Archive for June, 2024

CTO Celebrates Winners of Caribbean Media Awards

Brent Pinheiro from Trinidad Receives Triple-Crown

NEW YORK (June 25, 2024) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) celebrated the winners of the 2024 prestigious Caribbean Media Awards, presented at a luncheon event held during Caribbean Week in New York at the InterContinental New York Times Square last week.

Celebrating excellence in journalism, photography and digital content that highlights the diverse and vibrant cultures, landscapes and experiences available throughout the Caribbean region, the Caribbean Media Awards competition honors the journalists and media professionals whose work not only conveys and presents news and information relevant to the region’s tourism industry, but also captures the unique essence of the Caribbean story.

“After a five-year hiatus, it is incredibly rewarding that the 2024 Caribbean Media Awards attracted submissions from some of the most talented and promising journalists and influencers covering the region. The level of talent represented by the work submitted bodes extremely well for the future of media coverage for our most critical industry,” stated Kenneth Bryan, CTO Chairman and Minister of Tourism and Ports of the Cayman Islands.

A panel of judges reviewed entries submitted by public relations agencies, CTO member countries, and the media community to determine the winners, using a range of criteria, including content, structure and form, title, quality of language, and originality. To be considered, entries must have been published or broadcast in 2023.

In announcing their decisions, the judging panel noted not only the impressive breadth and depth of the subjects covered but also the outstanding quality research and reporting demonstrated in the published works.

The full list of Caribbean Media Awards winners follows.

Best Feature Article or Story

Brent Pinheiro for “This Week in Travel: Learning The Art of Batik (in St. Kitts)” on CNC3 Television in Trinidad

Diaspora Journalist of the Year

Melissa Noel from Essence Magazine for “Trinidad’s Carnival Finally Came Back. Here’s Everything You Missed”; “My Family’s New Holiday Tradition Is Travel. Here’s How We Did It”; and “Exploring Grenada’s Jab Jab Tradition: A Symbol Of Black Expression And Liberation”

Best News Reporting

Romardo Lyons for “Coffee Crisis” on TVJ

Best Personal Immersive Story

Kaitlyn McNab for “Grenada’s Spicemas Carnival Revolutionized the Way I Think About My Blackness and My Body” in Teen Vogue

Best Photojournalism

Joshua Macey from Guyana for “Ehin Erin” on Instagram

Best Podcast/Radio

Giovanni Dennis from Radio Jamaica for “Period Poverty and Climate Change in Jamaica”

Best Social Media Campaign

Jamaica Tourist Board for “Valentine’s Day in Jamaica: Bravo TV’s Summer House, Lindsay Hubbard & Carl Radke”

Best Video Production

Brent Pinheiro for “This Week in Travel: Paragliding in Manzanilla” on CNC3 Television in Trinidad

Emerging Journalist of the Year

Brent Pinheiro from CNC3 Television/Trinidad Guardian

“The CTO is proud to honor these exceptional professionals who have dedicated their talents to showcasing the Caribbean’s allure and beauty. On behalf of our member countries and the judging panel, I extend congratulations and gratitude to every storyteller whose work was reviewed,” stated Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

She also thanked the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism for its sponsorship and invaluable support in reviving the media awards event.

 

Posted in: 2024 News, Blog, Caribbean Week

Leave a Comment (0) →

CTO Bestows Inaugural Women’s Leadership Awards at Caribbean Week in New York

NEW YORK (June 23, 2024) – Tourism marketing professional Beverly Nicholson-Doty from the United States Virgin Islands received the “Secretary-General’s Distinguished Service Award” at the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)’s Women’s Leadership Awards in New York last week.

Presented at a special “Caribbean Queens: Saluting Women Shaping the Future of Caribbean Tourism” Breakfast & Awards event held during Caribbean Week in New York at the InterContinental New York Times Square, Nicholson-Doty, CEO of the Miami-based advertising agency Figment Design, received the special award from CTO Secretary-General & CEO Dona Regis-Prosper.

The award celebrates a tourism professional with more than 20 years of service who has made notable contributions to regional tourism and has provided inspirational support to other women in the industry.

women awards caribbean week

With more than three decades of industry leadership, Nicholson-Doty previously served as CEO of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, where she oversaw the development of the Authority’s marketing and destination services and general administration. As Commissioner of Tourism for the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism from 2007 to 2018, she directed the Territory’s marketing, sales and strategic planning activities related to travel, tourism and hospitality, and created partnership opportunities with public, private, nonprofit, non-governmental and community-based entities.

Bringing together Directors and Ministers of Tourism from CTO member countries and territories, their team members and other tourism executives, the awards ceremony celebrated the contributions of exceptional women who have significantly influenced the development and progress of Caribbean tourism.

The Minister of Tourism honors went to Valérie Damaseau, Commissioner of Tourism and Culture for Saint-Martin, while Petra Roach, CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority, was bestowed with Director of Tourism honors.

Selected by her peers, the Director of Tourism Award recognizes an individual for visionary leadership, destination growth, and regional commitment. The winner of the Minister of Tourism Award is chosen by other Ministers or Commissioners of Tourism to honor a peer who has demonstrated excellence in the role.

“The Women’s Leadership Awards have been instituted out of a need to recognize the vital role of women in Caribbean tourism. In nearly every corner of our industry, the contributions of women have been essential in driving the sector forward and elevating our industry to the highest levels. Women make up a substantial portion of the tourism workforce in the Caribbean, and their leadership is needed not only for the sector’s growth, but also to inspire and empower future generations of women leaders,” said Regis-Prosper.

During the intimate breakfast event, featured speaker Audrey Irvine, Senior Director of Newsource Newsgathering at CNN, delivered powerful remarks, sharing portions of her personal journey and career successes as well as challenges.

The Women’s Leadership Awards event, which also featured an inspiring address by Rosa Harris, CTO Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Tourism of the Cayman Islands, was sponsored by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and Diamonds International.

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation was the headline sponsor of Caribbean Week in New York. Gold sponsors included Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Experience Turks and Caicos, and U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, Jamaica Tourist Board and Sandals Resorts International were silver sponsors, and ADARA – A RateGain Company was a bronze sponsor. Additional supporters included Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Caribbean Media Exchange, Diamonds International, Marketplace Excellence, and S’Aimer NYC.

Posted in: 2024 News, Blog

Leave a Comment (0) →

CNN Journalist to Headline Women’s Leadership Breakfast at Caribbean Week NY

NEW YORK (June 10, 2024) – Emmy award-winning journalist Audrey Irvine of CNN will headline the inaugural Women’s Leadership Breakfast Awards during the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Caribbean Week in New York on Wednesday, June 19.

Cayman Islands Director of Tourism Rosa Harris, Chairman of the CTO Board of Directors and Spokesperson for Caribbean Week this year, announced that CTO will feature Irvine as the keynote speaker for the ceremony.

Audrey Irvine of CNN

Audrey Irvine of CNN

The event will honor exceptional women in Caribbean tourism leadership across three categories: the Director of Tourism Award 2024, the Minister of Tourism Award 2024 (both selected by industry peers), and the Secretary-General’s Distinguished Service Award. The Distinguished Service award celebrates a female leader with over 20 years of service, notable contributions to regional tourism, and inspirational support to other women in the industry, selected by the Secretary-General.

“We are delighted to welcome Audrey to Caribbean Week in New York as we showcase a Caribbean-American queen of the news media,” said Harris, noting that Irvine’s achievements inspire countless women and girls across the Caribbean and the Diaspora.

Harris and Dona Regis-Prosper, CTO Secretary-General and CEO, will address the attendees at the awards event, which is being sponsored by Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and Diamonds International.

Irvine, Senior Director of CNN’s Newsource Newsgathering, is based in Atlanta. Born to Jamaican parents and raised in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, she has worked in the media industry for over 30 years with major industry leaders, including CNN, ESPN, and ABC News.

Currently, she oversees the affiliate news-gathering operation at CNN Newsource, servicing over 1,000 domestic local stations, including those in Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, and Guam. In partnership with CNN affiliate partners, her department meets the coverage needs of all CNN platforms, programming, and partners.

Irvine earned an Emmy for her contributions to CNN’s coverage of George Floyd and the 2020 summer of protests. She has produced key coverage for CNN, including post-Hurricane Katrina reporting from New Orleans, where she won a Peabody Award.

Before joining CNN, she worked as an assignment editor at ESPN. There, she contributed to Emmy award-winning programs such as SportsCenter, College Gameday, and Sunday NFL Countdown, and covered two Super Bowls.

Irvine expressed her excitement about addressing Caribbean women of excellence during Caribbean Week. “I am thrilled to be among such exceptional women, as I would not have achieved the strides I have made in media without the guidance and inspiration of my late mother, who herself was a Caribbean woman of distinction.”

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation is the headline sponsor of Caribbean Week in New York. Gold sponsors include Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Experience Turks and Caicos, and U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. The Jamaica Tourist Board and Sandals Resorts International are silver sponsors, and ADARA – A RateGain Company and Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority are bronze sponsors. Additional supporters include Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Caribbean Media Exchange, Diamonds International, Marketplace Excellence, and S’Aimer NYC.

Posted in: 2024 News, Blog, Caribbean Week, Corporate News

Leave a Comment (0) →

West Indies Cricket Legend Joel Garner to be Honored at Caribbean Week NY

NEW YORK (June 6, 2024) – West Indies cricket legend Joel “Big Bird” Garner is set to join the lineup of delegates heading to “The Big Apple” for the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Caribbean Week in New York, June 16-21, 2024.

The 6’8” former Windies fast bowler will participate in a Cricket Ceremony and Watch Party in midtown Manhattan on Monday, June 17, at the Caribbean-owned and -operated S’Aimer NYC restaurant during an event supported by Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.

joel garnerGarner was a formidable presence for batsmen in the 1970s and 1980s, renowned for his blistering pace, towering bounce and devastating yorkers that often sent stumps flying. Among bowlers with 200 or more Test wickets, Garner had an impressive average of 20.97. He played his final Test in 1987 alongside his successor, Courtney Walsh, and was the last of the ‘Awesome Foursome’ – Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner and Colin Croft – to retire.

Garner will be honored during the ceremony, which will be attended by CTO Chairman Kenneth Bryan, Minister of Tourism and Ports for the Cayman Islands, and Barbados Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill. During the reception, there will be a live stream of the West Indies vs. Afghanistan ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match being held in St. Lucia.

“It is important that we recognize the significance of cricket and sports in tourism development, and especially important that we honor our legends,” remarked Rosa Harris, Director of Tourism for the Cayman Islands and Chairman of the CTO Board of Directors. “Their contributions have been invaluable in promoting our region,” added Harris, spokesperson for Caribbean Week in New York.

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation is the headline sponsor of Caribbean Week in New York. Gold sponsors include the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Experience Turks and Caicos, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Sandals Resorts International is a silver sponsor, and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority is a bronze sponsor. Additional supporters include Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Caribbean Media Exchange, Diamonds International, and Marketplace Excellence.

Posted in: 2024 News, Blog, Caribbean Week, Corporate News

Leave a Comment (0) →

Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas, I. Chester Cooper, to Speak at CTO’S Caribbean Week in NY

NASSAU, The Bahamas (6 June 2024) – The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (BMOTIA) is excited to announce its participation as a Platinum Sponsor in the upcoming Caribbean Week, hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), in New York City from 16-21 June 2024. This annual event brings together tourism leaders and stakeholders from across the Caribbean to discuss the latest trends, challenges and opportunities in the region’s tourism industry.

Under the theme “Connecting the Globe, Celebrating Diversity,” Caribbean Week 2024 will feature a dynamic lineup of events and business meetings, focusing on the critical issues shaping the evolution and growth of Caribbean tourism. The discussions will provide an opportunity for robust and strategic dialogue on topics such as sustainable tourism, marketing strategies and the role of technology in the industry.

As a platinum headline sponsor of the event, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation will showcase the unique attractions and experiences that the islands have to offer. The Bahamas delegation will participate in the popular Caribbean Media Marketplace, Caribbean Media Awards, and more. In addition, the Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, will be a guest speaker at the Caribbean Airlift Forum on 19th June.

“I look forward to sharing insights of our success in airlift with CTO. We are also thrilled to be a Platinum Sponsor of Caribbean Week 2024 and the opportunity it presents to grow tourism in our country and across the region,” said the Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation. “This annual event is a fantastic platform to share strategies, reinvigorate connections and polish the image of the greater Caribbean as an inviting destination for travel of all types.”

“We believe in the power of unity and collaboration within the Caribbean region. By coming together at this crucial gathering of tourism leaders, our aim is to collectively engage in insightful discussions that shape the future of our tourism landscape,” said Latia Duncombe, Director General, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation. “As a Platinum headline sponsor, The Bahamas is leading efforts to drive regional growth, celebrating the strength and diversity of our islands. Our culture, heritage, and sustainable offerings showcase the unique and vibrant spirit of the Caribbean, reinforcing our position as a premier global destination.” said Latia Duncombe, Director General, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation. “

 

Posted in: 2024 News, Blog, Caribbean Week

Leave a Comment (0) →