Hundreds of delegates from across the region have been gathering at the 30th annual Caribbean Marketplace at the Atlantis Resort, the Bahamas.

Following a sensational opening ceremony last night, it was down to business today with hundreds of buyers and suppliers meeting on the conference floor.

Cape Air was among those celebrating, having expanded is Caribbean footprint.

The carrier launched a new service between St. Croix, USVI and Vieques, Puerto Rico, earlier this month, as well as daily, year-round service between San Juan, Puerto Rico and Nevis, West Indies.

“This is our 14th year of providing inter-island service in the Caribbean and all of us at Cape Air are excited about our newest cities” Cape Air founder and chief executive, Dan Wolf told Breaking Travel News.

“We have ensured that our flight schedules allow for easy connections with major carriers serving San Juan and our convenient ticket and baggage agreements with these airlines mean you can book your entire trip on one itinerary and check your bags through to your final destination.”

The Bahamas plays host to Caribbean Marketplace 2012

In the Turks & Caicos Islands Alexandra Resort has unveiled a host of new developments, welcoming a new spacious reception centre on the beach, complete with a lounge, large patio and concierge centre. 

The facility will offer stunning views of the Caribbean and a stylish welcome to guests. Sanay Spa is also being relocated to new facilities at the resort and will be upgraded. 

“Our goal is to continue to enhance the four star service and understated luxury that distinguishes us from Grace Bay resorts,” general manager, Anette Mullings, said from the floor of the 30th annual Caribbean Marketplace.

“We are looking forward to a busy tourist season and we are doing everything we can to indulge our guests.”

Representatives from St. Kitts & Nevis were also out in force, with the destination having become the first in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States to sign an Open Skies agreement with the United States. 

The Federation is the 104th Open Skies partner of the US, while a similar agreement is already in place with the key UK market. 

Sandals’ chief executive Adam Stewart, right, called in to collect the World Travel Award for World’s Leading All-Inclusive Company form founder Graham Cooke

Finally, Sandals Resorts International (SRI), parent company of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, announced a number of exciting enhancements to a variety of its Luxury Included resorts ahead of the upcoming season.

As a leader in the luxury hospitality sector – having been recognised once again as the World’s Leading All-inclusive Company by the World Travel Awards - Sandals has built a reputation for creating timeless vacations through exceptional services and amenities. 

In order to stay ahead of the curve, SRI has undertaken large scale renovation projects at several of its resorts which are part of a $500 million investment plan to expand and enhance the company’s offerings in the Caribbean over the coming decade.

“Innovation is essential to staying relevant” said Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, founder and chairman of Sandals Resorts.

“We have restlessly pursued exceeding guest expectations and as we move forward we will continue to invest in our products and our people.”