ITTN’s Julia Labedz is headed on a fam trip to Barbados with Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Travel Trade Representation (TTR) and Aer Lingus, in aim to promote the island as a premier destination for Irish and UK travellers as well as showcase Aer Lingus’ direct service from Manchester to Barbados – all while offering agents a comprehensive look into the island’s accommodation types and exciting visitor experiences!
Joining the trip from Ireland are Roisin Carberry (Tropical Sky), Deepak Jadoun (Click&GO), Sarah Kelly (Best4Travel) and Suzanne Reynolds (Cassidy Travel). The Irish group departed Dublin Airport Sunday morning on Aer Lingus flight EI202 at 06:30 to Manchester, ahead of boarding the transatlantic service EI31 at 10:30, travelling straight into the Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados with a scheduled arrival at 15:35 local time.
Aer Lingus’ direct service from Manchester to Barbados makes the long-haul journey refreshingly straightforward. Onboard flight EI31, the group settled in for the 8-hour transatlantic hop with plenty of legroom, hot meals, and an impressive line-up of in-flight entertainment. Aer Lingus’ cabin crew always delivers the kind of Irish hospitality that makes even 38,000 feet feel a bit like home, just with a bit more sunshine waiting at the other end…
Throughout the six-day itinerary, the group will stay at two of the island’s standout hotels. The first is the Wyndham Grand Barbados, Sam Lord’s Castle Resort & Spa, located on the southeastern coast. This is an all-inclusive, oceanfront resort that mixes the heritage of the island with modern elements, like some stunning ocean-view rooms, multiple swimming pools, plenty of dining options, and a full-service spa. The property overlooks the historic Sam Lord’s Castle, encouraging tourists to dive into Barbadian history.
Later in the week, the group will check into the O2 Beach Club & Spa, also a luxury all-inclusive resort, this time on the south coast. This property is known for premium amenities and design, including fine dining, a full-service spa, rooftop experiences, and once again – stunning oceanfront views.
Over the coming days, the schedule includes a full programme of hotel site inspections across both the west and south coasts of the island, giving agents the opportunity to familiarise themselves with a wide range of properties. The itinerary also includes a bus tour of the island, a catamaran cruise, and local dining experiences, all aimed at enhancing agents’ first-hand knowledge of Barbados as a destination.
ITTN extends sincere thanks to BTMI and Aer Lingus for the opportunity to join this once in a lifetime trip! Stay tuned for more on ittn.ie and across our social media channels – we’ve got a very tropical week ahead!
