Marketplace Excellence

05/29/2026

CTO Announces Finals of the Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase at Caribbean Week in New York 2026

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (May 28, 2026) — Students from the British Virgin Islands, Saint Lucia and Turks and Caicos Islands have advanced to the finals of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s 2026 Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase, set to take place during Caribbean Week in New York.

The “Live Finals” will be held at InterContinental New York Times Square on Thursday June 4, 2026, when the finalist student teams will present practical, investment-ready tourism business proposals designed to drive sustainable development and create viable income opportunities for Caribbean communities.

The Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase forms part of the CTO’s wider youth engagement efforts, providing a platform for emerging tourism professionals to research, collaborate and develop innovative solutions tailored to the region’s evolving tourism landscape.

Read more here: https://conta.cc/4dQpzia

05/27/2026

Caribbean Week in New York Returns with Strong Regional Leadership Presence

NEW YORK (May 26, 2026) — Governor Albert Bryan Jr. of the U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley, and Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Chairman and Barbados Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill will lead a high-level delegation of Caribbean tourism ministers, commissioners and directors at Caribbean Week in New York 2026.

The premier industry event returns to New York starting Monday, June 1, coinciding with the beginning of Caribbean American Heritage Month. Organized by CTO, this year’s gathering is being held at InterContinental New York Times Square under the theme “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences.”

Read more here: https://conta.cc/42UgjnW

05/25/2026

Read this week’s Caribbean Report Newsletter for coverage of Caribbean Airlines’ major network overhaul and regional route cuts, reflections from FCCA CEO Michele Paige on five decades of Caribbean cruise leadership, insights from Caribbean tourism leaders, and updates on tourism developments across the region. The newsletter can be accessed here: https://conta.cc/4uZXxaG.

05/25/2026

05/21/2026

Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence Partners with Xploratur to Drive Inclusive Tourism in the Dominican Republic

PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (May 20, 2026) — Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence, the industry’s trusted bridge between cruise lines and destinations, has completed specialized training for Dominican Republic tour operator Xploratur to support the launch of “Xploratur Access,” a new division of accessible excursions designed for the cruise market.

The training session, titled “Excellence for All: Diversity and Inclusion in the Visitor Experience,” was held in Puerto Plata on April 30. Conducted by Aquila’s expert team, the session focused on equipping tour guides, drivers and office staff with the skills necessary to deliver high-quality inclusive experiences that meet the evolving expectations of today’s travelers.

Read more here: https://conta.cc/4ePiWyz

05/21/2026

CTO to Launch Scholarship Fund for Caribbean Women in Tourism

NEW YORK (May 17, 2026) — The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) will launch a new scholarship fund dedicated to empowering the next generation of Caribbean women in tourism at its Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Dinner & Awards on June 1.

Titled “From Her to Her: From Today’s Female Leaders to Tomorrow’s Tourism Stars,” the program will provide annual support for a promising female student from the Caribbean pursuing studies and a career in tourism. All proceeds from the June 1 event will directly fund the scholarship through the CTO Foundation.

The dinner and awards ceremony at the InterContinental New York Times Square during Caribbean Week in New York will honor leading female luminaries in Caribbean tourism. Honorees will include ministers and directors of tourism from across the region, recipients of the Secretary-General’s Distinguished Service Awards, and inductees into a new Hall of Fame designation recognizing outstanding leadership.

Read more here: https://conta.cc/43bH87a

05/18/2026

Read this week’s Caribbean Report Newsletter for coverage of the Progressive Liberal Party’s election victory in The Bahamas, the release of the 2026 Caribbean Travel Trends Report, the new ‘LOVE SVG’ campaign from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and a roundup of recent features from the Caribbean Tourism Authority. The newsletter can be accessed here:
https://conta.cc/4eOyBye.

05/16/2026

Jamaica to Host 2nd CTO Air Connectivity Summit Next February

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA (May 15, 2026) — Jamaica will host the second annual Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Air Connectivity Summit in Kingston on Feb. 23, 2027, building on the success of this year’s inaugural event in Bermuda and aiming to advance regional air travel amid ongoing global challenges.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett made the announcement while speaking at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Antigua on Thursday.

“The summit will provide strategic insight for regional planning,” Minister Bartlett said. “Jamaica will use that as a means not only of bringing airline partners together, but also to engage in some cerebration … some thinking around the future of air connectivity in our region, which is so important.”

The Jamaican tourism leader noted the timing will coincide with heightened focus on resilience, coming just one week after the United Nations-designated Global Tourism Resilience Day on Feb. 17 — an initiative Jamaica championed.

Read more here: https://conta.cc/4tC8ePI

05/14/2026

CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper to Keynote 2026 Caribbean Food Forum

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua (May 11, 2026) — Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General and CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), will deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Caribbean Food Forum on Thursday, May 21 in Antigua.

The forum, hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) and presented by Grace Foods, will take place both virtually and in-person at the John E. St. Luce Finance and Conference Center. It serves as a highlight of Antigua and Barbuda’s Annual Culinary Month.

Under the theme “The Future Is Local: Caribbean Food at the Crossroads of Global Impact,” the one-day gathering will bring together leaders in tourism, agriculture, culinary arts, hospitality and investment.

Read more here: https://conta.cc/42tTtDq