Caribbean ARI Inc has launched its 2010 “CARI Me Back to Barbados” campaign at all of its stores at Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados. This promotion forms the centerpiece of its Soca Specials Campaign, which runs in line with the key tourist season of Kadooment (Carnival) in Barbados.

In addition to a large range of Soca Special offers in their stores, customers to any of Caribbean ARI’s four locations receive one entry into a grand prize draw for every BDS$75 (US$37.50) they spend. At the end of the campaign, one lucky winner will receive an all expenses paid trip back to Barbados. The trip includes two return flights to Barbados and five-night all inclusive accommodations at the prestigious Almond Casuarina Resort located in the popular St. Lawrence gap region of the island.

Caribbean ARI General Manager Domnick O’Reilly notes that the promotion “highlights not only our commitment to running the best promotional campaigns possible, but also linking them to key events in Barbados. For all who have visited Barbados, they know that our Kadooment festival is the largest cultural event of the year, and we are delighted to offer one of our customers an opportunity to come back for the 2011 festival on us.”

In order to ensure that this promotion reaches as many visitors to Barbados as possible, the operator has teamed up with the CBC, the national broadcaster of Barbados, to run a promotional campaign using both TV and radio.

“When we spoke to the CBC Socaholics we realized that there was a great synergy between what we were looking to achieve and what they were doing to promote the festival,” continues O’Reilly. “For us this partnership was a no-brainer! We have always believed that creating the offer was only 40% of the package; working with our friends at CBC has given us the ability reach 90% of the total visitors to the island before they reach the airport.”

The event is supported by live appearances by top performers from Barbados in Caribbean ARI’s stores, and includes a large element of in-store theatre at peak times during the day: “Kadooment is about having a good time, listening to great music and dancing to top tunes,” concludes O’Reilly. “We wanted to give our visitors one last chance to do this, and now visitors can play a tune on a traditional pan or dance by wukking up like a Bajan. Given the response received from our customers, they are happy to embrace the festival one last time.”

The promotion is to continue for the month of August, and the prize draw will then take place live on national TV in Barbados.