Column: BTA’s Top 10 Tourism Highlights Of 2019

December 20, 2019

[Review by the Bermuda Tourism Authority]

Different tourism-related activities happened all throughout this year, and as 2019 is about to end, the Bermuda Tourism Authority [BTA] brings the “Top 10 Tourism Highlights” for this year.

1. Arrivals & Spending

Despite air-capacity shortages and hurricane disruption, 2019 could be the second-best year for leisure air arrivals since 2006. Though total air travellers fell year-over-year, they eclipsed 2017 by 5% at November. Spending by leisure air visitors was up 1.1% over 2018 in the first nine months, totalling $249 million. Cruise arrivals are also on the rise, a solid 12% over last year, with spring and fall calls highlighting the island as a year-round destination. Most visitors had positive reviews: 82% said they’d recommend Bermuda.

2. Global Partnerships

BTA secured valuable multi-year sports partnerships in 2019 to align with the Bermuda National Tourism Plan. These included: a second ITU World Triathlon Series event in April; the inaugural PGA TOUR: Bermuda Championship this fall; a three-year deal with the USTA launched with high visibility at September’s US Open; and global exposure as a Host Port and Team Partner for the Clipper 2019–20 Round the World Yacht Race, with berths secured aboard GoToBermuda for two Bermudian crew ambassadors in 2020.

3. Entrepreneurial Empowerment

Bermuda’s entrepreneurs and tourism stakeholders stepped up to show their creativity, commitment and innovation. Some 120 home-grown tourism ventures received BTA Tourism Experiences Investment; one of the programme’s biggest success stories is Bermuda Carnival, a signature event for the past five years that delivered over 1,000 visitors this year. Twenty-seven established entities won recognition for going the extra mile, winning National Service Standards Certification [NSSC]. And 231 more Bermudians became Certified Tourism Ambassadors [CTAs], making a national total of nearly 900.

4. New Hotels

A host of new hotel properties is coming online, including Azura [January 2020]; Bermudiana Beach Resort, Tapestry Collection by Hilton [March 2020 & March 2021]; and St. Regis Bermuda Resort [April 2021]. Bermuda had 2,400 hotel rooms at the end of 2018, a total set to rise to 2,673 in the next two years—bringing the first new inventory in a generation, excepting 2017’s The Loren, and an injection of big-name brands. While Caroline Bay’s Ritz-Carlton project suffered delays, the landmark Fairmont Southampton was purchased, a commitment to tourism investment on the island.

5. Airport & Airlift

Bermuda’s new $280-million airport terminal is taking shape on time and budget, to open next year. In tandem, the BTA is working with government, Skyport and Bermuda Airport Authority to create a long-term, sustainable airlift strategy to cater to a cross-section of stakeholders. Air-service development consultants hired this year are analysing challenges related to pricing, routes and seasonality to help shape a future national strategy.

6. New Visitor Experiences

A new menu of cultural activities and experiences in 2019 was offered to visitors…which locals also took advantage of. Highlights of BTA-curated events included new tours showcasing Bermuda’s heritage sites, food harvests and culinary traditions, enslavement and civil-rights heritage, local art and architecture, plus an inside look at local homes and neighbourhoods around the island, Government House among them.

7. Workforce Readiness

A campaign partnering the Department of Workforce Development, Bermuda Hotel Association [BHA], Bermuda College and the BTA was launched to attract more Bermudians to the hospitality industry as new hotels supply a host of fresh jobs. A separate but aligned public-private initiative registered jobseekers interested in restaurant careers under a “Learn to Earn” programme offering certification and paid on-the-job training.

8. Visitor Services Centres

BTA opened an iconic new Visitor Services Centre on Front Street, moved its St George’s outlet to a more strategic location, and at Dockyard, created separate areas for ticket sales and tourist engagement. All three locations offered a one-stop-shop service, allowing travellers to not only learn about Bermuda’s offerings, but book activities, tours and experiences—putting money directly into the local economy. All three VSCs achieved National Service Standards Certification [NSSC].

9. Superyacht Strategy

Bermuda’s Parliament passed landmark legislation in 2019 to allow superyachts [minimum 24 metres or 78 feet] to charter and cruise in local waters. To be enacted in January 2020, the new legal framework aims to make the island a bona fide cruising destination, capitalising on the legacy of the America’s Cup and Bermuda’s strategic location as a port for private yacht traffic. BTA is working with stakeholders to help the island benefit from high-net-worth spending the sector promises to attract.

10. Greener Goals

BTA teamed with the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences [BIOS] and Bermuda Championship this fall to present the inaugural Bermuda Climate Risk Forum. The half-day thought-leadership event featured Michael Bloomberg as keynote and brought together science and business leaders to discuss pathways to a cleaner environment. That’s one of the National Tourism Plan’s core goals and helps send a message to our visitors and the world about Bermuda’s commitment to sustainability.