Tourism officials from the Anguilla Tourist Board and the Anguilla Hotel & Tourism Association traveled to Puerto Rico on Friday February 7th to attend a series of meetings with potential strategic partners in the market place.

The delegation was led by Chairman of the Anguilla Tourist Board, Mr. John Benjamin, and included President of the Anguilla Hotel & Tourism Association, Mr. Alfred Thompson, Deputy Director of Tourism, Mrs. Candis Niles and AHTA member, Mrs. Sherille Hughes. During the one-day visit, the tourism officials met with representatives of American Eagle and the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce and Industry to begin talks about how best to promote Anguilla as a viable summer/fall destination for the 1.5 million strong Puerto Rico travel market.

A meeting was also held with local businessman and long time visitor to Anguilla, Guillermo Pino, of G.P. Distributors, who pledged his support of the promotional initiative in Puerto Rico.

According to Anguilla Tourist Board chairman, Mr Benjamin, the trip was deemed to be “highly successful”, based on the positive response received by the Anguilla delegation, and the willingness of all parties concerned to pool efforts and resources to raise the profile of the island in this target market. He observed:“As a result of these meetings, the Anguilla Tourist Board and the Anguilla Hotel & Tourism Association are in a position to propose and develop a comprehensive promotional package for Puerto Rico which can be implemented in a timely and cost-effective manner. If we start now, and agree to pool our limited resources, the Anguilla Tourist Board and the Anguilla Hotel & Tourism Association can maximize their impact on the Puerto Rico market, and see this impact translated into solid bookings for the traditionally slow Summer and the Fall shoulder periods.”

Mr Benjamin went on to say that American Eagle’s decision to offer a special fare of USD189.00 to Puerto Rico residents with a confirmed accommodation booking, traveling to Anguilla during the period January 15-December 15, 2003, was already a step in the right decision and it is now up to the Anguilla Tourism Industry to market itself as a viable travel option for the Puerto Rico market.

Arrangements for the one-day visit were coordinated by the Anguilla Tourist Board with assistance in travel from American Airlines/American Eagle.

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