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B M & T ••• July/August 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 27 CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper (center, in white) with senior tourism officials in New York last week.Back row (left to right): Carlos James, Minister of Tourism (St. Vincent and the Grenadines); Ian Gooding-Edghill, Minister of Tourism and International Transport (Barbados); Tashia Burris, Secretary of Tourism (Tobago); Zhavargo Jolly, Minister of Tourism (Turks and Caicos Islands); Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism (Jamaica); Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism (Saint Lucia); Latia Duncombe, Director General of Tourism (The Bahamas); Rosa Harris, Director of Tourism (Cayman Islands); Luce Hodge-Smith, Junior Minister of Tourism (British Virgin Islands); and Adrian Thomas, Minister of Tourism (Grenada).Front row (left to right): Marsha Henderson, Minister of Tourism (St. Kitts and Nevis); Cardigan Connor, Minister of Tourism (Anguilla); Zulaika Mook, Director of Economic Development (Curaçao); Valérie Damaseau, Commissioner of Tourism and Culture (Saint-Martin); Owen Darrell, Minister of Tourism (Bermuda); Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of Tourism (U.S. Virgin Islands); and Charles "Max" Fernandez, Minister of Tourism (Antigua and Barbuda). The CTO Chairman also highlighted the increasing engagement of CTO's Allied Members, empha- sizing their crucial role in promoting destinations and supporting the broader Caribbean tourism sector. He commended their con- tributions during the dedicated forum "Beyond Borders: Positioning the Caribbean Tourism Industry in a Shifting Travel Landscape", noting that the discussions were insightful and high- ly relevant to the industry's current challenges. The Chairman also addressed intra-regional travel, acknowl- edging progress and the work ahead. "Connectivity within the Caribbean continues to be a challenge we have to ensure that we improve connectivity and there is a CTO Airlift Committee … tasked with not only bringing solutions to the table, but also mak- ing recommendations so we can advance greater connectivity." Looking ahead to the 2025 State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Barbados, slated for the Fall, Gooding- Edghill signaled that connectivity, tourism growth, and economic linkages will be central to discussions. "The only way you can grow your tourism business is by increasing spend or by driving additional traffic to the destination, and we believe in both," he said. "And of course, ensuring that we have a strong linkages pro- gram with the agriculture, manufacturing sectors within the Caribbean so that we can retain more of the foreign exchange that is spent within the Caribbean." Reflecting on the broader impact of the week, the Chairman noted that one of the key takeaways was the opportunity for pro- fessionals across the industry to connect and exchange ideas. He emphasized that beyond networking, the event offered valuable insights into emerging trends, with the diversity of panelists and speakers highlighting CTO's forward-looking vision. "I extend heartfelt thanks to Minister Ian Gooding-Edghill and CEO Andrea Franklin for their outstanding leadership through- out Caribbean Week in New York," stated CTO Secretary- General & CEO Dona Regis-Prosper. "Their vision, energy and commitment to advancing regional collaboration and sustainable growth were evident in every aspect of this year's event. We are charting a bold and inclusive path forward for Caribbean tourism, and the success of Caribbean Week 2025 reflects the strength of that direction." CWNY 2025 WAS SUPPORTED BY THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS: • Platinum: Dominica, U.S. Virgin Islands • Gold: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bermuda, Global Ports Holding, Travel & Adventure Shows • Silver: Sandals Resorts International, St. Kitts • Bronze: Adara, A RateGain Company; Anguilla; Barbados; Carnival Corporation & plc; Saint Lucia; TEMPO Networks 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 sustain- able tourism development, marketing, communications, advo- cacy, human resource development, event planning & execu- tion, and research & information technology. The CTO's headquarters is located at Baobab Tower, Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados BB 22026. Tel: +1 246 427-5242; Email: CTObarbados@carib- tourism.com