Caribbean Tourism Organization - News

CTO MOUNTS FIVE-DAY UK NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PROMOTION TO MARK CARIBBEAN TOURISM MONTH 2011

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:50:55 PST

LONDON, UK (10th Oct. 2011) - The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) has mounted a five-day campaign in the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror newspapers in the UK, as part of the pre-promotional activity surrounding Caribbean Tourism Month 2011.

The promotion, which got underway on Sunday 8 October, features a half-page competition with a two-person £5,000 Caribbean holiday prize to win each day. The resorts and destinations participating are

• Rex resorts;
• Almond Resorts;
• The Dominican Republic Tourist Board;
• LaSource Grenada and
• Harlequin Hotels & Resorts

A pair of flights from the UK is supplied each day by British Airways. The promotion, which will reach the Daily Mirror’s 1.2 million circulation and the Sunday Mirror’s 1.9 million circulation, will also feature on www.mirror.co.uk, which receives an average of 716,114 daily browsers.

Each day the editorial coverage will feature a description of the destination and hotel and the details of a two-person holiday prize to this property with flights which can be won. The newspaper will be promoting the competition its under the banner of “£25,000 of Caribbean holidays to win” with each day’s coverage including imagery and logos, including the CTO logo.

Reaching an even wider UK audience, the five-page promotion will be syndicated front half of Daily Record and Sunday Mail in Scotland. The newspaper will also carry out complimentary below-the-line email marketing to the mirror.co.uk database and 100,000 IMP ads on the Daily Mirror website.
Hugh Riley, the CTO chief executive and secretary general said, “The CTO is delighted that such a large British national newspaper group is collaborating with us to promote the Caribbean this year. The travel and tourism markets are becoming increasingly competitive and challenging and as such we’re aware of the need to find new methods, with more impact, to communicate the appeal of our destinations, especially in countries such as Britain where our islands and destinations have been known for many years.

“We look forward to seeing the results and also with undertaking such large-scale digital promotion and working with a Scottish audience”.
The promotion will extol the virtues of the Caribbean as a winter sun destination from the UK and discuss the finer details of the properties and destinations participating.
The Daily Mirror was founded in 1903 and is owned by the Trinity Mirror Group, along with the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and Sunday Mail.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with headquarters in Barbados and marketing operations in New York, London and Toronto, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency and comprises membership of over 30 member governments and a myriad of private sector entities.

The CTO’s mission is to provide to and through its members, the services and information needed for the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of the Caribbean people. The organization provides specialized support and technical assistance to member countries in the areas of marketing, human resource development, research and statistics, information technology and sustainable tourism development. The CTO disseminates information on behalf of its member governments to consumers and the travel trade.

The CTO’s New York office is located at 80 Broad St., Suite 3200, New York, NY 10004, USA: Tel: (212) 635-9530; Fax: (212) 635-9511; E-mail: ctony@caribtourism.com; CTO’s London office is located at The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, England. Tel: 011 44 208 948 0057; Fax: 011 44 208 948 0067; E-mail: ctolondon@caribtourism.com; CTO Headquarters is located at One Financial Place, Collymore Rock, St, Michael, Barbados; Tel: (246) 427-5242; Fax: (246) 429-3065; E-mail: ctobarbados@caribtourism.com. For more information, please visit www.caribbeantravel.com or www.onecaribbean.org. Get the latest CTO updates on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ctotourism. Connect with CTO on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CaribbeanTourismOrganization.

Caribbean Tourism Organisation helps delegates prepare for WTM

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 07:23:40 PST

The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) is helping prepare Caribbean tourism ministers, commissioners, and directors for World Travel Market (WTM) at the highly anticipated European Marketing Forum.

The annual pre-WTM event will focus on helping the Caribbean find customers in 2012.

A panel of renowned industry experts has been confirmed to help Caribbean nations and brands steer tourism forward, take advantage of available opportunities now, and prepare to harness upturns and future prospects as Europe emerges from recession.

Managing director of the leading marketing and communications agency, Four bgb, Debbie Hindle, will get the show started with an explanation of how British holidaymakers are buying their trips and how they are being influenced to choose them.

Hindle will also present an introduction to recent UK industry and online trends.

David Jessop, the managing director of the Caribbean Council, will provide an overview of the latest developments with the UK’s Air Passenger Duty, aviation’s inclusion in the EU Emissions Trading System and the growing tendency towards aviation taxation.

Meanwhile, David Stevenson, columnist for the Financial Times, will describe what is happening to the UK economy and what is happening to consumers’ disposable income in 2012.

Attendees will also hear from Dominic Harrison, the head of global trends at nVision Global who will present insightful consumer research on what is happening to disposable income, attitudes and spending power, and what is needed to communicate to potential travellers in 2012, while destination branding expert Tom Buncle, the managing director of Yellow Railroad, will share how other countries are presenting themselves to reach long-haul travellers next year.

The European Marketing Forum is free to all CTO members, CHTA members and visiting Caribbean delegations to WTM.

CTO UK Chapter welcomes over 40 journalists to the sixth ‘Host and Reward the Media’

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:45:03 PST

9 November 2011 – On Monday 7 November, the UK Chapter of the CTO welcomed over 40 media to the fourth pan-Caribbean media awards event at the renowned West Indian restaurant ‘Caribbean Scene’ in London’s Royal Victoria Dock.

The Caribbean Travel Journalism Awards 2011 were presented during a networking evening after the first day of World Travel Market and the function was attended by almost 100 guests, comprising visiting ministers and their delegations, UK Chapter members and an array of consumer and trade media, national and regional newspaper journalists and a number of freelancers.

The awards consisted of seven different categories: best broadcast, TV and radio feature; best consumer feature; best national newspaper feature; best online feature; best piece of photojournalism; best regional newspaper feature and best travel trade feature. The winners were given Panasonic mini camcorders.

Carol Hay, the CTO’s director of marketing for the UK and Europe, said, “It’s good to have the support from our friends in the media, which is very much appreciated amongst all our Caribbean representatives. We would like to reward and thank all travel writers for their continued support in maintaining the colourful and charismatic reputation that the Caribbean region enjoys in the UK, with so many inspirational editorial pieces written each year’’.

CTO Travel Journalism Awards winners:
1. Best broadcast, TV and radio feature
• Publication: Songlines Podcast
• Piece: ‘Drumming up the dead’, Carriacou
• Journalist: Simon Broughton

2. Best consumer feature
• Publication: Wanderlust
• Piece: ‘Green for go’, Dominica
• Journalist: Mark Stratton

3. Best national newspaper feature
• Publication: Daily Telegraph
• Piece: ‘How I hiked up and down Dominica and survived’, Dominica
• Journalist: Suzy Bennett

4. Best online feature
• Publication: thesundaytimes.co.uk
• Piece: ‘Celtic charm in the Caribbean’, Montserrat
• Journalist: Nigel Tisdall

5. Best piece of photojournalism
• Publication: Sunday Times Travel Magazine
• Piece: ‘Green party’, Montserrat
• Photographer: Steve Davey

6. Best regional newspaper feature
• Publication: Manchester Evening News
• Piece: ‘A view with a room in an island paradise’, Saint Lucia
• Journalist: Stephanie Nelson

7. Best travel trade feature
• Publication: TTG
• Piece: ‘Holidays that give back’, Jamaica
• Journalist: Pippa Jacks

For further information contact Nina Derham, Richard Rigby or Helen Coop at Four bgb - +44 (0) 870 626 9000 • cto@fourbgb.com. Alternatively, contact the Caribbean Tourism Organisation on +44 (20) 8948 0057.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with headquarters in Barbados and marketing operations in New York, London and Toronto, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency and comprises membership of over 30 member governments and a myriad of private sector entities.

The CTO’s mission is to provide to and through its members, the services and information needed for the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of the Caribbean people. The organization provides specialized support and technical assistance to member countries in the areas of marketing, human resource development, research and statistics, information technology and sustainable tourism development. The CTO disseminates information on behalf of its member governments to consumers and the travel trade.

The CTO’s New York office is located at 80 Broad St., 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10004, USA: Tel: (212) 635-9530; Fax: (212) 635-9511; E-mail: ctony@caribtourism.com; CTO’s London office is located at The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, England. Tel: 011 44 208 948 0057; Fax: 011 44 208 948 0067; E-mail: ctolondon@caribtourism.com; CTO Headquarters is located at One Financial Place, Collymore Rock, St, Michael, Barbados; Tel: (246) 427-5242; Fax: (246) 429-3065; E-mail: ctobarbados@caribtourism.com. For more information, please visit www.caribbeantravel.com or www.onecaribbean.org. Get the latest CTO updates on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ctotourism. Connect with CTO on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CaribbeanTourismOrganization.

A Tribute to Colin Rickards

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:22:22 PST

Dec. 1, 2011 - All of us at the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of journalist Colin Rickards. As a beloved and well-known voice of the Caribbean people in Toronto, Colin was an ambassador and sought-after expert of Caribbean culture, history and affairs.

Having started his journalistic career with Radio Canada International, Colin went on to work as a correspondent for various Caribbean publications. For the last 15 years he had been a columnist for The Caribbean Camera, Canada’s largest newspaper on Caribbean affairs.

The education of Caribbean youth and the advocacy of Caribbean tourism were issues close to Colin’s heart. He was one of the founding members of the CTO Scholarship Foundation and was an active and passionate member who tirelessly championed its mission and goals. Since 1997 the CTO Scholarship Foundation has awarded scholarships to students and industry persons who are nationals of CTO member countries to pursue studies in Tourism, Hospitality and Languages.

For the first time this year, the Caribbean Tourism Organization is launching a CTO Scholarship Foundation in Canada. In memory of Colin and his life-long commitment to the Caribbean and Caribbean tourism, the CTO Scholarship Foundation will be naming a Colin Rickards Scholarship.
The Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization the Hon. Ricky Skerritt, the Council of Ministers, Board of Directors, Management, Staff and the entire CTO family extend our sympathy, our thoughts and prayers to Colin’s wife Ida and their son Damien.

STATEMENT BY THE CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION (CTO) ON REFORM OF THE UK AIR PASSENGER DUTY (APD)

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:20:42 PST

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, 6 December, 2011 - The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) is deeply disappointed and surprised by the UK Government’s announcement on 6 December that it will continue to discriminate against the Caribbean in relation to the banding aspect of the Air Passenger Duty (APD) system.

In a 26-page document published today, the British government said that APD rates to Caribbean destinations will continue to be considerably higher than those to some competitor destinations. Furthermore, the fact that Premium Economy passengers will continue to be charged the same APD as First Class passengers is a blow for those customers wanting to upgrade

Over a period of three years, the Caribbean and its community in the UK have consistently sought to raise the issue of APD at all levels of the British government and with the UK parliament.

Minister Ricky Skerritt, Chairman of the CTO said: “Today’s announcement on the APD is a slap in the face for all Caribbean people. It dismisses all of the research and information CTO has provided to the British Government over the past three years, and it contradicts the message sent by the UK Chancellor, George Osborne MP, in March 2011 when he cited the discrepancy between the USA and Caribbean APD rates as one of the reasons for holding a consultation on reform of UK APD. The Caribbean is the most tourism-dependent region of the world and the British Government’s decision totally ignores the negative effect that APD is having on our economies and the Caribbean’s business partners in the UK travel industry.”

NOTES
Caribbean Prime Ministers, Ministers of Tourism, the Caribbean Tourism Organization, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association and the Caribbean Diaspora in the UK, including the High Commissioners, have consistently raised the issue of Air Passenger Duty with the UK Government and UK Parliament our concern about the negative effect that APD is having on the tourism dependent economies of the Caribbean and on the Caribbean community living in the United Kingdom.

The Caribbean understands the challenge faced by the UK in respect of revenue raising,
and has put forward constructive suggestions on how the UK can benefit from an Air Passenger Duty tax in a non discriminatory way. The Caribbean does not believe that APD should be imposed at the expense of the Caribbean economy or its community in the UK.

The Caribbean made a formal response to the Air Passenger Duty consultation in June. In summary this made clear that:

• We require parity in banding with the US.

• A move to a two band system would address the Caribbean’s requirement if this resulted in equal treatment of all long haul destinations.

• No other option set out in the consultation addresses the concerns of the Caribbean.

• APD has become a political issue with the Caribbean Diaspora in the UK.

CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION TRAVEL MEDIA AWARDS RECOGNIZE EXCELLENCE IN CANADIAN TRAVEL JOURNALISM

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:45:32 PST

Toronto, ON (December 8, 2011) – Canada’s top travel journalists were honoured by the international agency responsible for the development of Caribbean tourism, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) at its fifth annual Caribbean Media Awards event on December 8th, as part of the week-long Caribbean Week in Toronto celebrations.

“The Caribbean continues to be a popular destination with Canadians, known for its friendly locals, sun-kissed beaches and endless activities,” said Sylma Brown Bramble, the CTO’s director of marketing for the Americas. “The winners today were recognized for their contributions to Caribbean storytelling, as their articles evoked and brought to life highlights of the Caribbean to their readers.”

The full list of CTO’s 2011 Toronto Caribbean Media Awards winners:

* Best Feature Article in a Consumer Newspaper – Mark Stevens
“New England Architecture Meets Caribbean Color” in Toronto Star

* Best Feature Article in a Consumer Magazine – Kailash Maharaj
“Paradise Found” in City Style & Living

* Best Feature Article in a Trade Publication – Gregory B. Gallagher
“A Diver’s Dream” in Ensemble Vacations

* Best Photograph in Conjunction with a Feature Article – Theresa Storm
“Where Mother Nature still reigns supreme” in Calgary Herald

* Best Online Article – Diane Slawych
“Get Close to Nature in St. Kitts” in Canoe.ca

* Best International Feature (Print or Broadcast) – Mark Stevens
“On Antigua Everyone Comes to Party” in Washington Post

* Best of Show – Kailash Maharaj
“Paradise Found” in City Style & Living

The panel of judges of the 2011 Caribbean Media Awards included Dr. Rita Cox, a renowned storyteller and multi-cultural educator; Lillian Allen, writer and Juno award winner, who teaches creative writing; Dr. Camille Hernández-Ramdwar, a sociology professor at Ryerson University who specializes in Caribbean studies; and Johnson JohnRose, communications specialist for the CTO.

About the Caribbean Tourism Organization
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency and comprises membership of over 30 governments and myriad of private sector entities.

The CTO’s mission is to provide to and through its members, the services and information needed for the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of the Caribbean people.
The organization provides specialized support and technical assistance to member countries in the areas of marketing, human resource development, research and statistics, information technology and sustainable tourism development. The CTO disseminates information on behalf of its member governments to consumers and the travel trade.

For more information:
Debra Chan
Argyle Communications
416-968-7311 x229
dchan@argylecommunications.com

Irene Poon
Argyle Communications
416-968-7311 x246
ipoon@argylecommunications.com

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM HUGH RILEY - SECRETARY GENERAL, CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:09:57 PST

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, 19 Dec 2011 - The holiday season offers an ideal opportunity to pause and reflect on our many blessings and to give thought to what lies ahead. As we navigate the hustle and bustle, I encourage all of us to recognize that we have so much for which to be thankful.

We in the Caribbean are privileged to live in the most purely beautiful and desirable region on earth and we count among our many blessings some of the world’s most welcoming and talented people. Ours is a fascinating region of 40 million people with a rich cultural and historical diversity, integral to the attractiveness and enjoyment of the product we package and sell.

Today, we continue to face a challenging global economy – a condition that, of course, has a ripple effect on all who live, work and play in the Caribbean. We all know only too well that the tourism industry worldwide is still facing the toughest battle that any of us have ever seen. The world economy isn’t yet on a steady, sustained path of recovery. Unemployment in our major source markets is still high, cutbacks are still contemplated, and high taxation is still a threat. The United Kingdom’s Air Passenger Duty (APD), with its potential to further erode our market share, also remains a serious concern for the region, so the CTO and our partners are determined to continue that fight.

In fact, the environment in which Caribbean tourism functions remains quite fluid. The impact of instability on the price of oil, and therefore on the price of a vacation and everything else; the adverse effect on consumer confidence; the unwillingness to travel at certain times, to certain places, or the decision not to travel at all, are all triggered by the turmoil which has gripped the world in recent times. And yet, I’m happy to report that interest in, and passion for the Caribbean remain high, evidenced by the fact that arrivals are expected to have grown between 4 and 5 per cent by the end of this year.

Many of our member-countries and their accommodation sector are exploring new markets while seeking to upgrade and refresh the product, providing additional reasons for guests to return and for first-time visitors to experience the delights we have to offer. As we face the year ahead we must continue to work tirelessly to enhance the revenue from tourism, to keep our business profitable and our people employed. To achieve that, we know we must keep a steady focus on constantly improving the quality of the experience we deliver.

On behalf of the Council of Ministers and Commissioners, the Board of Directors, Members and Staff of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, I wish you a Happy Holiday, a Merry Christmas and a successful 2012. We look forward to partnering with you in the year ahead and to earning your support as the global voice for Caribbean tourism.

REGION’S PREMIER SUSTAINABLE TOURISM CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON SUSTAINING NATURAL RESOURCES

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:27:54 PST

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (24 January, 2012) – The Caribbean’s tourism planners, policymakers and stakeholders will receive valuable guidance on how to sustain the region’s resources in the context of climate change, at the Caribbean’s premier sustainable tourism gathering in April.

The 13^th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism (STC-13) - to be held in Guyana from 15 to 18 April - will focus on effective ways to monitor and manage the use of the region’s natural resources to limit depletion while maximizing the socio-economic benefits of tourism.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), which organizes the conference, has chosen as its theme, Keeping the Right Balance: Sustaining our Resources. The CTO explains that because the natural environment – including coastal areas, coral reefs, wetlands, mountains, volcanoes, terrestrial and marine biodiversity, as well as the national and marine parks – serves as a major tourism pull, it’s imperative that action is taken to sustain these resources.

“The theme of STC-13 will therefore highlight best practices in how this requirement can be fulfilled in the context of climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts within the Caribbean and beyond. It will also provide valuable guidance on investing in, developing and marketing sustainable tourism products that can assist in sustaining our resources,” said Gail Henry, the CTO’s sustainable tourism product specialist.

The conference, which will be held at the Guyana International Conference Centre, is being organized in collaboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority.

The CTO, along with the GTA and industry partners, is finalizing the conference programme which will include a mix of panel discussions and workshops with presentations from leading local, regional and international tourism experts and practitioners. Informative and exciting study tours to attraction-packed sites, including the majestic Kaieteur Falls, will expose delegates to the rich history, local culture and scenic beauty of Guyana.

For more information on STC-13, visit www.caribbeanstc.com.

Caribbean health agency inks collaboration with CTO

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:37:16 PST

The Caribbean Tourism Organization will be partnering with the recently formed Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), which started its operations this month.

Some of the areas of collaborations will include using CARPHA’s information and communications system to increase the awareness about the agency and its public health agenda for the Region.

The two organisations will also join forces to reduce the threats of health and environmental threats for the sustainability of healthy tourism and supporting CARPHA’s surveillance programme.

Disease Prevention

The specific activities to be promoted are accurate and timely information on trends and health risks, disease prevention and control, detection of and response to health emergencies and establishing standards for managing and monitoring information and international health regulations.

The decisions were taken at Council of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, held during the Market Place Conference in Nassau, The Bahamas on 22 January.

CARPHA which already has attracted a wide range of partners in Canada, UK, the European Union, USA and Brazil, has received an undertaking from the CTO of its willingness to be engaged in training and capacity building for workers in the tourism sector in the areas of food safety, environmental management and monitoring and promoting the Wellness Revolution in the Caribbean.

Dr. Jerome Walcott, former Minister of Health, Barbados is the interim director of the agency, till a new director is appointed by June 2012.It was agreed that Hugh Riley, CTO President will represent the organisation on CARPHA Executive Board.

CARICOM Heads of Government ratified CARPHA by signing the inter-Governmental Agreement in July 2011 making the agency a legal entity.

Ricky Skerrit, minister of tourism St Kitts/ Nevis Chair of the CTO Council, said, “this is a bold step to create a viable public health agency that would no doubt be of great benefit to the people of the region and in particular to those in the tourism business.”

THREE CARIBBEAN TOURISM BUSINESSES CELEBRATE FIRSTS AS THEY RECEIVE HOSPITALITY ASSURED CERTIFICATION

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:47:26 PST

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (2 Feb., 2012) – Three Caribbean tourism businesses have scored “firsts” while enhancing their reputation for high standards of service quality by earning Hospitality Assured (HA) certification, a symbol of service and business excellence in the tourism and hospitality.

The well-known tourist attraction, Atlantis Submarines (Barbados) Inc. has become the first attraction in the Caribbean to receive HA certification, while Goddards Shipping & Tours, also of Barbados, is the first shipping agent and tour operator in the region to earn this distinction. Additionally, the Tryall Club in Montego Bay Jamaica has achieved similar certification, the first property in Jamaica to do so.

All three companies now have the Hospitality Assured framework in place, which helps them to continuously raise their service quality standards within their individual businesses, focus on their customers’ needs in all aspects of their business, increase customer satisfaction and loyalty and improve overall business performance.

“I believe that the great benefit of Hospitality Assured for Atlantis Submarines Barbados has been the process of involving the entire team in a structured ten step analysis of our business from customer research to service delivery. Hospitality Assured has become an umbrella under which all of our continuous improvement plans can fall and it ensures that as the economy remains somewhat weak the internal focus remains strong on all the right things to get us through it,’ said Roseanne Myers, the general manager of Atlantis Submarines.

“Our entire team worked together to review our club’s procedures and while we already had systems in place, HA helped us within the business to keep better track, target with greater efficiency and fine tune our operational procedures,” added Gerald Giarla, managing director of Tryall Club. “The certification process was refreshing and rejuvenating and we are ready to embark on our 52nd season with a renewed sense of commitment and pride in serving our customers.”

Over the past several months, the management team and staff of these businesses maintained outstanding grades in rigorous reviews given by external assessors, including challenging, testing and ultimately strengthening internal systems in business planning, customer service, and training and development, leading to their certification.

The general manager of Goddards Shipping & Tours, Rovel Morris, described certification as “an extremely rewarding accomplishment” which was in keeping with the company’s vision “to be the region’s market leader in all areas of operations, recognized and sought after for exceptional service”.

“The Hospitality Assured Programme certification process allowed us to give tangible expression to the elements and conditions of service delivery that will allow us to achieve that vision consistently. It has been an invaluable tool in aligning our business processes and galvanizing the commitment of our team toward that end. We are a proud recipient of the certification and would recommend the process without hesitation,” he said.

Hospitality Assured is a certification programme promoting service and business excellence in tourism and hospitality companies. It is owned by the Institute of Hospitality in the United Kingdom, and managed by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) in the region. Caribbean supporting institutions include the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus in Barbados, which collects and distributes benchmarking data on the programme, as well as the CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), which is the region’s assessment body for the programme. Funding support for the pilot phase of the programme was provided by the European Union/PRO€INVEST programme and the Organization of American States. The pilot phase is now over and funding is being sort to continue to unroll the programme across the region.

In the near future, will be directly engaging with Caribbean countries outside the original eight pilot countries to incentivize tourism/hospitality businesses to join HA and get the benefits to be derived from participation.

St. Martin's Caribbean Tourism Month Awardees

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:34:37 PST

In November 2011, The French Saint-Martin Tourism Office scheduled a series of events to celebrate the « Caribbean Tourism Month » on the theme One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean. The objective of the Caribbean Tourism Month is to celebrate the diversity of what the Caribbean offers and to raise awareness among Caribbean people on the importance of tourism to the island the region.

Amongst the different events during which the population was invited to get to know the French Saint-Martin Tourism Office team and gain knowledge of the actions to promote the destination, 2 contests were organized:
- A photo contest: open to amateurs and professionals on theme One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean and for which participants had to send photographs of the island related to the theme.
- A Clean Up contest in collaboration with the association Sandy Ground on the Move. The main goal is to create awareness among the population that will positively improve the environment for our pleasure and our visitors.

Awardees: http://www.stmartinisland.org/component/content/article/82-actions/367-caribbean-tourism-month-2011-awards.html

FORMER GUYANA PRESIDENT JAGDEO TO KEYNOTE REGION’S PREMIER GATHERING ON SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:07:15 PST

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (8 Feb., 2012) – The former Guyana president, Bharrat Jagdeo, will keynote the region’s leading and most important gathering on sustainable tourism development in April.

The former leader, whose term as head of the Guyana Government ended last December, will address delegates attending the 13th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development – otherwise known as the Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC-13) – which will be held from 15 to 18 April in Guyana.

“We are pleased that former president Jagdeo has accepted our invitation to keynote STC. The former president has gained international recognition and has developed a strong reputation globally for his relentless advocacy for action to avert the worst extremes of climate change,” said Gail Henry, the sustainable tourism product specialist at the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the conference organizer. “We eagerly anticipate a dynamic and highly relevant keynote presentation from him.”

As part of the plan to combat climate change, then President Jagdeo established an Office of Climate Change within the Office of the President, and a Low Carbon Development Strategy was developed, outlining Guyana’s approach to promoting economic development while combating climate change. A key element of the strategy is the deployment of the country’s tropical forests towards addressing climate change.

For championing the cause of developing countries in the fight against climate change, the former Guyana leader was named by Time Magazine and CNN as one of their “Heroes of the Environment" in 2008, and he was awarded the United Nations “Champion of the Earth” award in 2010. He also served on the UN Secretary General’s High Level Advisory Group on Climate Finance, and earlier this month, he was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy by the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) University in New Delhi, India. He was presented with the honour by Dr. R.K Pachauri, the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Chancellor of TERI University.

STC-13, which has as its theme, Keeping the Right Balance: Sustaining our Resources, will be held at the Guyana International Conference Centre, and is being organized in collaboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority. For more information on STC-13, visit www.caribbeanstc.com.

CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION TOURISM HUMAN RESOURCES CONFERENCE TO EXPLORE PARTNERSHIPS & INNOVATION

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:44:46 PST

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (15 Feb, 2012) – How to enhance Caribbean human resources through partnerships and innovation will be the key subject of discussion when tourism human resources professionals from across the Caribbean gather in Barbados from 23 to 25 May for a major conference.
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has announced that tourism HR practitioners will explore ways to expand their knowledge and sharpen their skills as it relates to human resources challenges in the tourism environment at the 6th Tourism Human Resources conference will be held at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI).

During the three day event, tourism human resources professionals from the public and private sectors, tourism educators and trainers and consultants will approach the theme from a number of angles. These include effective leadership and employee engagement, how to recognize and nurture leadership at all levels of an organisation and how to leverage resources across boundaries.

An exciting workshop aimed at breathing life into the workplace has been planned. This workshop – Waking up the Tourism Workplace – is one of two intensive practical learning sessions to be presented by experts in the various fields. The other workshop will focus on innovation and creativity in the workplace.

CTO is partnering with the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus and the Barbados Hospitality Institute – Hotel PomMarine, to organize the conference.

For registration and other information, visit www.onecaribbean.org.

About the Caribbean Tourism Organization

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with the headquarters in Barbados and marketing operations in New York andLondon, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency and comprises membership of over 30 governments and a myriad of private sector entities.

The CTO’s mission is to provide to and through its members, the services and information needed for the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of the Caribbean people.The organization provides specialized support and technical assistance to member countries in the areas of marketing, human resource development, research and statistics, information technology, advocacy and sustainable tourism development. The CTO disseminates information on behalf of its member governments to consumers and the travel trade.

The CTO’s New York office is located at 80 Broad St., 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10004, USA: Tel: (212) 635-9530; Fax: (212) 635-9511; E-mail: ctony@caribtourism.com; CTO’s London office is located at The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, England. Tel: 011 44 208 948 0057; Fax: 011 44 208 948 0067; E-mail: ctolondon@caribtourism.com; CTO Headquarters is located at One Financial Place, Collymore Rock, St, Michael, Barbados; Tel: (246) 427-5242; Fax: (246) 429-3065; E-mail: ctobarbados@caribtourism.com. For more information, please visit www.caribbeantravel.com or www.onecaribbean.org. Get the latest CTO updates on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ctotourism. Connect with CTO on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CaribbeanTourismOrganization.

CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION UNVEILS EXCITING SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR CARIBBEAN WEEK IN NEW YORK 2012

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:49:06 PST

NEW YORK, NY (15 Feb, 2012) – The Caribbean will continue to weave its vibrancy, skill, talent and expertise into New York City’s fabric when the region’s tourism development agency hosts Caribbean Week in New York from 3-9 June, 2012.
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has unveiled an exciting schedule of events in celebration of the annual Caribbean Week in New York, with pageantry, festivities, nuptials and more, filled with the warmth, spirit and elegance that makes the Caribbean the world’s most desirable warm weather destination.
“Caribbean Week is one of the most important activities on the tourism calendar in New York and we have developed an exciting, multi-faceted programme that engages the public and tourism industry representatives on several levels,” said Sylma Brown, CTO’s director of marketing for the Americas.
“In addition to a schedule of vital business meetings, we have created an attractive programme that will thrill New Yorkers and visitors to the Big Apple, and engender a sense of pride in the Caribbean Diaspora, with the vibrant cuisine, art, music, culture and fashion, as well as special holiday offers that the Caribbean is known for,” Ms. Brown added.

Events scheduled for Caribbean Week include:
Sunday 3 June, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Gospel Celebration – A Tribute to Caribbean Unity

A special Gospel Celebration, with motivational messages and a concert programme featuring a range of Caribbean performers. This event is open to the public.

Monday, 4 June, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Trade Show & Educational Seminar for Travel Agents
Yale Club

This event will expose CTO member destinations to some of the top selling travel agents in New York. It’s an opportunity for the member countries to interact with these travel agents and share latest developments.

Tuesday, 5 June, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Student Colloquium
Marriott Marquis
1535 Broadway, New York (Times Square)

Caribbean tourism stars of tomorrow get an opportunity to shine in one of the most compelling events at Caribbean Week. Students from universities in the US and the Caribbean challenge each other on sustainable tourism issues in a free-style presentation format.

Tuesday, 5 June, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Diaspora Forum
Marriott Marquis
1535 Broadway, New York (Times Square)

Visiting Caribbean tourism officials and policy-makers discuss matters of mutual interest with the Diaspora. The CTO will also provide an update on its Rediscover Home programme, an initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between the Caribbean Diaspora and the region. The Forum will be immediately followed by Caribbean Tales film presentations and discussions.
The audience will comprise a cross-section of Caribbean nationals and friends of the Caribbean, including young adults keen on entering the tourism profession.

Wed. 6 June, 8:00 am to 10:00 am
Invest Caribbean Now Power Forum
Marriott Marquis
1535 Broadway, New York (Times Square)

Private equity investors in the region will tell their “Why the Caribbean” story to other investors and other attendees, including Minister, Commissioners and Directors of Tourism, in a forum organized in collaboration with Hard Beat Communications.

Wed. 6 June, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Caribbean Travel & Cultural Fair & Wedding
Grand Central Terminal
A day-long festival of delicious food, fun, flair and romance, the Caribbean Travel & Cultural Fair, Vacation Mart, and Wedding will inspire the spirit and tantalize the palate on Wednesday, 6 June at Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall in Manhattan. Throughout the day consumers will experience virtually every aspect of the Caribbean by visiting individual country booths for food samples, vacation experiences, and a variety of cultural presentations. Other highlights include a live Caribbean Wedding, in conjunction with the Bridal Media Group. Additionally, consumers will have the opportunity to purchase holidays on-site, specially priced for Caribbean Week.

Thursday 7 June, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Media Marketplace
Marriott Marquis
1535 Broadway, New York (Times Square)

Media Marketplace is expected to attract well over 100 key journalists from a wide range of travel media. This annual event, which will take place at the Marriott Marquis’ Marquis Ballrooms A, B, and C, provides each CTO member government with the opportunity to interact with writers and photographers from trade and consumer media. Additionally, a host of tourism industry partners, including hoteliers, tour operators and airlines participate each year and use this as a valuable networking opportunity. Typically, information from this event reaches the public through interviews conducted by representatives of both the print and electronic media, who are eager to know what’s new and different in the Caribbean.

Friday, 8 June, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Allied Members Caribbean Marketing Conference & Awards Luncheon
Marriott Marquis
1535 Broadway, New York (Times Square)

Sponsored by the CTO Allied Members and the Association of Travel Marketing Executives (ATME), the 18th Annual Caribbean Marketing Conference and Awards Luncheon will bring together the most influential policy makers, marketing professionals, and tourism industry officials to interact and discuss cutting edge tourism trends and marketing opportunities for the region. A panel of experts, including senior tourism industry representatives from the private sector, will share their varied experience on the subject. A creative presentation, audience interactivity, and case studies will enhance this all-inclusive session, which begins with breakfast and ends with an awards luncheon.

Friday, 8 June, 2:30pm – 3:30 pm
CTO Press Conference
Marriott Marquis
1535 Broadway, New York (Times Square)

The CTO Press Conference will include comments on the status of Caribbean tourism, highlights emerging from Caribbean Week, and upcoming events including the State of the Industry Conference scheduled for St. Kitts in October.

Friday, 8 June, 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Rum & Rhythm
Marriott Marquis
1535 Broadway, New York (Times Square)

The spirits of the Caribbean come alive at this fine event of Caribbean culture and elegance. Rum & Rhythm brings together everything that is unique and appealing about the Caribbean. This spirit-filled, lively event will feature samplings of Caribbean cuisine and award-winning Caribbean rums. Guests will also enjoy distinctive rum-based cocktails, all against the splendid backdrop of Caribbean cultural performances. Guests will also have the opportunity to win door prizes and outbid their competitors for a chance at a wide range of Auction items, including hotel stays in the Caribbean.
Tickets for Rum & Rhythm and special sponsorship packages may be obtained by contacting CTO’s New York office at 212-635-9530. Proceeds from this event will benefit the CTO Foundation, which provides scholarships to Caribbean nationals pursuing tourism-related studies.

Saturday, 9 June
Caribbean Fashion, Trade and Art Show
Location (tbd)

The creativity of Caribbean Fashion Designers will come down the runway in exquisite style. This event, produced by Face of Fashion, will provide a platform for Caribbean designers, models, artists and other creative and talented individuals to showcase their creations to a fashion-savvy and art-loving audience.
Tickets for this event may be obtained through the CTO”s New York Office at 212-635-9530 . Proceeds from this event will benefit the CTO Foundation, which provides scholarships to Caribbean nationals pursuing tourism related studies.

For more information on Caribbean Week in New York 2004, please call the Caribbean Tourism Organization at (212) 635-9530 or visit www.caribbeanweekny.com or www.onecaribbean.org.

GLOBAL TOURISM BODY CHIEF TO ADDRESS CARIBBEAN TOURISM’S PREMIER CONFERENCE

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:33:16 PST

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (20 Feb, 2012) – The top man at the world’s leading international tourism organization will address the Caribbean’s premier tourism gathering, organized by region’s tourism development agency.
The secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) – the United Nations specialized agency for the promotion of sustainable tourism - Taleb Rifai, has confirmed that he will speak at the State of the Industry Conference scheduled for 11 – 13 October, 2012 in St. Kitts. The conference is being organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the international organization responsible for the development of Caribbean tourism.
“We are pleased that Dr. Rifai has accepted our invitation to speak at the CTO State of the Industry conference. As the head of the global body for tourism, it is fitting that Dr. Rifai would attend the premier event for the Caribbean’s bread and butter industry and to lend his support to the efforts of the region’s tourism institution to build a sustainable industry,” said Hugh Riley, the CTO’s secretary general.
As head of the UNWTO, Dr. Rifai oversees the organization’s programme to promote tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability in its 155 member countries.
The CTO State of the Industry conference brings together over 300 tourism industry leaders from the more than 30 member-countries of the CTO, as well as representatives of the regional and international private sector, academics and members of the press. It will be the first official appearance of the new Chairman of the CTO’s Council of Ministers who will have been elected on 11 October and who will serve for a period of two years.
The conference will be held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and has as its themes, “Developing a Winning Strategy” and “Rediscovering Home”.

About the World Tourism Organization

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a United Nations specialized agency, is the leading international organization with the decisive and central role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how. Its membership includes 155 countries, 7 territories, 2 permanent observers and over 400 Affiliate Members.

About the Caribbean Tourism Organization
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with headquarters in Barbados and offices in New York and London, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency comprising membership of over 30 governments and a myriad of private sector entities.

The CTO’s mission is to provide to and through its members, the services and information needed for the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of the People of the Caribbean. The organization provides specialized support and technical assistance to members in the areas of sustainable tourism development, marketing, communications, advocacy, human resource development, research and information technology.

CTO’s New York office is located at 80 Broad Street, Suite 3200, New York, NY 10004, USA; Tel: (212) 635-9530; E-mail: ctoNY@caribtourism.com. CTO’s London office is located at 22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, England. Tel: 011 44 208 948 0057; E-mail: ctoLondon@caribtourism.com; CTO Headquarters is located at One Financial Place, Collymore Rock, St. Michael, BB 11115, Barbados; Tel: (246) 427-5242; E-mail: ctoBarbados@caribtourism.com. For more information, please visit www.OneCaribbean.org.

Get the latest CTO updates on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ctotourism. Connect with CTO on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CaribbeanTourismOrganization.

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