Seven regional tourism ministers grace ASTA Caribbean Showcase 2025 at Sandals South Coast
ONE of the notable features of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) Caribbean Showcase 2025 was its ability to pull seven regional tourism ministers — a rarity for a private event — to the annual exhibition flaunting tourism’s best, at Sandals South Coast in Westmoreland.
The ministers in attendance over the four days from August 23 to 27, 2025 were: G P Ian Gooding-Edghill, Barbados; Carlos James, St Vincent and the Grenadines; Adrian Thomas, Grenada; Ernest Hilaire, who is also deputy prime minister of St Lucia; Zhavargo Jolly of the Turks and Caicos Islands; Marsha T Henderson of St Kitts and Nevis; and Edmund Bartlett of Jamaica.
The 18,000-strong ASTA has been bringing hundreds of its members to the region on familiarity (fam) trips, based on an offer from Sandals Resorts International (SRI) to host 10 annual Caribbean Showcases as a means of promoting the islands served by the hotel chain.
Jamaica Observer chief photographer Joseph Wellington was at Sandals South Coast, where 300 ASTA travel advisors were hosted, to capture highlights of the event organised by Unique Vacations, an affiliate of the worldwide representatives of Sandals and Beaches resorts.
Four of seven regional tourism ministers participating in a panel discussion at the recent ASTA Caribbean Showcase 2025 at Sandals South Coast are (from left) Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica; Carlos James, St Vincent and the Grenadines; Adrian Thomas of Grenada; and Ernest Hilaire of St Lucia. )Photos: Joseph Wellington)
Barbados Minister of Tourism G P Ian Gooding-Edghill speaking for his country during a panel discussion at the 2025 ASTA Caribbean Showcase at Sandals South Coast in Westmoreland. Joseph Wellington
St Kitts and Nevis Tourism Minister Marsha T Henderson makes at a point the 2025 ASTA Caribbean Showcase. Joseph Wellington
Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism MInister Zharvago Jolly addressing over 300 travel advisors attending the 2025 ASTA Caribbean Showcase at Sandals South Coast. Joseph Wellington
Caribbean Tourism Organisation Secretary General and CEO Dona Regis-Prosper is all ears as Sandals Regional Managing Director, Jamaica Jeremy Jones welcomes her to Sandals South Coast where she participated in the ASTA Caribbean Showcase 2025. Joseph Wellington
Montego Bay journalist Janet Silvera throwing questions at regional tourism ministers attending the ASTA Caribbean Showcase 2025.Joseph Wellington
Some of the Sandals and Unique Vacations (UV) support staff at the ASTA Caribbean Showcase 2025 get a photo op with Gary Sadler (sixth from left), UV’s executive vice-president for sales and industry relations. Joseph Wellington
Gary Sadler, executive vice-president of sales and industry relations at Miami-based Unique Vacations, working the room packed with travel advisors at the ASTA Caribbean Showcase 2025 at Sandals South Coast. Joseph Wellington
