Caribbean ministers meet in New York

The Caribbean Tourism Organization opened Caribbean Week in New York on Monday, bringing ministers, commissioners and tourism officials from across the region to Manhattan for five days of meetings, workshops and industry events. The gathering runs June 1-5 at the InterContinental New York Times Square under the theme “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences,” according to CTO materials. Governor Albert Bryan Jr. of the U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands Premier Natalio Wheatley and Barbados Tourism Minister Ian Gooding-Edghill were listed among the senior officials leading the week’s program. More than 20 Caribbean destinations were represented or confirmed for the week, including Jamaica, The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to CTO and event coverage. Travel industry executives, airline representatives and tourism directors were also scheduled to take part. (onecaribbean.org) ### Why were Caribbean ministers in New York this week? New York is hosting Caribbean Week because the CTO uses the annual event to bring government and industry leaders together in one of the region’s biggest source markets. CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper said the week is “a critical platform for collaboration, strategy development and celebration of our region’s tourism industry.” The June 1 opening ceremony was followed by “Around the Caribbean in 60 Minutes,” a session with the CTO Council of Ministers, and a broader week of strategic meetings, networking and promotional events, according to the CTO program. (traveldailynews.com) The organization said the event coincides with Caribbean American Heritage Month. ### What were ministers and officials discussing behind the scenes? Tuesday’s agenda included ministerial roundtables and a closed-door Ministerial Council meeting, according to event coverage and the CTO schedule. (onecaribbean.org) Travel Daily News reported that the council session was set to focus on regional tourism policy, airlift challenges, supply-side issues and sustainable development initiatives. The official program also pointed to a broader policy and commercial agenda. CTO materials said the week’s discussions would cover tourism leadership, marketing strategies, airlift development, inclusive tourism, sustainability and tourism innovation. ### Which officials and destinations were part of the turnout? Ian Gooding-Edghill, who serves as CTO chairman as well as Barbados minister of tourism and international transport, was scheduled to deliver the opening keynote. (traveldailynews.com) Albert Bryan Jr. was scheduled to address the opening session, while Natalio Wheatley was listed for the ministers’ “Around the Caribbean in 60 Minutes” segment. Travel Daily News identified confirmed ministers including Edmund Bartlett of Jamaica, Glenys Hanna-Martin of The Bahamas, Susan Rodrigues of Guyana, Gooding-Edghill of Barbados and Kishore Shallow of St. (onecaribbean.org) Vincent and the Grenadines. The same report said ministerial representatives from Belize, Curaçao and Saint Lucia would also attend. ### How does the week tie into the region’s marketing push? (onecaribbean.org) Wednesday’s Caribbean Marketing Conference is one of the week’s main business events. CTO said Henry Harteveldt, founder and president of Atmosphere Research Group, will keynote the conference on June 3 with a presentation titled “Turbulence & Opportunity: Airline Trends and What They Mean for the Caribbean.” (traveldailynews.com) The conference theme is “Unified Partnerships, Stronger Nations: Elevating Caribbean Brands in a Competitive World,” and CTO said sessions will address nation branding, diversified source markets, measurable marketing performance and public-private partnerships. Jacqueline Johnson, chair of the CTO Foundation, said the conference comes “at a critical time as global competition intensifies.” (caribbeanweek.onecaribbean.org) ### What else is on the schedule after the ministers’ meetings? A June 1 leadership dinner launched a new CTO scholarship fund for Caribbean women in tourism, with proceeds directed through the CTO Foundation, according to the organization. The week’s program also includes a media and travel trade marketplace, the Caribbean Media Awards and the official launch of a new tourism supply-side initiative. (caribbeanweek.onecaribbean.org) Caribbean Week continues through Thursday, June 5, at the InterContinental New York Times Square, with the June 3 marketing conference standing out as the next major scheduled forum for ministers, tourism boards, airline partners and industry executives. (eturbonews.com) (onecaribbean.org)