Barbados Seeks to Beef Up E-Commerce Platform in the U.S., Canada

Barbados is looking to strengthen its e-commerce platform in North America to the tune of BDS$100 million for the financial year. This was why the Ministry of Tourism accepted a three-year, $8 million contract with MMG Worldwide, replacing former agency ISM.

MMG, a Kansas City-based travel marketing and advertising agency, won the contract after a four-month review from Boston-based ISM.

“I have seen enough of their presentation to agree with the recommendation of the board that they should in fact become the new advertising agency in North America for Barbados,” said Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy.

Sealy, speaking to the Press after a recent awards ceremony for the Ministry of Tourism’s inaugural Christmas Postcard Competition, said there would be another supplemental going to the House of Assembly which would take their overall budget for the fiscal year to close to an unprecedented BDS$100 million.

The tourism minister said Barbados spent more money in North America than anywhere else, more than BDS$30 million a year, so it was in the process of “firming up” its programs and keeping an eye on the global economy to see if Barbados would continue to receive strong business from the States.

The contract has MMG Worldwide promoting the island to markets in Britain, the United States and Canada through international print advertising and a heavy online campaign as well as promotions with travel partners.