2022 YEAR IN REVIEW
Innovation
Thinking like a visitor.
The world of travel is shifting and it’s crucial that we keep up with new developments in travel and tourism to meet the evolving needs of our target visitor. That’s why we have developed on-island experiences that will satisfy and surprise our visitors giving them an easy to book, authentic slice of Bermuda.
What’s more, we seek to continually evolve our technology and tools to ensure that we gather relevant, impactful intelligence on our performance and the industry locally and globally.
Find Your Way
Innovation through Technology
Free WIFI for Visitors at BVSC's & Beyond
Today’s visitors want to stay connected. Our free WIFI serves triple duty:
- Delivering frictionless experiences for target visitors and meeting their needs while on the island
- Gathering intelligence
- Engaging visitors & building awareness
- WIFI on island email outreach: 181,826 emails sent to visitors during Q3
- New hardware installed and operational in all locations:
- St. Georges VSC
- Ordnance Island
- Penno’s Wharf
- Dockyard VSC
- Hamilton VSC
BTAConnect
BTAConnect is a platform that houses key developments, events, and opportunities around the tourism industry as well as the latest research and performance data. Utilising the platform, companies can take complete control of their GoToBermuda.com presence, leveraging Bermuda Tourism Authority’s extensive website audiance to maximize opportunities.
BTAConnect continues to be a critical tool for engaging with our tourism stakeholders.
Business Intelligence
BI & Technology continued the following ongoing activities:
– Monitor and provide analysis on:
- Air service to Bermuda:
- Monthly reports on capacity, load factors + route performance
- Existing and potential new routes
- Future schedules for projections and use by staff, partners & stakeholders
- Airline schedules
– Future demand projections
– Local perception of the BTA and the Tourism Industry to support stakeholder + public outreach strategies.
– Report monthly and quarterly on:
- Tourism Key Performance Indicators, including air, cruise, yacht arrivals, air service, visitor expenditure, visitor satisfaction, hotel performance and pace, future projections, etc.
- Corporate objective status to staff and Board of Directors.
– Maintenance, support and training on all technology and systems used by the BTA.
– Migration to new IT provider for improved support and cost savings.
– Set Up MS Audio Teams Migration and Conference room upgrades in Q3.
Innovation through Experiences
Harbour Nights 2022
As a key sponsor of Harbour Nights, we were excited to support the return of a full Harbour Night season. Thousands of visitors and residents packed Front Street each week to enjoy live entertainment and support the array of arts & craft, culinary and experience vendors on-site. An exciting opportunity to help drive on-island spending.
A snapshot of the weekly live entertainment packages included performances by:
ACTIVATION OUTCOMES:
Estimated Attendance over the 14 weeks was 61,000 residents and visitors
Cupmatch Visitor's Stall
Hosted at Somerset Cricket Club in Q3, Camp Bermudaful delivered on an elevated Cup Match offering for visitors. We targeted visitors looking for an immersive Bermuda experience with our signature Cup Match Cricket Classic as the draw.
ACTIVATION OUTCOMES:
Over the two-day match, BTA hosted over 240 guests who mixed and mingled with tourism ambassadors and enjoyed complimentary local cuisine and beverages.
Our newly implemented time allotments allowed us to accommodate and host additional visitors in our dedicated Cup Match space.
Great Sound Entertainment Series
Promoting live local entertainment
In partnership with the Government of Bermuda, the Great Sound Entertainment Series was launched to promote a diverse line-up of local entertainment in unexpected venues around the island.
Coming after more than two years of pandemic-related disruptions to Bermuda’s entertainers, party planners, and promotors, this series curated weekly live performances on the water and at outdoor locations. We fused Bermuda’s food and cocktail culture with two new signature experiences: the St. George’s Seafood Festival and the Bermuda Swizzle Festival.
Raft Up Sundays
A Great Sound Entertainment Series Experience (GSES)
In a nod to Bermuda’s unique on-the-water party tradition, the GSES hosted three Raft-up Sundays events on the outskirts of Paradise Lakes.
These on-the water day parties featured local DJs performing floating stage, providing swimmers and anchored boats a festive atmosphere on the water.
The raft-up series allowed visitors to safely participate in a Bermuda summer experience alongside Bermudians and local entertainers.
ACTIVATION OUTCOMES:
- Local DJ’s participated: DJ Rusty G, Korie Minors and DJ Mystro
- More than 70 boats anchored outside of Paradise Lakes during the weekly raft-up series
Seafood Festival
Inaugural BTA Experience
Known for its history and maritime connections, Ordnance Island was transformed into a seafood lover’s paradise for the 1st annual St. George’s Seafood Festival. Visitors and locals celebrated Bermuda’s culinary creations and took in a well-attended festival with harbour views while sampling an array of seafood dishes, drinks and treats.
ACTIVATION OUTCOMES:
- This event exceeded expectations and saw 3600 guests descend on Ordnance Island for this first-time event; with an estimated 10% visitors in attendance
- Incorporated a new VIP offering, which sold out and was oversubscribed (165 tickets sold)
- The St. George’s Seafood Festival will become an annual event visitors and residents can add to the tourism calendar in 2023
Made in Bermuda VIP Nights
Elevated Live Music Experience
Pink Sand Entertainment revived it’s Made in Bermuda series, with a three-week elevated VIP edition featuring an array of local artists performing in a new venue each week.
The series kicked off on August 20, 2022 with a show at Barr’s Bay Park featuring the renowned Wall Street Band, a 13-piece band, plus performances by the Tino Martinez Trio, Rusty G, and the H& H Gombeys.
ACTIVATION OUTCOMES:
Saturday Live at Woody's
Live Entertainment at Local Hot Spot
Bermuda’s favourite watering hole known for its fish sandwiches became an entertainment hot spot-on Saturday nights as local artists and bands delighted guests with waterside musical performances.
Live Entertainment - Hotel Partnership
Live Entertainment at St. Regis
During September, St. Regis elevated their dining experience for on-island guests by pairing their waterside panoramic views with live performances.
Featured performers included:
- Tino Martinez
- Hana Bushara
- Dos Amigos
ACTVATION OUTCOMES:
Approximately 245 dining guests enjoyed poolside music as part of the Great Sound Entertainment Series.
Bermuda Food Harvest Journey at the Loren
Held on November 17, the BTA partnered with the Loren to celebrate Bermuda’s harvest heroes, as well as our culinary and cocktail culture. The event was oversubscribed.
- 160 attendees (of which 20% were visitors)
Busking in the City
Partnership to Expand the City of Hamilton Busking Programme
To elevate the atmosphere in the city, and create unexpected moments for visitors, buskers were incentivised with a weekly stipend to provide plein-air performances at highly visible locations within the City of Hamilton.
Swizzle Festival
Building authentic, memorable Bermuda Experiences
A collective of Swizzle makers assembled at the first Swizzle Festival for swizzle-themed treats, cocktail tasting, and food offerings as local performers from Silver City Band, Working Title Band, and DJ Mystro delivered entertainment throughout the day.
ACTIVATION OUTCOMES:
- Participating vendors included: 1616 | Simons Swizzle | Let’s Get Swizzled | Duch Pops | Bermuda Rum Cake Company | Karas Kitchen | The Food Factory
- In total, 705 people were on site for an afternoon of picturesque harbour-side views, live entertainment and of course, Swizzle.
- 95 visitors attended
- With the positive feedback received and demand for more alfresco-style experiences, we look forward to making the Swizzle Festival an annual event in our tourism calendar
