Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1535167
58 B M & T ••• May/June 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com C A R I B B E A N C O N E R C T O S H O W C A S E S THE CARIBBEAN AT WTM L AT I N A M E R I C A 2 0 2 5 Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary General & CEO of the CTO (left) with Elsa Petersen, Founder & CEO at EM Marketing & Communication The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) made a strong impact at WTM Latin America 2025, which took place in São Paulo, Brazil in April. For the first time, CTO hosed a dedicated Caribbean Pavilion, creating a unified regional presence to showcase the Caribbean's diverse tourism offerings. The pavil- ion featured representatives from Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Dominica, Guyana, Saint-Martin, and Turks & Caicos, providing a dynamic platform to engage with key stake- holders in the Latin American market. As Latin America continues to emerge as an important source market for the Caribbean, CTO's participation at WTM Latin America underscored the region's commitment to strengthening partnerships, driving visitor arrivals, and show- casing the wide range of tourism experiences available across its member destinations. The Caribbean Pavilion served as a hub for pre-arranged trade meetings and multilingual services to enhance engagement. Through strategic networking and promotional activities, each participating destination had the opportunity to connect with tour operators, travel agents, and media representatives, strengthening their presence in this growing market. "CTO is excited to participate in WTM Latin America to engage with our partners in this growing market," said Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary General & CEO of CTO. "With increasing air connectivity and growing interest in the Caribbean from Latin American travelers, this event provides an invaluable platform for our member countries to showcase their distinct attractions, investment opportunities, and tourism developments." EM Marketing & Communication played a key role in facil- itating this strategic partnership, leveraging its expertise in des- tination marketing and industry networking to strengthen CTO's engagement in the Latin American market. Through its efforts, the Caribbean Pavilion served as a dynamic space for fostering new business relationships and expanding the region's tourism reach. "We are thrilled to support the CTO at WTM Latin America. This pavilion not only highlights the unique offerings of the Caribbean but also represents our commitment to foster- ing meaningful partnerships that drive sustainable growth in tourism. As Latin America emerges as a vital market for Caribbean travel, we recognize the immense potential for col- laboration and engagement that will benefit both regions," remarked Elsa Petersen, Founder & CEO at EM Marketing & Communication. CTO's presence at the event also reinforced its mission of sustainable tourism development, highlighting regional initia- tives that promote responsible travel, environmental steward- ship, and cultural preservation. Additionally, participating des- tinations engaged in B2B discussions to explore new opportu- nities in travel trade partnerships, airline collaborations, and market expansion strategies. WTM Latin America is one of the region's premier travel trade shows, attracting thousands of industry professionals from across Latin America and beyond. As part of its participa- tion, CTO also facilitated media engagements, reinforcing the Caribbean's position as a top-tier destination for Latin American travelers seeking sun, sea, culture and adventure. ABOUT THE CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), headquar- tered in Barbados, is the Caribbean's tourism development agency, comprising membership of the region's finest countries and territories, including Dutch-, English- and French-speaking, as well as a range 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 pro- vides specialized support and technical assistance in sustainable