Caribbean Week in New York to Be Highlighted by Cultural Fair, Vacation Mart, Media Marketplace, Rum & Rhythm Benefit
Caribbean Week in New York will take place June 3-9, 2012 as a celebration of the sights, sounds, color and culture of the region. Combined with meetings and seminars for Ministers of Tourism, Directors of Tourism, National Tourist Office representatives and other key tourism and hospitality officials from the around the Caribbean, the week of activities will also promote unique vacation experiences to consumers at a day-long event at New York's celebrated Grand Central Terminal as well as stage the annual Media Marketplace which draws travel writers from across North America.
Artists, performers, celebrity chefs, fashion designers, models, investors and other strategic partners join government officials and the media as all converge on New York for a week that showcases the diversity and vibrancy of the region and offers Caribbean vacations at super special prices available only during Caribbean Week.
Organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Caribbean Week in New York combines business sessions and consumer-oriented events with food, fashion, entertainment and networking opportunities. The week begins with a Gospel Celebration and culminates with the much anticipated Caribbean Fashion, Art and Trade Expo.
Caribbean Week in New York is the largest regional tourism activity in the New York area and typically attracts tens of thousands of participants to its largest event, the Caribbean Travel and Cultural Fair and Vacation Mart where consumers can purchase trips at special Caribbean Week rates. Destinations and hotels from across the Caribbean will be on display at New York's Grand Central Terminal on Wednesday June 6.
Another major consumer event will take place Friday evening June 8 at the Rum & Rhythm Charity Event where there will be a wide variety of rums to taste and celebrity chefs will prepare an assortment of cuisine to enjoy from around the Caribbean, all combined with music, dancing and Caribbean entertainment. There will also be a live auction of vacation packages available for purchase. Proceeds go to the CTO Foundation to assist the education of youth of the Caribbean.
Extensive television, radio and print media coverage of the various events reaches local, national and international audiences in the millions and is highlighted by the annual Media Marketplace in which journalists meet with Ministers of Tourism, Directors of Tourism and hoteliers from around the region.
The overall objectives of Caribbean Week in New York are:
- To provide a platform for the sale of Caribbean vacations.
- To deliver events that attracts significant positive media attention.
- To provide opportunities for member destinations to promote their individual products and services.
- To engage the Caribbean Diaspora.
The week-long agenda of activities also include:
Gospel Celebration - A Tribute to Caribbean Unity -- Sunday, June 3, 2012 - 5:00pm - 9:00pm
The Gospel Celebration is an opportunity for the Caribbean Diaspora and Friends of the Caribbean to celebrate the unity and diversity of the Region and to commemorate Caribbean Week in New York, during Caribbean American Heritage Month. The audience will comprise members of the diplomatic corps of the CTO member countries, tourism industry leaders, representatives of the media, and members of the Caribbean Diaspora.
The program will feature an inspirational message interspersed with gospel, dance and other performances by talented and accomplished Caribbean nationals. The youth is a central part of this celebration. The public is invited. Admission is $10 per adult; $5 per child. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Workshop for NTOs -- Monday, June 4, 2012 - 9:00am - 12:00 noon
Workshops for National Tourist Office (NTO) representatives offer participants an opportunity to increase their knowledge in a particular field related to their profession.
The theme of this workshop is "Crisis Communications: How to Look and Communicate like a Pro during a Crisis" and will be conducted by Johnson JohnRose, CTO communications specialist; and Wanda Fisher, president of Skycue Marketing, Brand Communications specialist and TV producer.
A country's reputation is its most valuable asset and from time to time, this asset is threatened by a crisis. This could be anything from storms to crime, from natural to manmade. When this happens, how do you defend your country's reputation? What can you say to avoid making a bad situation worse? How do you say it? What image do you project?
This Workshop is to help members communicate effectively when they are faced with a crisis. It will examine some of the best examples of crisis communications - as well as some of the worst - and participants will glean an understanding of How to communicate Like a Pro.
This workshop is complimentary for up to 2 representatives from each member country - $75.00 for each additional. Sponsorship opportunity is available.
Workshop for Travel Agents -- Monday, June 4, 2012 - 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Sports Tourism, one of the world's fastest growing niche markets in the tourism industry, is the focus of this workshop. It is a multi-billion dollars industry which represents a unique opportunity for travel agents. Sports Tourism refers to trips taken with the purpose of watching or participating in sporting events.
This workshop themed "Be Fast or Be Last" is designed to help travel agents understand the relationship between sports and tourism - how to identify sports enthusiasts, how to capture their attention and match them with the sporting activity in which they wish to participate or enjoy, and then close the sale. Travel agents will also learn from the NTO representatives what the destinations are doing to facilitate this niche and to attract visitors. The Workshop will be limited to 100 top producing travel agents. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Celebrity Chef Program -- Monday, June 4 to Friday, June 8, 2012
Renowned Caribbean chefs representing a variety of destinations from hotels and restaurants across the Caribbean will spice up the city with Caribbean flair and flavors. These Celebrity Chefs will prepare signature island dishes at prestigious locations throughout New York City giving potential visitors a taste of the Caribbean...literally!
Throughout the week, these highly acclaimed chefs will be on hand at various events to interact with the general public and media as they showcase their culinary skills. In previous years, events at Macy's, Bloomingdale's and William Sonoma stores have showcased Caribbean Celebrity chefs throughout the week.
Student Colloquium -- Tuesday, June 5, 2012 - 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Students will take center stage at "A forum for Rising Stars." Sustainability has been hailed as the appropriate use of resources today so that future generations may enjoy them. The aim of sustainable tourism is to ensure that development is a positive experience for local people, tourism companies and visitors.
At college and university campuses in the Caribbean and the United States, students are deeply interested in sustainable initiatives and want to be involved in their implementation. The Colloquium is a creation of CTO interns who were enrolled at Universities in the Caribbean and the United States as their contribution to the calendar for Caribbean Week. It challenges students studying at the tertiary level to research and present a sustainable tourism project that is practical and could provide a sustainable source of income for Caribbean nationals. This is the perfect forum in which to engage these bright young students, listen to and encourage their involvement in sustainable development programs.
Participating teams this year will be vying to capture the title from last year's winners, the University of New Haven, Connecticut. This free-style presentation promises to be interesting for the students as well as for an audience of tourism industry professionals. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Caribbean Diaspora Forum -- Tuesday, June 5, 2012 - 5:00pm - 6:30pm
In this Forum, visiting Caribbean tourism officials and policy-makers will discuss matters of mutual interest with the Diaspora. The CTO will also provide an update on its Rediscover Home program, an initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between the Caribbean Diaspora and the region.
The Forum will be immediately followed by Caribbean Tales film presentations and discussions. The audience will comprise a cross-section of Caribbean nationals and friends of the Caribbean, including young adults keen on entering the tourism profession.
Investment Power Forum -- Wednesday, June 6, 2012 - 7:30am - 10:00am
Join the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Hard Beat Communications at the second Investment Power Forum on the Caribbean featuring: Damian McKinney, CEO & Founder of McKinney Rogers; Jay Yeo, President and Co-Founder of Solamon Energy Corp.; and Jonathan S. Blue, Chairman and Managing Director of Blue Equity, LLC.
This is an opportunity to connect with over 200 leading executives from a variety of fields. The Invest Caribbean Now series offers companies the perfect opportunity to meet high net-worth individuals and institutional investors as well as Ministers, Commissioners and Directors of Tourism, all in one place and pursue investment opportunities in the region. Registration Fee: $100 per person. Ministers and Directors are complimentary. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Caribbean Travel & Cultural Fair, Wedding and Vacation Mart at Grand Central Terminal, Wednesday, June 6, 2012 - 10:00am - 7:00pm
The Caribbean Travel and Cultural Fair is one of the not-to-be missed events during Caribbean Week in New York. It will bring the color, spirit and vitality of Caribbean culture to life for thousands of consumers many of whom commute through New York City's iconic Grand Central Terminal which will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary next year.
Tabletop booths manned by CTO member countries, private sector tourism partners and Caribbean Diaspora groups display promotional materials, indigenous products and other items representative of the Caribbean.
Governments and private sector members of the CTO will add to the excitement with carnival and national cultural dancers, stilt walkers, singers and other entertainers. The Fair is open to the general public. This is a must event for all Caribbean tourist offices to not only showcase their destinations, but also to sell vacations on site to many of the thousands of consumers that will visit the displays throughout the day.
The Caribbean Vacation Mart at the Fair will be one of the main opportunities during Caribbean Week in New York for potential visitors to the region to purchase special vacation offerings from tour operators, travel agents and hoteliers who have created these specials with them in mind.
There also will be a Caribbean Wedding sponsored by MarryCaribbean.com. One lucky couple will win the opportunity to exchange vows at the Fair. They will have their wedding fully paid for, receive a honeymoon in a romantic Caribbean destination, and also receive gifts from Caribbean countries. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Caribbean Media Marketplace -- Thursday, June 7, 2012 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
The Caribbean Media Marketplace, another not-to-be missed annual event during Caribbean Week in New York attracts a wide range of travel media from television, radio and print media from across North America. This event provides CTO member Governments and private sector exhibitors with the opportunity to interact with writers from the trade and consumer press.
It is an excellent occasion for interviews with both print and electronic media eager to know what's new and different throughout the Caribbean. The media landscape has changed significantly in the economic recession, so Ministers and Directors of Tourism need to be prepared to have one-on-one discussions with new journalists as well as those who have been continuously covering the region.
Allied Marketing Conference and Awards Luncheon -- Friday, June 8, 2012 - 8:00 am - 2:30 pm
Now in its 18th year, this year's Conference themed "THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE - Increasing Your Return on Investment" will deliver cutting edge information from a roster of experts. Content of the topics to be explored at the Conference will be of value to all marketers of Caribbean tourism and will cover Global Market Expansion & How to Profit; Social Media: Impact, Implications & Opportunity; Luxury Market: From Perception to Reality and Public Relations & its Role in a Splintered Market.
Rum and Rhythm Benefit -- Friday, June 8, 2012 - 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Rum and Rhythm is both a fundraiser for the CTO Foundation, a charitable organization which provides scholarships to Caribbean nationals and a Caribbean Culinary Experience which enables consumers to mix with tourism Ministers, Directors and other officials, and savor the taste, spirit and sounds of the Caribbean.
This signature event will take guests on an enchanting journey that will encapsulate the vibrant cultures, eclectic cuisines, pulsating rhythms and quintessential experiences that may be enjoyed in the Caribbean.
Guests will be exposed to the varied award-winning rums of the Caribbean as well as the talents and artistic flair of some of the Caribbean's celebrity musicians, chefs and mixologists at the exclusive and very trendy Tribeca 360.
This evening promises to be the highlight of the Caribbean Week social calendar and will include a live auction and special appearances by top Caribbean personalities and celebrities. Limited tickets are available and must be purchased by May 20, 2012. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Caribbean Fashion, Art and Trade Expo -- Saturday, June 9, 2012 - 11:00am - 10:00pm
Caribbean Fashion, Trade & Arts Expo 2012 was created to provide a platform for Caribbean designers, models, artists and other creative minds to cross borders into the US international market, to showcase their talents and brands for business opportunities.
The event commences with a Trade and Fashion Exhibition. Also taking place during the day will be an Art Exhibition. The Fashion Show begins at 5:00pm. Part of the proceeds of this event benefits the CTO Foundation. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
