The Expedia group has revealed a significant expansion in the Haiti market in 2014, including increased travel demand, hotel partner acquisitions and a surge in mobile and package bookings for the burgeoning destination.

With increased flight arrivals, new hotel and resort accommodations and a flourishing art and culinary scene, Haiti is quickly being recognised as a potential travel destination.

The news comes as the country continues to rebuild following an earthquake in the country in 2010 which killed more than 300,000 people.

“Although not traditionally recognised as a popular Caribbean destination, interest in Haiti is on the rise with new hotel and resort openings and developments expected in the near future.

“Furthermore, with 40 new hotel partnerships formed in 2014, Expedia’s footprint in Haiti is quickly providing our hoteliers with global visibility, strategic marketing tools and the latest technology,” said Demetrius Canton, director of lodging partner services for the Caribbean, Expedia group.

Expedia elected to dedicate a market manager to the country in order to focus on building partnerships and better supporting hoteliers, which resulted in more than 40 new hotel partnerships in 2014 alone, including Hôtel du Roi Christophe, Club Indigo, Moulin Sur Mer, Villa Thérèse and Le Plaza Hotel among others.

“In the past year, Expedia focused efforts on developing new partnerships in Haiti and have yielded impressive results for local hoteliers through targeted promotions and marketing campaigns,” said Maya de Campos, market manager for Haiti, Expedia group.

“We are looking forward to continuing this positive trend through 2015 and beyond.”

The Expedia group is also pleased to announce an unprecedented rise of approximately 800 percent in total demand generated to Haiti via mobile devices in 2014 when compared to the previous year.
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Additional data from Expedia includes a major increase in package bookings to Haiti of nearly 500 percent in 2014 when compared to 2013.

“Expedia Group has been a strong ally for the ministry of tourism of Haiti, particularly in driving demand to our local hotels,” said Stephanie Villedrouin, minister of tourism of Haiti.

“Through our close collaboration with Expedia, we look forward to increasing our exposure to markets around the world via marketing campaigns, strategic promotions and the latest technology.”