Hello again, NYC: Caribbean Week returns to New York

There was a fair outcry both before and after Caribbean Week was moved from NYC to DC and amalgamated with the first annual Caribbean Tourism Summit. And it seems organisers listened.

The event has been reintroduced the the New York calendar, and will be hosted June 8-12 by the Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC). Instead of integrating some elements of Caribbean Week into the Caribbean Tourism Summit in DC, Caribbean Week will be hosted in New York separately, following the second Annual Caribbean Tourism Summit (ACTS), which runs June 9-10. The summit is set to include meetings on Capitol Hill as well as internal meetings between CTO and CHTA officials attended by delegates from the Caribbean region.

Hugh Riley, interim secretary general of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and co-chief operating officer for the Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC), said: "we’re excited to bring Caribbean Week back to New York City after our 2008 hiatus. This year’s programme promises to engage consumers, the diaspora community, trade professionals, meeting planners and media by providing valuable destination information in the form of seminars, a media marketplace, an incentive showcase, gala celebrations and interactive cultural events, many of which are open to the public."

Caribbean Week aims to bring together most influential policy makers, marketing professionals and tourism industry officials to discuss both tourism and investment opportunities in the region. It also serves to inspire travel and showcase the region’s diversity to more than 10,000 attendees who participate in a number of targeted events throughout the week.

Some highlights of Caribbean Week 2009 include:

Monday June 8:

• Celebrity Chefs – A series of celebrity chef demonstrations will take place beginning on Monday, June 8 at retail locations. The celebrity chef program is one of the most highly-anticipated of Caribbean Week in New York as consumers will be able to sample their distinctive cuisine all week long.

Wednesday June 10:

• Caribbean Fair – This vibrant celebration invites New Yorkers and beyond to Manhattan’s Bowling Green Park on from 11am to 7pm to enjoy a wealth of destination exhibits, Caribbean performers, artisans and celebrity chef demonstrations with tastings at this free event, open to the public. A Caribbean Vacation Mart will offer vacations at specially reduced prices available for purchase exclusively at the Caribbean Fair, which will also host a Caribbean Wedding sponsored by MarryCaribbean.com and the Caribbean Bridal Expo. In addition, senior government tourism officials will join New York City officials to commemorate the kick-off to Caribbean Week during a special opening ceremony.

Thursday June 11:

• Caribbean Media Awards Luncheon – Attended by Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism and Board of Directors as well as award-winning media, this luncheon from 1–2:30pm. honours US- and Caribbean-based consumer and trade media that have captured the essence of the Caribbean in their storytelling.
• Caribbean Media Marketplace – On Thursday, June 11 from 3–6pm, the media are invited to have one-on-one interactions with tourism officials, hotels, tour operators and airline representatives to gain valuable product information about the Caribbean.
• A Workshop for Travel Agents – Running concurrently with the media marketplace, this special workshop will offer niche market presentations on “Weddings and Honeymoons” to a select group of travel agents invited by CTO, its chapters and member countries.
• Caribbean Treats: Food, Rum and Rhythm – In celebration of the Caribbean region’s award-winning rums, Caribbean Week will feature this festive event from 6:30– 10:00pm. The ticketed event will include a sampling of premium Caribbean rums and rum cocktails showcased by master distillers, authors, celebrity chefs and mixologists, traditional Caribbean hospitality, musical performances and a silent auction including “one of a kind” vacations to the Caribbean. All guests must be at least 21 years of age.

Friday, June 12:

• Caribbean Marketing Conference and Allied Awards Luncheon – Hosted by the CTO Allied members in conjunction with ATME, this conference will be attended by Ministers, Commissioners and Directors of Tourism as well as senior tourism industry representatives from the private sector from 9am–2:30pm
  
• Caribbean Meeting and Incentive Travel Showcase – New to the Caribbean Week program this year, this showcase will be hosted in association with Black Meetings and Tourism to target the meeting, incentive, conference and exposition marketers by sharing the unique experiences available for these specialised groups in the Caribbean. The showcase will take place from 9:00am to 12:30pm
  
• Annual Governments of the Caribbean State Ball and Awards Presentation – As the official closing event to Caribbean Week in New York, this elegant black-tie affair, now in its 36th year, will be held at the Plaza Hotel on Friday from 7pm to midnight. In addition to Caribbean food and entertainment, highlights of the evening include the presentations of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Special Recognition Award and Excellence Award in honor of individual contributions to the region.

For more information on Caribbean Week in New York 2009, to register for all events and to purchase tickets, visit www.onecaribbean.org or call 212-635-9530.