The Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) has successfully wrapped up a week-long strategic market development mission in Toronto, Canada, marking a major step forward in expanding the Caribbean destination’s footprint in one of its most valuable international source markets. The trip centered on coordinated engagement with travel industry stakeholders, media outlets and airline partners, designed to drive long-term visitor growth and strengthen Grenada’s reputation as a premium leisure getawasy.
Led by GTA CEO Stacey Liburd, the delegation included Sekou Stroude, GTA’s Director of Sales for Canada, and Marketing Executive Melinda Telesford. The core priorities of the mission were deepening existing strategic industry partnerships, unlocking new opportunities for expanded air connectivity, and solidifying Grenada’s standing in Canada’s fast-growing luxury and experiential travel segments.
One of the most significant outcomes of the mission was productive strategic talks with Canadian carrier WestJet. The two sides explored extending the airline’s existing seasonal direct service to Grenada, currently running from December to April, to an expanded November-to-May schedule. A longer operating window would drastically improve travel accessibility for Canadian visitors looking to plan trips outside the traditional winter peak. Discussions with WestJet Vacations also made progress on expanding the range of pre-packaged Grenada travel offerings, which will boost the destination’s visibility and increase booking conversion rates across the Canadian market.
Liburd noted that the Toronto mission was part of GTA’s deliberate, targeted strategy to reinforce Grenada’s market position in Canada. “Through strategic airline discussions, trade engagement and media outreach, we are expanding awareness while creating clear pathways for increased visitation and sustained growth,” she said during the trip.
The GTA delegation also took part in Virtuoso On Tour Toronto 2026, an industry event connecting luxury travel suppliers with top global advisors, an opportunity that further elevated Grenada’s luxury travel profile. During the event, the delegation held one-on-one consultations with more than 80 elite travel advisors, gaining direct access to professionals who cater to high-value international travelers. GTA also sponsored an industry dinner for event attendees, which included a detailed destination presentation by Liburd, immersive curated experiences highlighting Grenada’s unique culture and natural attractions, and a prize giveaway sponsored by three of Grenada’s top luxury resorts: Calabash Grenada, Six Senses La Sagesse and Silversands Grenada.
To expand consumer awareness, the GTA carried out a targeted media outreach program that connected the delegation with 20 leading Canadian travel journalists and social media influencers. The engagement already yielded immediate coverage, including a feature in major Canadian travel industry publication Travelweek, with additional national consumer coverage expected in coming months. Liburd also made a live appearance on CHCH Morning Live, a popular Ontario morning television show, extending Grenada’s reach to millions of general consumer viewers across the province.
Stroude emphasized that the wide-ranging engagements across trade, media and airline partners confirm that underlying demand for Grenada travel in the Canadian market remains strong. “The relationships strengthened during this mission position us to drive both immediate bookings and long-term market growth, particularly within the luxury and experience-driven segments,” he explained.
In addition to industry and media events, the mission included an exclusive dinner for top travel advisors from leading Canadian agencies such as Flight Centre, U Travel and Maritime Travel. The delegation also held strategic partnership talks with Sandals Resorts to coordinate upcoming joint marketing and promotional activities across Canada.
GTA’s work with its in-market representation partner VOX International also allowed the delegation to review performance of ongoing promotional campaigns, confirming that current initiatives have already delivered strong engagement and conversion metrics, laying a solid foundation for future growth.
The mission concluded with a diplomatic engagement at the Grenada Consulate in Toronto, an event that aligned GTA’s tourism promotion goals with the country’s foreign service objectives as Grenada continues to expand its global profile and attract more international visitors.