Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1545782
B M & T ••• July/August 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 44 CARIBBEAN CORNER STRONG TURNOUT OF CARIBBEAN TOURISM MINISTERS FOR CARIBBEAN WEEK IN NEW YORK Against a backdrop of rapid geopolitical change and shifting international markets, a historic post-pandemic turnout of tourism ministers and commissioners from across the Caribbean converged in Manhattan on June 1 for the opening of Caribbean Week in New York. Faced with a complex global landscape, the region's top tourism thinkers gathered to fortify the Caribbean's economic resilience, secure market share, and present a powerful, unified front to international stakeholders. Organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the weeklong summit coincided with the start of Caribbean American Heritage Month and was anchored at Inter- Continental New York Times Square under the theme "One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences." Ministers and commissioners of tourism from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint-Martin, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), participated. The gathering also included ministerial representation from Belize, Curaçao and Saint Lucia. In addition, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. of the USVI addressed the opening. "In a world experiencing rapid geopolitical shifts, Caribbean Week in New York is a vital arena for strategy development, risk mitigation and collective action," said Dona Regis-Prosper, CTO sec- retary-general and CEO. "As leaders from across the region come togeth- er, Caribbean Week provides a pow- erful platform to showcase the inno- vation, resilience and limitless possi- bilities of Caribbean tourism." Following the official opening ceremony, which featured a keynote by CTO Chairman and Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill of Barbados, the delegation of tourism leaders immediately took center stage for the highly anticipated session, "Around the Caribbean in 60 Minutes." Pictured (top row, left to right): Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica; Glenys Hanna- Martin, Minister of Tourism, The Bahamas; Susan Rodrigues, Minister of Tourism, Guyana; Ian Gooding-Edghill, Minister of Tourism, Barbados; and Dr. Kishore Shallow, Minister of Tourism, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Second row (left to right): Rechelline Leerdam, Commissioner of Tourism, St. Eustatius; Zhavargo Jolly, Minister of Tourism, Turks and Caicos Islands; Adrian Thomas, Minister of Tourism, Grenada; Stéphanie Smith, Minister of Tourism, Haiti; and Gary Rutty, Minister of Tourism, Cayman Islands. Third row (left to right): Dr. Natalio Wheatley, Premier and Minister of Tourism, British Virgin Islands; Cardigan Connor, Minister of Tourism, Anguilla; Jennifer Matarangas-King, Commissioner of Tourism, U.S. Virgin Islands; Marsha Henderson, Minister of Tourism, St. Kitts and Nevis; and Owen Darrell, Minister of Tourism, Bermuda. Bottom row (left to right): Valérie Damaseau, Commissioner of Tourism, Saint-Martin; Charles Fernandez, Minister of Tourism, Antigua and Barbuda; Zorisha Hackett, Secretary of Tourism, Tobago; and Luce Hodge-Smith, Junior Minister of Tourism, British Virgin Islands. The tourism leaders formally convened for the closed-door Ministerial Council meeting to discuss critical regional policies, address supply side and airlift challenges, and align on sustain- able development initiatives. Throughout the week, ministers along with directors of tourism engaged directly with interna- tional travel industry stakeholders, travel advisors and tour operators, and global media outlets to secure the region's eco- nomic future. The comprehensive 2026 program highlights key strategic themes to navigate the changing global environment, including airlift expansion, global tourism marketing, sustainability and technological innovation. A Caribbean Media Awards celebration, the CTO Foundation Scholarship Awards Luncheon and the Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Dinner & Awards were also on the agenda. Hosted by Caribbean media personality Alex Jordan, the awards dinner featured a keynote address by Christine Valls, manag- ing director for the Caribbean and Latin America at United Airlines, and included the launch of a new scholarship fund for women in tourism. Christine Valls, Managing Director for the Caribbean and Latin America at United Airlines, keynoted the Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Dinner & Awards during Caribbean Week. The launch of CTO TV, the introduction of CTO's Supply Side Committee, and the CTO Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase were among the additional highlights of the week.