Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546515
CARIBBEAN CORNER pressing tourism challenges. "The Caribbean Tourism Research Forum reflects CTO's commitment to ensuring that the future of Caribbean tourism is informed by credible research, regional collaboration and practical application," said Aliyyah Shakeer, CTO's director of research. "By creating stronger connections between researchers, policymakers and industry leaders, we can better equip our destina- tions to make informed decisions that support a smarter, more sus- tainable and more inclusive tourism industry." The program will feature two research showcase sessions. The first, "Emerging Research from Caribbean Universities," will highlight recent or ongoing work from universities and research institutions. The second, "Research in Practice: Applied and Destination Insights," will focus on studies addressing specific policy, planning, market or destination-man- agement challenges. Presentations may examine topics including visitor behavior and changing travel patterns, tourism demand and forecasting, sustainable and regenerative tourism, climate resilience, community-based tourism, workforce development, artificial intelligence and digital transfor- mation, destination competitiveness, market intelli- gence, economic impact and product development. Each session will include concise presentations fol- lowed by moderated discussion with the forum con- cluding in a joint conversation on strengthening links between academic research and industry needs. Presentations will be limited to approximately 10 min- utes and designed to be accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences. The forum aims to raise the visibility of tourism research conducted across the Caribbean, demonstrate how applied research addresses real destination and industry challenges, and identify opportunities for col- laboration among universities, tourism organizations, governments, development partners and the private sec- tor. It reinforces the importance of evidence-based tourism planning and decision-making. Participation is open to all registered SOTIC dele- gates at no additional cost. To ensure broad regional representation, CTO is inviting nominations from Caribbean universities, rec- ognized research institutions, the Caribbean Tourism Research Network and CTO member countries. Visit https://sotic.onecaribbean.org/ for more infor- mation about SOTIC 2026. Board (ATB). "To place first among Caribbean desti- nations and third globally for festive travel among Virtuoso's preferred partners speaks to the strength of our product, the excellence of our resorts and villas, and the genuine hospitality that defines the Anguilla experience. We are especially proud that West End continues to stand out as a world-class destination within our island." The Anguilla Tourist Board was represented at Virtuoso Travel Week 2026 in Las Vegas by Chantelle Richardson Deputy Director of Tourism; Merla Smith- Halley, Board Director; and Vivian Chambers, ATB USA Sales Representative. The delegation is participat- ing in the industry's premier luxury travel marketplace, which brings together thousands of leading luxury trav- el professionals and providers from more than 100 countries. The findings form part of Virtuoso's broader 2026 State of Travel presentation, which reported overall network sales growth of 20.8% year over year (exclud- ing air) across its preferred-partner network as of June 2026. Anguilla's strong showing aligns with continued growth in demand for exclusive, high-end Caribbean experiences during the holiday season, when the island's breathtaking beaches, world-class resorts, villas and refined culinary scene draw discerning travelers seeking an intimate escape. CTO TO LAUNCH CARIBBEAN TOURISM RESEARCH FORUM AT SOTIC 2026 New platform will connect research with tourism policy and industry innovation Aliyyah Shakeer, CTO's Director of Research The Caribbean Tourism Organ-ization (CTO) will introduce the inaugural Caribbean Tourism Research Forum as part of the 2026 State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), creating a dedicated platform to advance research, innovation and evi- dence-based decision-making across the region's tourism sector. The three-hour forum will take place Tuesday, Oct. 6, during SOTIC 2026 in Guyana under the conference theme "Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive." Designed as an accessible and engaging research exchange rather than a conventional academ- ic conference, it will bring together academics, researchers, tourism practitioners, destination repre- sentatives, development partners, students and other interested delegates to share recent findings and explore practical solutions to the Caribbean's most B M & T ••• September/October 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 42