TORONTO — Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. wined and dined trade and consumer media last night with an industry event to kick off Barbados Week in Toronto.
Chef Javon Cummings prepared delicious Bajan cuisine as part of an extensive multi-course meal held at Summerhill Event Boutique. There was Bajan Pumpkin and Split Pea Soup, Deconstructed Souse, followed by Torched Flying Fish and Spiced Braised Chicken, with Granny Sweet Bread for dessert.
Island-inspired cocktails and rum pairings by mixologist Phillip Antoine highlighted BTMI’s event
Meanwhile mixologist Phillip Antoine served up signature cocktails with each new plate – all featuring Barbados rum, of course. The island’s famous Mount Gay Distilleries, established in 1703, made Barbados the birthplace of rum.
The BTMI team on hand included Director, Canada, Eusi Skeete, Senior Business Development Officer, Ukweli Wilson, and Business Development Officers Darrio Prescod, Lisa Batson and Brita Greaves.
“With all the challenges in the world lately, the reality is, we have to let people know they deserve a vacation,” said Skeete to applause.
Skeete has also noted that Barbados offers Canadians “something rare: sunshine with soul, luxury with legacy, and culture that moves you.”
He added: “There’s so much more to Barbados than sun and sand. We’re elevating the experience with our cuisine, our experiences, our culture and so much more. We’re not a one-dimensional destination. We have something for everyone.”
Skeete also said Barbados “wants to dispel the myth that you need to stay at an all-inclusive to have a vacation.”
Barbados now features 13,000+ villa and vacation rental options, and this year will see the groundbreaking of the 600-room Beaches Barbados.
Other highlights include a new nine-hole golf course, the ‘Little Apes’, opening at Apes Hill Barbados this spring, alongside brand new Golf and Sea View Villas. The villas come with in-villa chef experiences, private spa services and complimentary golf rounds.
In other accommodation news, Blue Monkey Hotel & Beach Club is reopening this summer with 28 renovated rooms. Marriott’s The House Boutique Hotel reopened April 1. Tamarind Resort will be back on Jan. 1, 2026, fully refreshed. Plus, this year Marriott expanded its portfolio with adults-only The Waves and Treasure Beach.
Attendees at last night’s Barbados (BTMI) event were greeted with refreshing coconut water
Meanwhile the new Royalton CHIC Barbados will open on Barbados’ famed Gold Coast in spring 2026.
Not only that, luxury boutique hotel chain Pendry Hotels & Resorts will open its first international resort, Pendry Barbados, by the end of 2026 on the island’s west coast, offering 80 beachfront guestrooms and 46 private residences alongside a range of upscale amenities.
New additions to Barbados’ thriving culinary scene include Derriere French Brasserie in Limegrove (December 2024). The owner, Chef Jean Jacques Carquillat, also runs Les Shack Restaurant & Bar in St. Philip. Another new offering, Madison Bistro, opened in late 2024.
Visitors should also keep an eye out for The Oistin’s Experience, now at Wyndham Grand, and the Barbados Heritage District opening in spring 2025 (aligning with the 400th anniversary of British arrival, and preceding the island’s 60th independence anniversary in 2026). There’s also We Gatherin’: A Cultural Homecoming, a year-long celebrations for locals and visitors alike with monthly festivals, live performances, culinary showcases, and interactive community events.
More information about travel to Barbados is at VisitBarbados.org
