New York hosts Caribbean Week

Bringing both the public and private sectors together, the purpose of Caribbean Week in New York is to achieve a better understanding of the current position and future of the travel and tourism industry of the Caribbean region.

Hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Allied Members in collaboration with the Association of Travel Marketing Executives (ATME), the 15th Annual Caribbean Marketing Conference will be held on Friday, June 12, 2009 at 9:00 am at the New Yorker Hotel and will feature Philip Wolf, president and chief executive officer of PhoCusWright, as the keynote speaker. PhoCusWright, founded by Wolf in 1994, is the travel industry research authority on how travelers, suppliers, and intermediaries connect. Independent, rigorous, and unbiased, PhoCusWright fosters smart strategic planning and tactical decision-making. Wolf will address current and future trends impacting the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry within the Caribbean. With more than two decades of analyzing, scrutinizing, and opining on strategic change and market trends, Wolf is a leading industry voice.

A panel discussion will follow Wolf’s address and will focus on the mindset of today’s vacation traveler and how to maximize travel opportunities in a down economy. The renowned panel will include Scott Lawrence, vice president, network planning for JetBlue Airways Corporation; Paul Gilberto, executive vice president, chief brand development officer of Fitzgerald & Company; and Lourdes Hainlin, director of Starwood Caribbean Collection, Leisure Sales and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

“This conference is an essential and highly-anticipated part of Caribbean Week, and we’re thrilled to have assembled such a talented group,” said Hugh Riley, interim secretary general of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and co-chief executive officer for the Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC). “Bringing together a panel of such aptitude was vital this year, as we chart a course for the Caribbean tourism industry through this time of global economic change.”

A luncheon and awards presentation will immediately follow the panel discussion where top industry officials will be honored. These prestigious awards will include the Marcia Vickery Wallace Travel Journalist Award, Marcella Martinez Award, CTO Allied Award, and the “Jerry” Award – an award that recognizes contributions to the Caribbean region by individuals and organizations from the private and public sectors.

“We are particularly delighted to have the CEO of PhoCusWright, Philip Wolf, deliver the keynote address, as well as our talented group of panelists,” stated Jacqueline Johnson, CTO Allied representative and owner and president of www.MarryCaribbean.com. “The range of speakers provides cutting-edge information and participation that we believe will be important in the destiny of the Caribbean, particularly in this environment.”

Organized by CTDC, Caribbean Week in New York brings together the most influential policy makers, marketing professionals, and tourism industry officials to interact and discuss both tourism and investment opportunities in the region. It also serves to provide a taste of the Caribbean to inspire travel and showcase the region’s diversity to more than 10,000 attendees who participate in a number of targeted events hosted throughout the week. In addition to the Caribbean Marketing Conference and Awards Luncheon, the week includes a Caribbean Fair, Media Marketplace, Caribbean Treats: Food, Rum & Rhythm, Allied Awards Luncheon, and the Annual Governments of the Caribbean State Ball and Awards Presentation.

For more information or to purchase a ticket to the 15th Annual Caribbean Marketing Conference, please visit www.onecaribbean.org.