Barbados set to host second Travel Weekly Inspiring Women Retreat

More than 30 leading female travel executives will attend Travel Weekly’s second Inspiring Women Retreat in Barbados next week.

The Retreat is part of an Inspiring Women portfolio including lunches and a Rising Stars event designed to bring together the travel industry’s top female executives to network, share best practice and gain inspiration from leaders outside the sector.

The three-day Retreat in Barbados follows the success of the inaugural event in Greece in 2024 and will host guests representing the breadth of the travel trade, from travel agents and tour operators to airlines, cruise lines and ancillary providers.

It is being run in partnership with Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and with the support of Virgin Atlantic, Colony Club, a Marriott Luxury Collection Resort, Gold Medal, Accord Marketing and Inspire Europe.

One of the highpoints of the programme will be a lunch addressed by British Barbadian businesswoman Karen Blackett CBE (pictured), who has held a range of leadership positions within companies in the creative industries sector and government, and is a current non-executive director of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Elan Mottley-Harris, UK director of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, told a Travel Weekly webcast: “The calibre of guests is beyond belief and being offered the opportunity to host was something we felt honoured and excited to do.

“We are so excited to showcase what is new in Barbados. The Colony Club has recently been renovated and the Retreat also gives us an opportunity to give a taste of what is happening in Barbados today, particularly on the west coast.”

She added: “We will be able to showcase our hotels but also the array of villa properties we have in Barbados.

“Barbados is an aspirational destination and we are a year-round destination with accommodation for everyone. That is what we are trying to showcase at Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.”

Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief of Travel Weekly, said: “The line-up of guests for our second Inspiring Women Retreat is a real who’s who of the travel trade, and I am delighted we will be able to host these fantastic female leaders in such an iconic destination for the UK market.

“This event will give us the opportunity to experience an array of authentic experiences and hear from a true business icon in Karen Blackett as we forge ever-strong business relationships, and I am grateful to Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, our host airline Virgin Atlantic and all our partners for their support.”