TORONTO — Nancy Drolet wants OneCaribbeanCanada.ca to serve as a resource for everything travellers need for their next Caribbean trip.
But there’s one thing travellers can’t do on the site, and that’s book their trip. That’s because Drolet is a firm believer that the experts – travel advisors – should be the ones making the bookings.
“We’re not a booking platform, we get that question from consumers all the time,” says Drolet. “We tell people to go book with a travel advisor. Our commitment is, everything has to be commissionable for travel agents.”
Travelweek caught up with Drolet at last night’s One Caribbean Canada Media Marketplace in Toronto. The lively and well-attended event took place at the Old Mill, with participation from a dozen or so top Caribbean destinations.
When Drolet represented the CTO in Canada starting in 2017, she worked closely with the CTO’s 24 member countries. After the CTO announced the closure of its international offices in 2019, Drolet landed at Jesson & Co. and continued to organize Caribbean events. She founded OneCaribbeanCanada.ca about a year and a half ago.
As she tells Travelweek, OneCaribbeanCanada.ca isn’t just a consumer resource site. It’s also very much for the trade. “We wanted to create something that travel advisors can use as a resource, to help close more sales. They can send an info page, an article, to help that client make that decision,” says Drolet.
Visitor info, travel tips and more are available on the site for some two dozen partner destinations. Agents and clients can navigate easily to Dining, Quick Facts, Photos, Activities and Travel Essentials for each island.
There’s also accommodation listings, airline and ferry information (great for island hopping), dive operators and more. Articles highlight everything from shopping tips, to finding the right Caribbean honeymoon haven, to a fun roundup of favourite Caribbean beach bars and much more.
Earlier this year the site launched its Caribbean Events Calendar, offered in both English and French, The listings are in chronological order, for ease of navigation.
The site is at OneCaribbeanCanada.ca.
“WE BROUGHT THE SUNSHINE”
Erica Henry-Jackman served as emcee at last night’s event. “We brought the sunshine and the soca, courtesy of the Caribbean,” she said before introducing the tourism boards. Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, Bahamas, Nassau & Paradise Island, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Martin / Sint Maarten and St. Vincent and the Grenadines all took part.
“With today’s political climate, everyone needs the Caribbean right now,” she added to applause.
In addition to all the tourism boards, OneCaribbeanCanada.ca also has some 33 hotel partners along with its airline partner, Caribbean Airlines.
“We are your travel insider. From travel tips to event calendars, we’ve got the Caribbean covered like sun on sand,” said Henry-Jackman.
The Caribbean islands really are a direct flight away from Canada, she added. “The Caribbean is closer than you think and it’s easier than ever to get there.”
For more details see OneCaribbeanCanada.ca.
