ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TOURISM AUTHORITY

The North American Tourism offices have announced the first BUZZ List which identifies the Top 25 Hotel Features in Antigua and Barbuda. The announcement was made via Twitter, last Wednesday, in the monthly Tourism newsletter A & B Buzz.

 

The BUZZ list highlights distinctive resort amenities that help to elevate visitor perceptions from special to spectacular. With a marked increase in online marketing, the BUZZ list will increase awareness and education about the range of options in accommodations that the destination has to offer.

 

Designed to augment Antigua and Barbuda’s new digital media strategy in North America, the BUZZ List will help to reinforce the destination’s message that the “Beach is Just the Beginning.” By highlighting these unique resort attributes, the destination’s “klout” status is expected to improve significantly and the destination is expected to have greater appeal among a wider target audience.

 

US Director of Tourism, Derede Samuel-Whitlock said, “There is a growing desire for unique experiences. Many of today’s travelers are tired of the traditional all inclusive packages with the standard attractions. Overall perceptions of Antigua and Barbuda are often shaped by the promotions of the larger properties.  The BUZZ List will help showcase the diversity of the destination and the myriad of experiences and choices that can be enjoyed at every price point and to suit varying preferences and interests.”

 

Curtain Bluff Resort was recognized as having the “Best Wine Cellar.” One respondent described this feature as “A wooden wine cellar with a technological heart……Impeccably tailored, futuristic and multisensory.”

 

Trade Winds Hotel, a locally owned establishment was recognized as “The Best Experience Beyond the Shore.” Cheryl Carter, General Manager at Trade Winds, was pleased that her resorted made the list.  She responded. “The personal touch given by our friendly, efficient and very helpful team, breathtaking views, wonderful food and centralized location, make Trade Winds the perfect base for those wishing to explore Antigua. We are close the Airport, St. John's, golf, numerous restaurants and water sports and appeal to business and leisure visitors.

 

Despite the diversity in the amenities and features offered by the 25 hotels on the BUZZ List, the study found that most properties share a common commitment to service and hospitality, welcoming staff and a strong sense of place. All of the properties on the list were recognized for offering outstanding amenities and services that continue to attract thousands of visitors to the twin island destination each year.

 

The BUZZ List was developed through the implementation of a 6-month qualitative research program conducted by Intellisurvey that identified growing trends in hospitality and measured various attributes and offerings against industry benchmarks. The process included panel discussions and one-and-one interviews with a sample of more than 520 respondents including industry experts, tastemakers, celebrities, travel agents and consumers.  The process included perceptual mappings to gauge aggregated visitor perceptions relative to the competition.