Barbados has a lot to celebrate over the next two years, with numerous hotel developments already in the works, a full schedule of events, and a major milestone.
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. CEO Andrea Franklin spoke to press at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of the Industry Conference in Barbados, and shared details about what’s ahead, news, and statistics.
“We are really a 365-day destination, alive with unforgettable experiences,” Franklin said. “We like to say that we are an all-inclusive destination.”
Franklin also shared some numbers for the year to date, and one of the most impressive came from cruise travel. So far in 2025 Barbados has seen a 24.4% increase in cruise travel visitors compared to 2024, up 117,776 to 599,826 visitors.
Celebrations and culture
Starting this December Barbados will kick off a year-long celebration leading up to its 60th anniversary of independence on November 30th, 2026. While no specific details have been announced yet, the celebrations will focus on the culture of the islands and its history.
Barbados is also launching their new community tourism initiative “Dining with a Bajan” this winter, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the culture and share a meal with a Barbadian family for a totally unique visitor opportunity.
Festivals and events
Numerous festivals return once again, and the calendar of events also features two notable new additions for 2025 and 2026.
- Barbados Food and Rum Festival is November 6 to 9, and Barbados has a wide range of events during the festival including Rise and Rum, Liquid Gold, and more, showcasing local chefs and mixologists.
- We Gatherin’ 2025: Throughout 2025, Barbados celebrated the 11 parishes of the island, and the festivies draw to a close in October, celebrating Christ Church, and November, with St. Michael.
- Grow, Unite, Build Africa (GUBA) Awards: Scheduled for November 10 to 12, Barbados will host the event that focuses on the connection with Africa, and the diaspora. This is the first time that it will be held in the Caribbean.
- Barbados Health and Wellness Weekend and Marathon: Running–literally–from December 2 to 5, the traditional marathon event will also include a full weekend of activities like hiking, spa treatments, and yoga.
- Crop Over: A long-standing cultural triumph that attracts thousands of visitors annually to experience the music, artistry, and revelry of the island.
- CPL 2026 Finals: And next September, 2026, Barbados will host the Caribbean Premier League cricket finals with a big party atmosphere and playoff games at Kensington Oval.
New accommodations and development
Barbados currently has just over 6,000 hotel rooms and over 13,000 vacation rentals. From October 2025 to the end of 2027, the country will add another 1,600 rooms with a number of new hotel developments.
“Barbados has a real investment boom happening on the island in terms of the hotel sector,” Franklin said. The notable new developments include:
- Blue Monkey Hotel and Beach Club: A small luxury hotel label property on the west coast, offering 28 suites, scheduled to open this winter, aiming for a December 2025 opening.
- Hotel Indigo: Located on the south coast boardwalk, this property will have 132 rooms and is expected to open in November.
- Royalton Vessence: Scheduled for completion by June 2026, this is a new brand, created under the Royalton umbrella, with the Barbados property being the first with 220 rooms. It will be adults-only.
- Pendry Barbados: A luxury, high-end property situated in the north of the island, featuring 74 all ocean-view rooms.
- Hyatt Ziva Barbados: Scheduled to start construction by early 2026 on the outskirts of Bridgetown, with a planned 367 hotel rooms and 28 luxury condos.
- Beaches Barbados: Sandals will open a 600 room, all-inclusive resort on the site of the old Almond Beach Village in St. Peter, and it’s expected to open in late 2027 or early 2028. The development is a billion dollar investment into the country.
A number of properties are also being refurbished and reopened. Marriott Hotels group is refurbishing seven properties in the country. Waves Resort, Treasure Beach Art Hotel, and The House have all reopened, while Colony Club Resort, Tamarind Resort, Crystal Cove Hotel, and Turtle Beach are all expected to reopen in the coming months.
Attractions and Activities
Barbados is more than just beaches, and a major focus is culture, eco-adventure, and high-end recreation.
- Culinary Scene: The island offers over 400 eateries, providing a range of cuisine from street food to fine dining options.
- Beaches: Okay, yes, there are some amazing beaches, too. Barbados is known around the world for its pristine beaches and calm, clear waters, offering over 80 choice beach spots across its coral island, from the rugged east coast, to the calm south and west coasts.
- Golf: The island boasts seven championship golf courses, cemented as a world-class golf destination through a partnership with the PGA Tour.
- Rum Heritage: Barbados holds the distinction of being the island that invented rum (yes, really). Visitors can explore this heritage through tours of distilleries like Mount Gay, West Indies Rum Distilleries, Foursquare, and St. Nicholas Abbey.
- Eco-Adventure: Barbados offers eco-adventure enthusiasts a number of options to get out and explore, including Walkers Reserve, Cocoa Hill Forest, and the Animal Flower Cave.
- Natural Wonders: Harrison’s Cave and Eco Adventure Park offers tram tours, spelunking, ziplining, and a bird aviary. Guests can also adventure on the Atlantis submarine for unforgettable underwater views, and the newly reopened Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, located in one of the last remaining natural mangrove areas in the region.
Find a hotel in Bridgetown, Barbados:
Photo by Chloe Christine.
