Business View Caribbean | May 2022

26 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 9, ISSUE 5 we need to make sure we accomplish our financial objectives to make those changes to the properties. When it comes to sustainability initiatives at our resorts, it’s a challenge currently to get materials to work on those specific efforts at this point, but definitely we are participating in local programs about beach cleaning and environmental education activities. Especially with the turtles in Barbados.” One big success story in 2021 involved offering locals the opportunity to experience the seven properties with ‘Staycation’ packages. Especially during the troubling pandemic times, to be able to experience the high level of personalization and service is something that Barbadians enjoyed experiencing firsthand, and those packages are still available. Advances in technology have been ongoing at the resorts. “We incorporated our seven properties in the All-inclusive by Marriott platform, which included a dedicated All- inclusive website,” Pineda says, “But also we are creating a technological distribution structure to ensure that our properties are distributed globally and at different levels and different segments – for families, for adults only, solo travelers. And of course for groups, for multi- generational families, and for weddings and celebrations. The purpose for the traveler that we’re targeting is leisure, with a variety of different options.” He adds, “The first experience is families, with a robust kids and teens program that makes them happy and so it makes the parents happy, too. The House and Treasure Beach are great examples for adults-only hotels, and we have experiences for solo travelers that is something new and important. A percentage of our Marriott Bonvoy members are exploring having a solo vacation. That is increasing in 2022 since the pandemic.” The signature Dine Around program, has become