Tourism Trinidad Limited Participates in the 2024 CAPA Airline Leader Summit, Strengthening Aviation and Tourism Ties

September 4th, 2024

Tourism Trinidad Limited (TTL) is delighted to announce its successful involvement in the 2024 Centre for Aviation (CAPA) Airline Leader Summit – Latin America, held at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad and Tobago from August 22–23, 2024.

CAPA, established in 1990, is the foremost global provider of independent aviation market intelligence, analysis, and data services. For over three decades, CAPA has been instrumental in shaping the discourse within the aviation industry, providing essential insights into the complex and ever-evolving world of aviation.

The CAPA Leader Summit serves as a critical forum for top executives from airlines, airports, travel organisations, and government bodies across Latin America, the Caribbean and beyond to discuss strategic and commercial issues impacting aviation development in the region.

The Airport Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (AATT) successfully secured the bid to host the 2024 CAPA Airline Leader Summit – Latin America. Partnering with TTL, Trinidad proudly welcomed over 250 industry experts from the airlines, aviation, and travel sectors for this influential two-day conference.

The benefits of hosting the 2024 CAPA summit included:

• Strengthening relationships with airlines currently servicing the Trinidad route.
• Networking with aviation leaders to foster collaborations that could lead to increased airlift for Trinidad.
• Raising awareness within the global air transport community about Trinidad as a premier destination.
• Showcasing Trinidad’s tourism offerings to over 250 executive decision-makers in the tourism sector.

These initiatives contribute to the broader goal of enhancing connectivity, which supports the nation’s wider economy.

The summit featured notable speakers, including three of Trinidad and Tobago’s esteemed leaders: Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, culture and the Arts, Videsh Maharaj brought remarks on behalf of Senator the Hon. Randall Mitchell, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; Senator the Hon. Stuart Young, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister; and Senator the Hon. Rohan Sinanan, Minister of Works and Transport. CAPA executives presented crucial market data to aid industry leaders in making informed decisions.

Key topics addressed at the summit included:

• Airline restructuring and financing: Strategies for overcoming post-COVID-19 challenges and achieving financial recovery.
• Mergers and consolidation: Analyzing the impact of industry consolidation on competition and consumer choice.
• Regional infrastructure: Assessing opportunities and constraints within the region’s airports and air traffic control systems.
• Tourism outlook: Exploring the latest trends and projections for tourism growth in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Aviation sustainability: Highlighting the increasing importance of sustainable practices and reducing aviation’s environmental footprint.

As a host partner, TTL worked closely with the AATT to ensure the summit’s success, furthering its commitment to increasing visitor arrivals and promoting the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector in Trinidad and Tobago. This focus is expected to drive economic growth through job creation and foreign exchange earnings.

TTL’s team was actively engaged throughout the summit, attending sessions, networking with industry leaders, and gathering valuable insights to enhance local tourism strategies. These insights will be key to improving airlift access and driving tourism growth.

Taking advantage of the conference, TTL is prioritising partnerships with airline executives to expand airlift capacity—a vital factor in boosting visitor numbers and maximising tourism’s contribution to the nation’s GDP.

Chairman of Tourism Trinidad, Cliff Hamilton, stated, “The CAPA Airline Leader Summit provided a unique opportunity to stay informed on the latest industry developments and explore collaborative opportunities with our regional partners. The data presented was invaluable for understanding the current state of the industry and identifying growth opportunities. The discussions on sustainable aviation and regional tourism recovery were particularly insightful in guiding our future strategies.”

TTL’s participation in the summit reaffirms its dedication to positioning Trinidad as a leading tourism destination. By staying connected to industry trends and building relationships with key stakeholders, TTL aims to foster sustainable tourism growth and support economic development.