CTO News

Caribbean Tourism Leadership Honored at PATWA International Travel Awards

BERLIN, Germany (March 9, 2025) – Caribbean tourism leadership was showered with high praise at the 25th edition of the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) World Tourism & Aviation Leaders’ Summit and the PATWA International Travel Awards, held during ITB Berlin last week. The region’s exceptional contributions to global tourism were recognized across multiple categories, with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and its Secretary-General, Dona Regis-Prosper, receiving top honors.

The CTO was named Best Organization – Regional Tourism, a testament to its unwavering commitment to strengthening the Caribbean’s tourism sector through innovation, collaboration and sustainability. Additionally, Regis-Prosper was awarded for Individual Excellence (Tourism Development), recognizing her leadership and stewardship over a revitalized organization in less than two years.

“This honor is a reflection of the dedication and resilience of the entire Caribbean tourism industry, including our very capable leaders,” said Regis-Prosper. “The CTO will continue to champion initiatives that enhance our destinations, foster partnerships, and ensure the region remains a world-class tourism powerhouse,” she added, thanking the Cayman Islands and Barbados for their chairmanship of the organization during her tenure.

Several Caribbean ministers and destinations also received prestigious awards for their outstanding contributions to tourism:

Exemplary Tourism Leadership

• Edmund Bartlett (Jamaica) – Tourism Minister of the Year – Innovation
• Marsha Henderson (St. Kitts & Nevis) – Woman Tourism Minister of the Year – Caribbean
• Oneidge Walrond (Guyana) – Tourism Minister of the Year – Ecological Tourism
• Carlos James (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) – Tourism Minister of the Year– Sustainable Tourism

Award-Winning Caribbean Destinations

• Jamaica – Destination of the Year for Romance
• Guyana – Destination of the Year for Natural Attractions
• Nassau & Paradise Island – Destination of the Year for Marine Tourism
• St. Vincent & the Grenadines – Destination of the Year for Eco-Adventures
• St. Kitts & Nevis – Destination of the Year for Hidden Treasures

The Montego Bay Convention Centre (MBCC) in Jamaica received the Best Venue for Meetings & Conferences award, while Mureen James, Executive Director of MBCC, was honored with a Gold Award for Hospitality Operations. Additionally, Joy Jibrilu, CEO of the Nassau & Paradise Island Promotion Board (NPIPB), was recognized with the Caribbean Destination Management Award.

The awards were presented by PATWA Secretary-General Yatan Ahluwalia and Dr. Alain St. Ange, former Minister of Tourism of Seychelles, and highlighted the Caribbean’s continued influence in shaping the global tourism landscape.

CTO and Member Destinations to Take Center Stage at Routes Americas 2025

NASSAU, The Bahamas (February 8, 2025) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and its member destinations will be in the spotlight at Routes Americas 2025, the region’s leading air service development forum, scheduled for February 10-12 at Atlantis Paradise Island, The Bahamas. This critical gathering of airline, airport and tourism executives will serve as a platform to strengthen Caribbean air connectivity, explore new route opportunities, and position the region for continued tourism growth.

CTO will maintain a strong presence throughout the event, hosting a dedicated booth staffed by its media team. The booth will serve as a hub for member destinations to engage with the team for interviews, meetings and discussions.

The conference represents a significant milestone for The Bahamas, reinforcing the destination’s commitment to enhancing global air connectivity and fostering sustainable tourism growth. Over 900 senior industry professionals from airlines, airports and destinations will participate in Routes Americas 2025 in The Bahamas. The impact of the large number of conference delegates will be felt across multiple sectors of the local tourism industry, from transportation and accommodations to retail and tour excursions.

CTO’s participation will include hosting the official luncheon on Monday, February 10, where CTO Chairman Ian Gooding-Edghill, Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport, will address delegates on the organization’s vision for strengthening Caribbean airlift and tourism resilience.

CTO Secretary-General Regis-Prosper will play a hands-on role in strategic meetings with airline partners, advocating for enhanced connectivity, improved intra-regional travel, and expanded international air service to Caribbean destinations.

She will also moderate a Ministerial Dialogue on “Shaping the Future of Caribbean Tourism”, featuring Minister Gooding-Edghill; Valérie Damaseau, President, Saint Martin Tourist Office; Kenneth Bryan, Deputy Premier & Minister for Tourism & Ports, Cayman Islands; and Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, The Bahamas.

“Strengthening air connectivity to and from the Caribbean requires a unified approach between aviation and tourism stakeholders. Routes Americas 2025 offers an invaluable platform to foster deeper collaboration, unlock new opportunities, and build strategic partnerships that will drive strengthen our aerial highways and bolster sustainable tourism growth and economic prosperity for our region,” said Regis-Prosper.

With The Bahamas serving as host, Routes Americas 2025 presents an unparalleled opportunity for CTO and its member destinations to shape discussions on regional air service competitiveness, tourism expansion, and public-private partnerships. As the Caribbean continues to prioritize airlift as a catalyst for economic growth, this forum will be instrumental in fostering new airline agreements, securing increased accessibility, and positioning the region as a premier travel destination for global visitors.

Immediately following Routes Americas, the CTO Board of Directors and Ministerial Council will hold their first official meetings of the year, on February 13 at Atlantis Paradise Island.

CTO, Springboard Caribbean Invite Regional Leaders to Participate in Virtual Professional Development Program

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS (February 7, 2025) – Building on the success of the previous two editions of the Professional Leadership Skills Program, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is offering another opportunity for regional senior managers, supervisors and executives to enhance their leadership skills in 2025.

The Professional Leadership Skills Program, presented in partnership with Springboard Caribbean — a leading provider of internationally accredited training, development and compliance services for businesses across the Caribbean — will consist of three virtual workshops.

Participants will explore methods of driving business performance through savvy leadership; strategic tools for achieving business goals as a leader; and the importance of developing a caring customer service culture through employee empowerment. Program facilitators include Ann Maria Quail, Managing Director of Springboard Caribbean, and John Quail, Director of Operations at Springboard Caribbean.

“Strong leadership is essential to organizational success. We offer this program to empower our members and all tourism stakeholders with the knowledge, tools and techniques needed to enhance their leadership abilities, build cohesive teams, and drive performance excellence. By strengthening leadership within our organizations, we can create more motivated, high-performing teams that achieve strategic goals and elevate industry standards,” said Sharon Banfield-Bovell, CTO’s Director of Resource Mobilization and Development.

The program’s virtual workshops take place over five days as follows:

• Workshop 1: Feb. 13 and 14, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. AST
• Workshop 2: Feb. 27 and 28, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. AST
• Workshop 3: March 12, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. AST

Attendance at all five workshops is mandatory to earn the program completion certification and six (6) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points from the Institute of Hospitality.

Participants must also complete all related coursework to qualify for certification. A registration fee of US$300 applies, and the program is limited to 25 participants, accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Through these three engaging, informative sessions, Caribbean hospitality and tourism leaders will learn invaluable tactics necessary for motivating, aligning and shaping their teams in a way that fuels growth and positive change not only within their individual organizations but throughout the region as a whole,” Ann Maria Quail added. “Past participants have noted that the information provided through the program has strengthened their ability to manage and lead within their departments. Our continual partnership with the Caribbean Tourism Organization in hosting these leadership events is further proof of their effectiveness.”

To learn more and register, visit: https://www.onecaribbean.org/events-calendar/professional-leadership-skills-2025.

CTO and ASM Continue Training to Strengthen Caribbean Tourism Leaders’ Airline Negotiation Skills

FORT LAUDERDALE (January 31, 2025) – Building on a successful training partnership, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is once again teaming up with ASM Global Route Development Consultants to equip senior tourism professionals with specialized skills in airline marketing, incentives and negotiations. The exclusive two-day workshop, scheduled for February 6-7, 2025, at ASM’s corporate office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, takes place just ahead of the Routes Americas Conference in The Bahamas (February 10-12) – a key opportunity for Caribbean destinations to engage with airline partners.

With air connectivity being a bedrock of the Caribbean’s tourism success, this training will empower participants with practical strategies to strengthen their air service development efforts. Tourism professionals from Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tobago will attend, reflecting the region’s ongoing commitment to expanding airline partnerships and improving accessibility.

The program will cover essential topics such as aviation marketing plans, airline incentive strategies, and negotiation techniques to help Caribbean destinations secure new routes, increase frequencies, and enhance overall connectivity.

Dave Appleby, ASM’s Director of Air Service Development Consulting, emphasized the significance of the “Airline Marketing, Incentives & Negotiations for Tourism Stakeholders training workshop”: “Air Service Development is such an important aspect of increasing inward tourism to the Caribbean and the two-day course will once again set out the key principles and best methods of working together with airlines to secure new routes and increase frequencies (and) more seat capacity. This really is a pivotal workshop for developing the Caribbean’s future air connectivity.”

Dona Regis-Prosper, CTO Secretary-General & CEO, said: “Our collaboration with ASM underscores a commitment to fostering the high-value relationships that are crucial for air service development and to bolstering the Caribbean’s position in the global aviation market. Workshops like these equip Caribbean tourism stakeholders to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive field.”

She further emphasized CTO’s dedication to capacity building: “We are more committed than ever to investing in education and empowerment for our member countries and facilitating the discussions and developments we need to create the future we collectively envision for Caribbean tourism.”

As an added incentive, CTO members can access the program at a special discounted rate, covering all training materials – making it a cost-effective investment in the region’s tourism growth.

By expanding training opportunities and fostering collaboration, CTO and ASM are helping Caribbean destinations secure stronger airline partnerships, increase airlift, and drive sustainable tourism development across the region.

CTO SG Dona Regis-Prosper Calls for Caribbean Unity and Innovation at Virgin Islands Tourism Summit

PETER ISLAND, British Virgin Islands (January 28, 2025) – The Caribbean must leverage more than just its natural beauty and focus on strategic partnerships, innovation and sustainable tourism to remain globally competitive, Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General and CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), declared in a thought-provoking keynote address at the 2025 Virgin Islands Tourism Summit, held at Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands this month.

The event was hosted by the BVI Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development, in partnership with the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board and the British Virgin Islands Yachting, Hotel and Tourism Association (BVIYHTA).

Addressing an audience of over 300 tourism stakeholders on “Strategic Partnerships for Sustainable Caribbean Tourism Services”, Regis-Prosper challenged the region to rethink its approach to tourism development, emphasizing that dialogue alone is not enough.

“This is not a talk shop,” she asserted. “It’s important that we get together as professionals and talk about the future of tourism.”

Her speech, delivered in the British Virgin Islands – a place she fondly referred to as “home” due to her past years of living and working in the territory – set the stage for an ambitious vision of a collaborative, resilient and innovation-driven Caribbean tourism industry.

Is Beauty Alone Enough?

Regis-Prosper posed a pointed question to the audience: “Is our beauty enough to guarantee our future?”

“At this critical juncture, while our natural beauty is undeniable, we must not for one minute believe that it’s enough to secure the future of the Caribbean,” she warned, emphasizing the need for strong, innovative and sustainable tourism models.

Five Pillars for a Sustainable Future

Highlighting the CTO’s Five Ps of Sustainable Tourism – People, Planet, Prosperity, Purpose and Partnership, Regis-Prosper stressed that tourism must go beyond resilience and become restorative.

She announced that later this year, CTO will unveil a reimagine plan focused on five key areas:

1.   Advocacy

2.   Market Intelligence

3.   Market Competitiveness

4.   People Development

5.   Sustainable and Regenerative Tourism

“These pillars represent a collective vision for a resilient and sustainable tourism sector,” she stated, adding that true collaboration “has to start in the mind.”

Strategic Partnerships: The Key to Growth

At the heart of her address was a call for greater regional and international collaboration. Regis-Prosper highlighted the CTO’s expanding network, which now includes 25 member countries and 65 private-sector partners, spanning airlines, cruise lines, travel and marketing agencies.

She emphasized the power of public-private sector partnerships, which allow governments and businesses to pool resources, expertise and knowledge.

“The CTO, for example, is a real-world example of the power of partnerships,” she said, citing joint efforts to tackle issues such as sustainable infrastructure, waste management, and eco-friendly technologies.

She also underscored the importance of local communities in shaping the region’s tourism future, especially in the area of product development. “Residents must be included in the discussions,” she said. “These are the people, the stewards of our culture, our environment, and our resources.”

Tourism Education and Workforce Development

The tourism leader identified people as the Caribbean’s greatest asset and urged the industry to invest in workforce development.

“Tourism is ultimately about people,” she said, pointing to CTO’s 192 training courses (developed in partnership with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association), online learning platforms, and tourism eBooks for primary school students aimed at encouraging young people to see tourism as a viable career.

She also gave the audience an exclusive preview of CTO’s 2025 training calendar, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to skills development and capacity building.

Emerging Trends Shaping Caribbean Tourism

Acknowledging the shifting global tourism landscape, Regis-Prosper identified key trends shaping the future of the Caribbean’s tourism industry:

1.   Health and Safety Post-Pandemic – While the region has shown remarkable resilience, she urged continued vigilance in hygiene standards and contactless travel innovations.

2.   Sustainability and Regenerative Tourism – With 80% of travelers willing to pay 10% more for sustainable options, and 41% willing to pay 30% extra for adventure and eco-tourism experiences, she said the Caribbean must capitalize on this demand.

3.   Technology and Innovation – From contactless check-ins to ride-sharing apps across the region, she emphasized that technology is reshaping tourism and that the Caribbean must listen to visitors’ demands.

4.   Experiential Travel – Today’s tourists want authentic, immersive experiences, and the Caribbean is uniquely positioned to meet this demand.

A Call to Collaborate, Not Compete

Regis-Prosper closed her address with a call for regional unity, urging leaders to see each other as collaborators, not competitors.

“We have the opportunity to shape tourism that benefits not only our local economies but also our environments and our local communities,” she said. She challenged stakeholders to embrace partnerships, innovation, and sustainability to ensure that the Caribbean remains “the world’s most desirable and responsible tourism destination.”

With her stirring message, Regis-Prosper left no doubt: the future of Caribbean tourism will be determined not only by its beauty, but by its vision, strategy and collective action.