DEAL IN THE SUN

Why the Caribbean is the ultimate business getaway this winter

- STORY BYTODD PLUMMER

AHH, THE CARIBBEAN, where pristine beaches offer a draw for leisure travelers in search of tropical bliss. But while many of us associate the area with turquoise waters, luxury resorts and R&R, the region has also been hard at work on appealing to a new type of traveler—one who takes their rum punch with a side of networking and dealmaking.

As the beneficiary of a suite of duty-free programs and trade agreements with the United States, the Caribbean is no stranger to American business. While it’s long been a zone of opportunity for the flow of capital and tradable goods, the region has also taken on a new mantle in recent years: as the ideal place for a conference, meeting or business trip. And with the global business travel market forecasted to exceed $928.4 billion by 2030, the Caribbean is making moves to claim its piece of the pie.

The growth of business travel hasn’t been a mere case of scaling what already exists, however. Since the pandemic, the proliferation of remote work has spurred a reevaluation of how and why businesses, their constituents and their clients convene. Yes, the enormous turnkey conference centers are still there, but we’re also seeing boutique properties cater to this increasingly lucrative market. Convertible indoor and outdoor spaces, private villas for the most exclusive of board meetings, and a range of trendy amenities offer new ways for the expense-account set to reach new highs of productivity—rum punch in hand, of course.

TURKS AND CAICOS

A NEW COMMUNITY WITH A SUSTAINABLE BENT