Expedia group reported that travel demand to Barbados on all Expedia sites grew nearly 30 percent in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same time in 2015. Additionally, 20 percent of travel demand to Barbados during this timeframe is based on package bookings.
Package booking are bookings that combine components like flights and hotel. These bookings are extremely valuable for hoteliers as they generally feature twice the length of stay, are booked two times further in advance and have half the cancellation rate of a standalone (i.e. hotel only) booking.
New data from Expedia group also indicates that the United States continues to be the top feeder market for Barbados making up more than 40 percent of travelers to the island. Other top feeder markets include The United Kingdom, making up 25 percent of travelers; and Canada, responsible for nearly 15 percent.
Demetrius Canton, Director of Lodging Partner Services for the Caribbean, the Expedia group said, “Barbados has always been an important Caribbean destination for the Expedia Group. Between our global reach, technology investments and our local market presence, we’ve been able to enhance our ability to effectively serve local partners and support the continued growth of this destination.”
Expedia group seeks to continue to add more properties to its portfolio in 2016 and to support tourism growth in Barbados and the Caribbean region as a whole.
