CTO News

CTO Unveils Dynamic Lineup for Caribbean Weekend in Miami

MIAMI (November 26, 2025) – A distinguished lineup of regional leaders, global tourism executives and Caribbean creatives will headline the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Caribbean Weekend in Miami, taking place December 4-8, 2025, at Loews Coral Gables Hotel.

Jamaica Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, will keynote the holiday dinner and fundraiser.

Among the featured talent are Vincentian soca sensation Kevin Lyttle, Jamaican musician Shuga, and U.S. Virgin Islands steel pan player Stan Brown who will perform at CTO’s fundraising dinner on Friday, December 5. Award-winning Barbadian media personality Alex Jordan will serve as master of ceremonies.

The annual four-day gathering brings together ministers, directors, entrepreneurs and partners committed to advancing Caribbean tourism and supporting communities in Jamaica and Haiti affected by Hurricane Melissa.

A full program-at-a-glance is available at https://bit.ly/caribbeanweekend.

Featured Speakers and Participants

Caribbean Weekend will feature contributions from leading voices shaping the regional and global tourism landscape, including:

• Ian Gooding-Edghill, Chairman, CTO Ministerial Council; Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Barbados
• Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica
• Owen Darrell, Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture & Sport, Bermuda
• Andrea Franklin, Chairman, CTO Board of Directors; CEO, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
• Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica
• Erin Wright, Acting CEO and Chief Operations Officer, Bermuda Tourism Authority
• Latia Duncombe, Chairman, CTO Cruise, Yachting and Ferry Committee; Director General of Tourism, Bahamas
• Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General and CEO, CTO
• William “Billy” Griffith, Chairman, CTO Allied Board of Directors
• Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean
• Jeff Hoffman, award-winning global entrepreneur, founder, investor and international keynote speaker
• Jacqueline Johnson, Chairman, CTO Foundation
• Neil Walters, Director of Finance and Resource Management, CTO

These leaders and innovators will address sustainable growth, cruise and airlift development, technology and innovation, resilience financing and the ongoing modernization of Caribbean tourism strategy.

On Friday, December 5, CTO and its Allied Members will host a holiday dinner and fundraiser with a goal of raising US$100,000 for the CTO Foundation, supporting disaster relief and tourism restoration in Jamaica and Haiti. Minister Edmund Bartlett will deliver the feature address at the event.

Kevin Lyttle to appear

Kevin Lyttle, the internationally acclaimed soca artist who reshaped the genre’s global reach, burst onto the music scene with his 2003 mega-hit “Turn Me On,” a chart-topper across Europe, Australia and the United States that went multi-platinum and earned placements on MTV and the Billboard Hot 100. He followed with additional No. 1 singles, including “Drive Me Crazy,” “Home for Carnival,” and later the reggaetón Billboard Tropical Chart-topper “Midnight.”

Lyttle has also proven himself a savvy entrepreneur with his Caribbean delivery app launched in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and a committed philanthropist through the Janice Lyttle Foundation, which has donated major medical supplies and is committed to battling heart disease.

Performance by Shuga

Born in Montego Bay, the soulful reggae artiste Shuga first gained national attention after winning Digicel Rising Stars in 2009. Her career spans collaborations with icons such as Marcia Griffiths, Queen Ifrica, Agent Sasco and Busy Signal, along with international tours and acclaimed recordings. Preparing for the release of her debut album Girl from Montego Bay next year, Shuga continues to deliver music rooted in resilience, empowerment and authenticity.

Master of Ceremonies: Alex Jordan

Award-winning media professional Alex Jordan will serve as MC for the evening. With more than 25 years of experience in broadcasting, diplomacy and community leadership, she is known for her coverage of seven ICC Cricket World Cups, two Olympic Games, and the 2006 FIFA World Cup. A Silver Sony Award honoree for her BBC coverage of Notting Hill and Leeds Carnival, Jordan brings an authentic Caribbean voice to global audiences.

Fluent in four languages and committed to youth development, she currently serves as Communications Lead for The Pierhead Barbados and as a Thought Leader with the National Transformation Initiative. She also holds board roles with Enterprise Growth Fund, GovTech Barbados Limited, and Global Super League.

On Saturday, December 6, attendees will participate in the signature “Reimagining Caribbean Tourism Together” summit aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. Sponsored by Royal Caribbean, this high-level forum features a one-on-one discussion between Michael Bayley and Dona Regis-Prosper, and will explore innovation, sustainability and competitiveness across the tourism ecosystem.

The program also features an Airbnb Tax Symposium, a timely session examining sharing-accommodation trends, tax policy considerations and opportunities for strengthened collaboration between governments, regulators and short-term rental platforms.

On Sunday, December 7, Caribbean Weekend concludes with the Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Awards & Fundraiser, honoring individuals whose work advances tourism, culture, media, business and sustainable development across the region. For further information, visit cmexmedia.org.

Throughout the weekend, visitors can explore the CTO Knowledge Exchange Kiosk, showcasing CTO’s latest research, intelligence products, training programs and development tools designed to support tourism’s growth, digital transformation and resilience.

CTO and ICF Sign MOU to Advance Sustainable Tourism Development in the Caribbean

LONDON, United Kingdom (November 12, 2025) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ICF, a US-headquartered consulting firm and global solutions provider, to explore opportunities in advancing sustainable tourism development, climate adaptation, and resilience building in the Caribbean.

The MOU outlines areas of potential collaboration to support the sustainable growth of the region’s tourism sector, including technical assistance, destination governance, market competitiveness, and capacity building. The parties intend to engage residents through inclusive governance models, promote public-private partnerships, and share knowledge to advance responsible tourism practices and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the Caribbean.

Under the MOU, CTO and ICF may cooperate on technical advisory services for sustainable and regenerative tourism, provide expertise as a potential partner in technical assistance initiatives, and explore capacity-building programs for tourism stakeholders on topics of mutual interest.

“This collaboration reinforces our mission to lead sustainable tourism development in the Caribbean by bringing together strategic partners with the expertise and global reach to help strengthen our member countries,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General & CEO of CTO. “ICF’s extensive experience in destination strategy, climate resilience and sustainable development will help CTO and our members continue to build a more inclusive, competitive and sustainable tourism sector for the region.”

Echoing that sentiment, Nikolaos Gkolfinopoulos, Head of Tourism at ICF, stated: “ICF is committed to the responsible development of tourism, and our mission lies in providing solutions to the most pressing challenges destinations face. We are very excited to be partnering with CTO to support the organization’s efforts and objectives for the coming years focusing on the sustainable tourism development of the Caribbean. We are ready and have joined forces with CTO for the collective benefit of the region. ICF aims to be a trusted partner of CTO on propelling regional tourism development by providing our global tourism solutions that are strategically combined with interdisciplinary expertise from across ICF’s sectors of focus.”

Signed in London during World Travel Market last week, the MOU will remain in effect until 2029.

Caribbean leaders to convene for CTO’s Caribbean Weekend in Miami next month

MIAMI (November 13, 2025) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) will host Caribbean Weekend in Miami 2025, a milestone four-day gathering that brings together tourism ministers, directors, industry leaders and stakeholders from across the region December 4–8, 2025, at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel.

The comprehensive program will address critical issues facing Caribbean tourism while celebrating the region’s resilience and fostering collaboration among public and private partners. A full program-at-a-glance is available at https://bit.ly/caribbeanweekend.

In addition to strategic business and committee meetings, CTO will host a holiday dinner and fundraiser on Friday, December 5. The festive evening, held in partnership with CTO’s Allied Members, aims to raise US $100,000 for the CTO Foundation in support of disaster relief and tourism restoration in Jamaica and Haiti, assisting tourism workers whose livelihoods were impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

“This fundraiser embodies the spirit of Caribbean unity,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General & CEO of CTO. “As we celebrate the holiday season, we’re also standing together to help our brothers and sisters in Jamaica and Haiti rebuild and restore hope to communities.”

Saturday features the signature “Reimagining Caribbean Tourism Together” summit, a high-level gathering aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. Sponsored by Royal Caribbean Group, this summit will convene regional leaders to discuss innovative strategies for sustainable tourism development and economic growth across the Caribbean.

Throughout the weekend, attendees can visit the CTO Knowledge Exchange Kiosk, which showcases the organization’s wide range of products, services and resources that support tourism growth, innovation and sustainability across the region.

The weekend culminates with the annual Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Awards & Fundraiser on Sunday, December 7, which celebrates individuals whose work has had a transformative impact on Caribbean communities through tourism, business, media, culture and sustainable development.

Caribbean Weekend in Miami 2025 represents a pivotal moment for regional tourism, combining strategic planning, humanitarian support and industry collaboration under one comprehensive program.