Is this email not displaying correctly? View this email in your browser

HOME PHOTOS VIDEOS CONTACT

Countdown to the CTO State of the Industry Conference

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is fine-tuning plans to host yet another rewarding State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) from 15-18 October in Martinique. The conference which brings together policymakers, executives, media and other practitioners in the tourism industry, will explore ways to create a Caribbean experience that reflects the region's unique diversity and authenticity.

This years SOTIC will welcome some of themost distinguished figures across the region and the world including the Honorable Governor John P. de Jongh of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), who will deliver a special address during the Friday 18 October luncheon session at the Le Deck restaurant in the Madiana Conference Center.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Governor John de Jongh said, "Saavy travellers are increasingly seeking cultural experiences on their trips and we in the Caribbean, with our glorious diversity of history, ecology and extra-ordinary people, are well placed to provide these experiences for our visitors."

The list of speakers confirmed for the SOTIC is growing. Both regional and international experts will discuss topical matters that will help Caribbean nations understand the core nature of their tourism product, develop strategies that will take advantage of the upcoming trends that are shaping the motivations and purchasing decisions of target travellers, and build a stronger platform that will emphasize the unique diversity of the Caribbean.International trends consultant and Avant-Guide Institute CEO, Daniel Levine, in his keynote speech will explain the concept of brag-ability and the role it plays in visitor travel and experience. He will illustrate how Caribbean destinations can keep up with the ever evolving tourism trends that are shaping the way visitors make decisions about their travel.

Among the line-up of speakers, is Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, the former secretary-general of the CTO who will explain why the experience matters most to visitors. The Tourism Commissioner of Martinique, Honorable Karine Roy-Camille will join Mr. Vanderpool-Wallace in emphasizing the power of creating unforgettable experiences for visitors that will create an emotional attachment that will foster repeat visits.

A number of international speakers are also expected at the conference including Albert Kluyver, the CEO/ President of the Curacao-based Insel Air, who will touch on the very pressing issues surrounding regional airlift and major elements for improvement that could increase the efficiency and volume of the transportation sector in the Caribbean; Paul Cohen, Vice-president of US-based travel services company, Optriant, will focus heavily on the emergence of the so-called BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and what impacts this will have on Caribbean destinations; Dwayne Bishop, Lead Creative, Oppusseven will join the panel, 'There's an App for that!' in talking about social media and how it adds to the bottom-line. Click on the photo below to view SOTIC AT-A-GLANCE.

You can also join the SOTIC online community on the CTOFacebook and Twitter channels.Also, our PR team met with the Ultimate Guru of Cool, Daniel Levine, in an interview, visit CTO TVin the right panel to listen.

SOTIC kicks off with press launch

Officials from the Martinique Tourism Authority and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) held a press conference in Martinique on Tuesday, 10 September to officially launch SOTIC 2013 in the host country.

Commissioner, Karine Roy-Camille, emphasized the benefits that Martinique is expecting to gain by hosting the conference, as well as preparations to welcome delegates to arrive from as early as 14 October. Secretary-General of the CTO, Hugh Riley reiterated the vital role the SOTIC plays as the Caribbeans leading tourism convention, including an overview of the thought-provoking sessions that attendees can look forward to. Visit the CTO Facebook page, to see photos from this event.

Tourism Satellite Account Workshop at SOTIC

What is a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA)? How does it measure current and potential economic benefits and impacts? Why is this essential as a diagnostic and a planning tool? Can TSAs improve the competitiveness of our vital tourism sector? Is your country TSA ready?

These and other questions will be addressed in a TSA sensitization workshop for tourism leaders and decision-makers on 16 October, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. in the Taino Room of the Madiana Conference Center in Martinique.

The workshop, which will be jointly hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), will precede the formal opening of the 2013 State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC).

CTOs director of research & information technology, Winfield Griffith, explained that TSAs are the way forward. By the end of the workshop participants will have a clear perspective of how to set up a TSA so that we can bring our approaches to planning, decision-making and reporting on tourism in line with UNWTO global standards.

Experts in the implementation of TSA who are scheduled to deliver presentations include the IDB's operations senior associate, Natasha Boyce; the programme officer responsible for statistics and Tourism Satellite Accounts at the UNWTO, Clara van der Pol; the director general of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, Carol Coy; and TSA consultant, Maureen Blokland.

To register interested parties should contact Gillian Hunte atgillianh@caribtourism.comor (246) 427-5242 or visitwww.onecaribbean.org.

14 countries ready for Youth Congress

On the final day ofthe three-day conference "junior tourism ministers" from several CTO member countries will conjoin in a lively debate on important tourism issues. The Friday session anchors the State of the Industry Conference with a thought-provoking and spirited exchange of views among our future leaders of the Region.

The Caribbeans best hope of sustainability is to embed the right principles and entrust our future to the sharpest minds. The session will be moderated by the 2012 Tourism Youth Congress winner O'Brian Lewis from Jamaica.

So far 14 countries have confirmed their participation in the CTO Caribbean Tourism Youth Congress. They are Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Jamaica, Martinique, Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Eustatius, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Martin and Turks and Caicos.

US$40,000 awarded to Caribbean nationals

Fifteen Caribbean nationals are gaining a boost in their academic and professional pursuits with support from the CTO Foundation. This year, the Foundation awarded over US$40,000 in scholarships and study grants to students from 10 CTO member countries- Barbados, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Martinique, St. Vincent, and St. Lucia.

"We at the CTO have recognized that it is becoming increasinglydifficult for persons wanting to further their studies to access the necessary resources to do so," commented BonitaMorgan, the head of regional resource development at the CTO and the Foundation secretary. "The Foundation is very pleasedthat itisable to give continuous support toindividuals who are well-deserving of the kind ofassistance needed to help furtherthemselves academically and professionally."

Scholarships of up to US$7,617 were awarded to 5 students pursuing studies, while ten students received study grants of up to US$2000 each.

Scholarship recipients were Shamma Phillipe-Harris of St. Lucia, MSc. Tourism Management, New York University; Marsha Banton of Jamaica, MSc. Tourism and Hospitality Management, University West Indies, Jamaica; Isabelle Limea of Martinique, MSc. Tourism Management, Marne-la-valleuniversity, France; and Aletha Connely of Guyana, MSc. Tourism and Hospitality, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados. Kervin Hinson of St. Vincent received the Audrey Palmer Hawks Scholarship valued at US$2,130.

The strong and continuous support from major sponsors, Ms. Morgan stated, has been invaluable to the sustainability of the scholarship programme.

"Over the years we have received tremendous contributions from several sponsors such as Interval International who remain committed to the CTO Foundation every year." She also made mention of a sponsored ticket by LIAT airlines to one of the scholarship recipients.

From its inception in 1997, the CTO Foundation has provided more than US$760,000 in scholarships and grants to more than 200 deserving Caribbean nationals pursuing tourism-related studies.

Navigate to the right panel to read testimonials from three past scholarship recipients.

Hospitality Assured broadening horizons

CTO director of resource mobilization and development, BonitaMorgan, conducted a series of workshops between July and August as part of the CTO's mission to enhance the Caribbean region's human resource capacity, particularly within the hospitality and tourism sectors through the Hospitality Assured (HA) programme.

A Hospitality Assured Advisor Workshop was held from 26-30 August at the Hotel Alexandrina in St. Vincent for key professionals who will work in support of the accreditation programme, Hospitality Assured (HA).

"This important workshoptargetedbusiness advisors who will be trained in support of the Hospitality Assured programme so that the programme can be continued outside of the CTO efforts," Ms. Morgan commented.

Fifteenadvisors from

eight