powerful tools available for managing stress and anxiety in real time. Teaching frontline staff a simple two-minute breathing practice before a shift begins costs nothing and changes everything about how they show up.
  • Guided meditation, even in short five-to-10-minute formats, has been shown to reduce workplace anxiety, improve emotional regulation and increase the capacity for empathy. A team member who begins their shift centered and present brings something to the guest experience that simply cannot be scripted or trained in the traditional sense.

Nature-based well-being practices are perhaps the Caribbean’s greatest untapped resource for employee wellness. The science of blue and green space, time spent near water and in natural environments, consistently shows reductions in stress hormones, improvements in mood and enhanced cognitive function. Half Moon Resort in Jamaica was recognized at the 2025 Caribbean Hotel Industry Exchange Forum for a comprehensive, employee-centered strategy that blends wellness initiatives and continuous training to help maintain its Forbes-rated luxury service standards. Organizations that are building cultures around employee wellness are seeing the results in retention, engagement and quality of the guest experiences they deliver.

Source: *Global Wellness Institute (2024). Wellness Tourism Economy. Retrieved from globalwellnessinstitute.org.

 
amrita bhalla

Amrita Bhalla

Author: Amrita Bhalla
Managing Director, A.B. Consulting

@Amrita Bhalla, GPHR
@A.BConsultingHR
Instagram: a.bconsulting
Website: www.a-bconsulting.com

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Belize Highlights Natural Assets and Sustainability Focus Ahead of STC 2026

HAMILTON, Bermuda (March 20, 2026) — Belize’s tourism minister has extended an open invitation to tourism industry leaders to visit the Central American and Caribbean nation next month, highlighting its world-class natural assets and long-standing commitment to sustainable tourism.

Anthony Mahler

Speaking ahead of a major Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) conference, Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations, showcased Belize’s diverse offerings during remarks tied to the upcoming Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC 2026), scheduled for April 27–30 in Belize.

“It is our honor to host the next Sustainable Tourism Conference in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye in Belize under the theme ‘Tourism in Full Color’,” Mahler told regional delegates attending CTO’s Air Connectivity Summit in Bermuda last month.

Mahler noted that many across the Caribbean remain unfamiliar with Belize’s tourism product, positioning the conference as an opportunity to broaden awareness. “Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world after Australia. We have three of the four atolls in the Western Hemisphere. We have the Great Blue Hole. We have about 250 to 300 offshore islands. We have the history of the Maya civilization. We have about 35 rivers, mountains, a rich rainforest just like the Amazon,” he said.

blue hole

He emphasized the destination’s accessibility and diversity of experiences: “You don’t have to go to Australia to have great diving or snorkeling. You don’t have to go to Egypt to see pyramids. And you don’t have to go to New York or Miami or LA or any of those cities to have a diversity of people. We have all of that packaged in such a small piece of real estate in Belize.”

Belize has prioritized sustainable tourism for nearly 50 years with eco-adventure at the core of its development strategy, Minister Mahler added. The country’s tourism product includes approximately 12,000 rooms, many of them intimate properties that reflect a community-based model of sustainability.

The 17th edition of STC, organized by CTO in partnership with the Belize Tourism Board, will convene regional and international leaders under the theme “Tourism in Full Color: Integrating Blue, Green, Orange and Beyond Economies into Sustainable Planning and Development.”

Dame Pania Tyson-Nathan, DNZM, Chief Executive of New Zealand Māori Tourism, will deliver the keynote address. The program will feature ministerial roundtables, expert sessions, master classes and field experiences focused on the blue economy, green climate-resilient solutions, orange cultural and creative industries, and broader priorities including social cohesion and inclusive growth.

The conference underscores Belize’s commitment to sustainable tourism and reinforces its role as a catalyst for innovation and responsible growth in the Caribbean. STC 2026 will serve as a platform for bold ideas, strategic partnerships and actionable outcomes as delegates work to shape a more sustainable future for regional tourism.

Registration and additional details are available at: https://bit.ly/CaribbeanSTC2026.

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Caribbean Tourism Leaders Urge Practical Climate Action at ITB Berlin

CTO, The Travel Foundation Strengthen Partnership Advancing Climate-Ready, Community-Centered Tourism in the Caribbean

BERLIN, Germany (March 13, 2026) — Caribbean tourism leaders used one of the world’s largest travel trade events to press the global community for faster, finance-ready adaptation to climate change, warning that theoretical plans and fragmented funding are leaving heavily tourism-dependent destinations exposed.

dona regis prosper at ITB

Speaking at ITB Berlin 2026 last week during a session titled “The Climate Adaptation Gap in Tourism: From Risk to Resilience,” Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Secretary-General and CEO Dona Regis-Prosper described the region’s experience with extreme weather as immediate and unrelenting. “There is no teacher as great as a practical experience,” she stated, reflecting on her personal experience with devastating hurricanes in the region.

Building on that lived experience, the Secretary-General urged a shift from theory to practical adaptation and resilience in action, underscoring the importance of public-private collaboration and media engagement in addressing the ravages of climate change.

CTO Deputy Director of Sustainable Tourism Narendra Ramgulam also emphasized the Caribbean’s frontline exposure to climate impacts during an earlier session, “These Ideas Will Transform Tourism,” where he evaluated new tools aimed at assessing climate and nature risks.

“When you talk about climate risk, we see it and we feel it more than others,” he said, noting that reef degradation, beach erosion and other environmental changes are already affecting the visitor experience and tourism livelihoods across the region.

narendra ramgulam at ITB

Ramgulam stressed that new solutions must work for smaller island states with limited resources. He also pointed to a persistent regional challenge in translating climate priorities into funded projects. “Across the Caribbean, there’s no shortage of climate risk information or project ideas,” he said. “What we consistently struggle with is turning those priorities into finance projects which can actually move forward.”

A highlight of the convention was the renewal of a partnership between CTO and The Travel Foundation, strengthening the framework for collaboration aimed at advancing sustainable, climate-resilient and community-centered tourism across the Caribbean. The updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed by Regis-Prosper and The Travel Foundation CEO Jeremy Sampson, marks a bolstering of the partnership between the two organizations.

Sampson affirmed, “The Caribbean is on the frontlines of climate change, but it is also at the forefront of innovation. This partnership is grounded in a shared belief that the future competitiveness of Caribbean tourism depends on its ability to deliver equitable benefits for local communities while adapting to the growing impacts of climate change. The collaboration offers a platform to align climate action, destination stewardship and resourcing pathways, supporting CTO and its members to ensure tourism continues to serve communities while adapting to growing risks.”

Travel Foundation and CTO sign MOU

Regis-Prosper noted the partnership “aligns with the CTO Reimagine Plan and reinforces our commitment to leading sustainable tourism across the Caribbean. Through this collaboration, we will work with our member states and partners to advance a shared regional approach that strengthens resilience, advances community benefit and ensures our tourism sector remains competitive in a changing climate.”

CTO representatives maintained a prominent stand throughout the three-day convention, holding bilateral meetings under a unified Caribbean banner to build partnerships on resilience and regenerative tourism.

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Indigenous Tourism Trailblazer Dame Pania Tyson-Nathan DNZM to Keynote STC-2026 in Belize

SAN PEDRO, Belize (Feb. 26, 2026) — The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has announced that Dame Pania Tyson-Nathan DNZM, Chief Executive of New Zealand Māori Tourism (NZMT), will deliver the keynote address at the Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development (STC 2026).

The conference, themed “Tourism in Full Color: Integrating Blue, Green, Orange and Beyond Economies,” will take place April 27-30, 2026, in the coastal town of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Belize.

dame pania tyson-nathanA Global Voice for Indigenous Values

Dame Pania is internationally recognized for advancing indigenous-led tourism development. Since 2009, she has championed a values-based investment model that places cultural identity, guardianship and community well-being at the center of economic success. Her leadership has helped reshape Aotearoa New Zealand’s tourism landscape by embedding Māori values, including stewardship and intergenerational sustainability, into the national tourism framework.

Her participation at STC 2026 reflects a deepening connection between the Caribbean and Māori worldviews on tourism, both of which increasingly emphasize the “purple economy” — where cultural values, social cohesion and inclusive growth intersect.

“We are honored to welcome Dame Pania to the Caribbean stage at such a pivotal time for our industry,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, CTO Secretary-General and CEO. “Her groundbreaking work in ‘culturalizing commerce’ aligns seamlessly with our ‘Tourism in Full Color’ vision. Dame Pania’s insights will challenge us to move beyond fragmented planning and embrace integrated models that honor our heritage while safeguarding our environmental and economic future.”

Tourism in Full Color

Hosted in collaboration with the Belize Tourism Board, the 17th edition of the STC is designed to move beyond traditional sustainability silos and examine the interplay among key economic pillars:

• Blue and Green Economies — advancing marine conservation, climate resilience and low-carbon growth

• Orange Economy — unlocking the creative and cultural potential of the region’s heritage industries

• Beyond Economies (including Purple) — prioritizing indigenous knowledge systems, social cohesion and regenerative prosperity

“As a nation where indigenous heritage and the richness of our natural landscapes together shape who we are, Belize is deeply honored to host STC 2026,” said Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations. From the enduring legacy of the ancient Maya to the UNESCO-recognized traditions of the Garifuna people, and from our forests to our Barrier Reef, our story is woven from the resilience of these communities and the lands they have long cared for. By welcoming global leaders like Dame Pania to our shores, we underscore that Indigenous wisdom is not merely part of our past — it is an essential blueprint for a sustainable, regenerative future for Caribbean tourism.”

A Legacy of Leadership

Dame Pania brings more than three decades of experience to the conference. Her honors include recognition as one of the Top 50 Global Tourism Innovators in 2021 and induction into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 2022. In 2024, she was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and business.

Over four days, STC 2026 will feature ministerial roundtables, master classes and field-based learning experiences, offering delegates direct exposure to Belize’s sustainable tourism initiatives.

For registration and sponsorship information, visit https://bit.ly/CaribbeanSTC2026.

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CTO, ACI-LAC Formalize Agreement on Tourism–Aviation Collaboration

HAMILTON, Bermuda (Feb. 24, 2026) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and Airports Council International – Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC) have formalized a framework for strategic cooperation aimed at strengthening regional air connectivity and advancing closer alignment between the aviation and tourism sectors across the Caribbean.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the conclusion of the first CTO Air Connectivity Summit today in Bermuda.

cto mou aviation

The MoU establishes a non-binding framework for broad cooperation focused on improving air access, building institutional and human capacity, and supporting sustainable, resilient and inclusive tourism growth across CTO member states.

“This partnership reflects a shared understanding that the future of Caribbean tourism depends on stronger collaboration between aviation and destination stakeholders,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, secretary-general and CEO of CTO. “By working closely with ACI-LAC, we are creating new opportunities to strengthen air connectivity, enhance our regional aviation network, and ensure the Caribbean remains competitive, accessible and resilient in a rapidly evolving global travel landscape.”

The agreement positions CTO and ACI-LAC to collaborate as regional thought leaders by advancing joint research, policy dialogue and advocacy on matters of shared importance, including sustainability, resilience and regional competitiveness.

Areas of cooperation outlined under the MoU may include co-hosted conferences, summits, workshops and roundtables; executive education, professional development and technical training programs; joint studies on air connectivity, aviation and tourism impacts; knowledge-sharing and industry intelligence exchange; coordinated advocacy efforts; and the development of pilot initiatives aligned with shared strategic priorities.

Commenting on the agreement, Rafael Echevarne, director general of ACI-LAC, said, “Air connectivity is a cornerstone of Caribbean development, linking our islands to each other and to the world. This Memorandum of Understanding with CTO strengthens collaboration between airports and tourism stakeholders, enabling more coordinated approaches to planning, policy dialogue and capacity building in support of sustainable growth and regional resilience.”

The MoU will remain in effect for an initial three-year period and will serve as a platform for ongoing collaboration, coordination and the development of targeted initiatives to enhance regional connectivity and destination competitiveness.

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