The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and travel technology company Triptease will host the second annual Direct Booking Summit (DBS) Caribbean on Thursday, May 15, 2026, at Sandals Grande Antigua. According to Antigua News Room, the summit will immediately follow the 2026 Caribbean Travel Marketplace and aims to equip regional hoteliers with revenue-focused strategies to grow direct bookings and reduce dependence on third-party distribution channels.
CHTA President Sanovnik Destang welcomed the return of the event. "Following a successful inaugural Direct Booking Summit Caribbean, we're building on that momentum to bring even more practical, revenue-focused strategies to the region," he said. "The summit has become an essential platform for Caribbean hoteliers to strengthen their direct booking performance, take greater ownership of the guest relationship, and drive long-term profitability."
This year's programme will spotlight digital marketing, artificial intelligence-driven solutions, and emerging technologies shaping booking behaviour and guest acquisition. Key sessions will cover how hotels are achieving direct booking ratios of 50 percent or higher, how AI and automation are being deployed to attract high-value guests, and how to optimise pricing and channel mix to improve overall profitability. Peer networking sessions will also allow regional operators to exchange approaches to shared commercial challenges.
Triptease Co-founder Charlie Osmond said the debut edition surpassed expectations. "What struck me was the confidence in that room. Hoteliers who came ready to learn left ready to act. The conversations were honest, the ambition was real, and the community that formed around it has only grown since," Osmond said. "The industry has moved on, the questions have gotten sharper, and we think the Caribbean is ready to go even deeper on what it actually takes to win on direct."
Registration is now open for both CHTA members and non-members. Organisers have noted that capacity is limited following strong demand in 2025. Those wishing to attend can register at www.DirectBookingSummitCaribbean.com. Further information on CHTA events is available at www.CaribbeanHotelandTourism.com.
