CTO News

Tobago ‘Junior Minister’ Wins CTO Youth Congress

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Sep 16, 2022 – J’nae Brathwaite of Tobago has won the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Tourism Youth Congress which was staged at The Ritz-Carlton in the Cayman Islands on Thursday.

In her winning presentation on Experiential Tourism, the 17-year-old Brathwaite articulately outlined three strategies which would help Tobago meet the growing demand of the millennials and Generation-X market.

A student of Signal Hill Secondary School, Brathwaite pointed to immersive museums, digital marketing of user-generated content and augmented reality tours as initiatives which could further market Tobago and enhance visitor experience.

“I’m still in a daze because I still can’t believe it. When I heard my name called as winner, I literally wanted to melt away,” said an emotional Brathwaite.

“It was a lot but I know that I put in a lot of hard work. I know that my teachers were continually there and my family was always supporting me regardless of the time and circumstance.”

Tobago’s Tourism and Culture Secretary, Tashia Burris, said she was “absolutely elated” by her island’s success at the Youth Congress.

“We certainly see this as a demonstration that our programmes in the education system are working,” Burris said.

“We are trying to invigorate our island post-COVID and one of the strategies we’re using is to really start with the young people and I’m happy to see this bear fruit.”

Seventeen-year-old Marika Baptiste of St Vincent and the Grenadines placed second while 16-year-old Kelvin Archer of the Bahamas was the third place finisher.

Prizes for the top three finishers were sponsored by Sandals Barbados Resort and Spa and the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism.

Eleven countries participated in the Tourism Youth Congress, which was chaired by the 2019 winner Danae Dennie of Turks and Caicos Islands. Each Junior Minister made a three-minute presentation on one of the three topics: Agriculture in Tourism, Experiential Tourism and Community-based Tourism. They were also required to make one-minute presentations on one of three mystery questions.

The Tourism Youth Congress, the first to be staged since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, brought the curtain down on the CTO Business Meetings and Caribbean Aviation Day event which got underway on September 12.

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About the Caribbean Tourism Organization
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), which is headquartered in Barbados, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency comprising membership of the region’s finest countries and territories including Dutch, English, French and Spanish-speaking, as well as a myriad of private sector allied members. The CTO’s vision is to position the Caribbean as the most desirable, year-round, warm weather destination, and its purpose is Leading Sustainable Tourism – One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean. Among the benefits to its members the organisation provides specialised support and technical assistance in sustainable tourism development, marketing, communications, advocacy, human resource development, event planning & execution and research & information technology.

The CTO’s Headquarters is located at Baobab Tower, Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados BB 22026; Tel: (246) 427-5242; E-mail: CTObarbados@caribtourism.com. For more information on the Caribbean Tourism Organization, please visit www.OneCaribbean.org and follow CTO on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn to be part of the conversation.

Contact:
Kevin Pile
Communications Consultant, pilek@caribtourism.com

Sandals, Cayman Islands Department of Tourism Sponsor Prizes for CTO Youth Congress

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Sep 13, 2022 – Sandals Barbados Resort & Spa and the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT) are sponsoring prizes for the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) 18th Tourism Youth Congress taking place in the Cayman Islands on Thursday.

Eleven countries are participating in the Youth Congress as part of the CTO Business Meetings and International Air Transport Association (IATA) Caribbean Aviation Day Event taking place from September 12-15 hosted by the Cayman Islands Ministry and Department of Tourism.

The Youth Congress brings together participants from across the Caribbean region to compete through public speaking by presenting on one of three prepared topics as well as a mystery question. The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges made up of delegates from the CTO Business meetings.

Sandals Barbados Resort & Spa and the Cayman Islands have generously sponsored the awards for the top three prize winners in this year’s event, being staged for the first time since 2019 following a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CTO praised the partnership with both Sandals Barbados Resort & Spa and the Cayman Islands noting their support was integral to the successful staging of the Youth Congress.

“The CTO welcomes Sandals Barbados Resort & Spa and the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism on board for this year’s Tourism Youth Congress and we are excited by their decision to align themselves with the event,” said Sharon Banfield-Bovell, CTO’s Director of Resource Mobilization and Development.

“The Tourism Youth Congress serves as one of CTO’s key development initiatives and therefore, the support of Sandals and Cayman Islands Department of Tourism is not only a significant fillip for the event itself but a signal of their commitment to the growth and advancement of young people across the region.”

The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism supports strategic planning and general destination management for the Cayman Islands’ tourism industry.

“The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism is honoured to sponsor events like the Caribbean Youth Congress where future leaders have an opportunity to make their voices heard and invoke thoughts on critical tourism and transit topics,” said Mrs. Rosa Harris, Director of Tourism.

“We look forward to welcoming the delegates to our beautiful islands.”

Sandals Barbados Resort & Spa is a major player in the tourism sector and has successfully established a strong regional and global footprint through its delivery of high quality accommodation experiences.

The hotel chain has been named the Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand at the World Travel Awards for 18 years in a row and it is this excellence which Sandals will bring to its partnership with the Tourism Youth Congress.

Mr. Carl Beviere, Managing Director of Sandals Barbados, Sandals Royal Barbados and Sandals Antigua called the partnership a win for tourism in the region and a great learning opportunity for young hospitality professionals.

“We at Sandals Resorts International are proud to be a sponsor of this prestigious event. The CTO’s Youth Congress aligns with our own objective to provide opportunities for our young Caribbean nationals to shine on a regional platform, as well as to inspire their dreams and ambitions,” said Beviere.

Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, The ​Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Tobago and Turks and Caicos will join the hosts Cayman Islands for the Youth Congress.

Participants are between the ages of 14-17 and assume the role of Junior Ministers of Tourism, representing their respective CTO member country.

About the Caribbean Tourism Organization
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), which is headquartered in Barbados, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency comprising membership of the region’s finest countries and territories including Dutch, English, French and Spanish-speaking, as well as a myriad of private sector allied members. The CTO’s vision is to position the Caribbean as the most desirable, year-round, warm weather destination, and its purpose is Leading Sustainable Tourism – One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean. Among the benefits to its members the organisation provides specialised support and technical assistance in sustainable tourism development, marketing, communications, advocacy, human resource development, event planning & execution and research & information technology.

The CTO’s Headquarters is located at Baobab Tower, Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados BB 22026; Tel: (246) 427-5242; E-mail: CTObarbados@caribtourism.com. For more information on the Caribbean Tourism Organization, please visit www.OneCaribbean.org and follow CTO on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn to be part of the conversation.

About Sandals ® Resorts
Sandals® Resorts offers two people in love the most romantic, Luxury Included® vacation experience in the Caribbean. With 16 – and soon to be 17 – stunning beachfront settings in Jamaica, Antigua, Saint Lucia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, and Curaçao, Sandals Resorts offers more quality inclusions than any other resort company on the planet. Signature Love Nest Butler Suites® for the ultimate in privacy and service; butlers trained by the Guild of Professional English Butlers; the Red Lane Spa®; 5-Star Global Gourmet™ dining, ensuring top-shelf liquor, premium wines, and gourmet specialty restaurants; Aqua Centers with expert PADI® certification and training; fast Wi-Fi from beach to bedroom; and Sandals Customizable Weddings are all Sandals Resorts exclusives. Sandals Resorts is part of family-owned Sandals Resorts International (SRI), founded by the late Gordon “Butch” Stewart, which includes Beaches Resorts and is the Caribbean’s leading all-inclusive resort company. For more information about the Sandals Resorts Luxury Included® difference, visit www.sandals.com.​

About the Cayman Islands
Located 480 miles south of Miami in the vibrant tranquillity of western Caribbean, this trio of tiny islands is a premier destination for discriminating travellers, divers, honeymooners and families. World renowned for its idyllic beaches and recognised as a sophisticated, diverse and memorable tourist destination, the Cayman Islands offers spectacular recreational opportunities along with warm, impeccable service. To learn more about the Cayman Islands, please go to visitcaymanIslands.com

About the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism
The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT) was established in 1974 and falls under the mandate of the Ministry of Tourism and Transport. This Ministry organises and directs the activities for many departments all of which have similar goals; to protect the environment, support the economy, promote the islands as a premier destination for visitors and to support local businesses.

Spotlight Set to Fall on Destinations

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (Sep 5, 2022) – Tourism Ministers, directors and various stakeholders from Caribbean Tourism Organization member countries will shine the spotlight on their respective brands in the presence of regional and international media, when the CTO stages its Destination Media Briefings in the Cayman Islands later this month.

The Destination Media Briefings are scheduled for September 12 at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, and will mark the opening day of activities for the CTO Business Meetings and Caribbean Aviation Day Event, which runs from September 12-15.

This year’s Briefings will take on special significance as they will be the first to be staged in-person since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. And with the global travel industry gradually returning to normal and Caribbean destinations already headed towards full re-openings, the briefings will represent perhaps some of the most important since their inception.

CTO’s Acting Secretary General, Neil Walters said: “The value of our regional and international media partners and the critical role they play in helping to strengthen the Caribbean tourism brand through the heightened visibility they provide, can never be understated.

“As such, CTO is heartened by the response of media and member countries to these Destination Media Briefings, especially as they are occurring in an in-person format. Along with the return to in-person meetings, these are good signs of the return to normalcy.

“We believe the interaction between the media and tourism stakeholders at these upcoming briefings will be substantive, serve to strengthen existing relationships and lead to productive outcomes for the sector.”

Already, 15 countries have confirmed their participation in the Briefings which will be an all-day affair, getting underway at 9 a.m. and wrapping up at 6 p.m. Host Cayman Islands will be the first country to present.

Members are expected to share critical information ranging from current arrival numbers, projections for the upcoming season, along with ongoing developments and future initiatives at their respective destinations.

Nearly 20 regional and international media entities have confirmed their attendance at the Briefings, a strong indicator of the extensive opportunities which will be available to member countries, in helping to promote their messaging and maximize exposure.

Cayman Islands Minister of Tourism & Transport, Hon. Kenneth Bryan said: “I am immensely proud to be the host of this highly anticipated and prestigious event and I look forward to kicking off the destination briefings by presenting insights from the Cayman Islands marketing initiatives as we, like all of our Caribbean neighbours, focus on rebuilding our respective tourism industries.

“Today’s travelers are seeking more in-depth and authentic cultural experiences than ever before and the destination briefings will also provide a platform to speak about the distinctive and appealing attributes of our three Cayman Islands, and the travel trends that drive visitation.”

The CTO Business Meetings and Caribbean Aviation Day are being held in collaboration with the Cayman Islands Ministry of Tourism and The International Air Transport Association (IATA).

CTO’s Caribbean Tourism Youth Congress, which resumes after a two-year break, takes place on September 15, and is being jointly sponsored by Sandals Barbados Resorts & Spa and the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism.

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About the Caribbean Tourism Organization
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), which is headquartered in Barbados, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency comprising membership of the region’s finest countries and territories including Dutch, English, French and Spanish-speaking, as well as a myriad of private sector allied members. The CTO’s vision is to position the Caribbean as the most desirable, year-round, warm weather destination, and its purpose is Leading Sustainable Tourism – One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean.

Among the benefits to its members the organization provides specialised support and technical assistance in sustainable tourism development, marketing, communications, advocacy, human resource development, event planning & execution and research & information technology.

The CTO’s Headquarters is located at Baobab Tower, Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados BB 22026; Tel: (246) 427-5242; Fax: (246) 429-3065; E-mail: CTObarbados@caribtourism.com. For more information on the Caribbean Tourism Organization, please visit www.OneCaribbean.org and follow CTO on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn to be part of the conversation.

About the Cayman Islands
Located 480 miles south of Miami in the vibrant tranquility of western Caribbean, this trio of tiny islands is a premier destination for discriminating travelers, divers, honeymooners, and families. World renowned for its idyllic beaches and recognized as a sophisticated, diverse, and memorable tourist destination, the Cayman Islands offers spectacular recreational opportunities along with warm, impeccable service.
To learn more about the Cayman Islands, please go to www.visitcaymanIslands.com or www.divecayman.ky or call your local travel agent.

Media contact
Kevin Pile  |  Communications Consultant, CTO
pilek@caribtourism.com