Melanie Reffes
New York City
The
largest regional tourism event in the New York area, Caribbean Week in New York
rocked the Big Apple with fashion shows, gospel concerts, cooking demonstrations, tropical parties and seminars for travel agents who sell the region. The annual event
attracted regional tourism
ministers, commissioners and directors of tourism, hoteliers, travel agents and
those planning their next vacation in the Caribbean.
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| View from host hotel, The New Yorker (credit: M. Reffes ) |
For
tourists booking the Caribbean for a vacation or a honeymoon, the popular Romance Pavilion
was a big hit with those planning to tie the knot in the sunny south. "Today's consumers are empowered, travel savvy and
know more about their travel options than ever before, “said Jacqueline
Johnson, president, www.marrycaribbean.com and
event organizer , “bringing the best of the Caribbean to couples is just one of
the ways to help them make informed choices about one of the most important
events in their live.”
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| Romance Pavilion, Jacqueline Johnson, president www.marrycaribbean.com (credit: CTO) |
Organized by the Caribbean Tourism
Organization (CTO), supporters of the Caribbean Week included the countries
that make up the region , Association of Travel Marketing Executives (ATME), Caribbean
American Chamber of Commerce, Caribbean Airlines, Elite Islands Resorts, Hyatt
Regency, JetBlue, Sandals Resorts and the Empire State Building which was lit up in
the colors of the tropics .
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| Hugh Riley, secretary general CTO, supermodel Georgie Badiel, Beverly Nicholson-Doty, Chairman CTO ( credit: CTO) |
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Supermodel Georgie Badiel, former Miss Africa and actress Tamara Tunie , celebrity
spokesperson for Caribbean Week and (credit: CTO )
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| Empire State Building in the colors of the Caribbean ( credit: CTO) |
Rise Up
Setting the stage for the week-long events, the Gospel
Celebration lit up Brooklyn’s Bethesda Healing Center with a musical
line-up that kept everyone on their feet. Fan favorites included ‘Know Your Culture’ , a non-profit troupe that
blends dance with the traditional costumes of Dominica and from Grenada, Janice
Charles is the island's musical ambassador. “The Gospel Celebration is an excellent way to
begin what is for us the most important week on the calendar in New York,” says
Sylma Brown, director, CTO, USA, “as Caribbean nationals, it’s part of our
culture to begin events with praise and prayer and the Gospel Celebration
allows us to maintain this tradition while we celebrate our unity and
diversity.”
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| Know Your Culture ( credit: CTO) |
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| Janice Charles ( credit: CTO) |
The Main
Event
Vancouver-based and founder of the hospitality
consulting company Reknown, Daniel Edward Craig wowed delegates with his strategies to manage the online reputation of hotels and
destinations. The former general manager of Opus Vancouver, his clients have included Destination British Columbia and Trip Advisor. “Consumer opinions posted online are increasingly trusted by those
making travel decisions , “ he told delegates, “ social media has changed behavior in various areas including how travelers make decisions
regarding where to go and who to do business with.” Effective use of social
media, he explained, is key to a hotel’s profile and the success of a
destination, “although tourists are using Twitter and Facebook routinely, video
will be the next big thing in online reviews because it tells the real story. “
Acknowledging feedback, he added, "is paramount to managing an online
reputation because travelers do not expect perfection but they do expect the truth which
can mean the good, bad and the ugly. " Recommending a staff person at every hotel be designated a gatekeeper to monitor social media, he suggested " setting up alerts on
Google or subscribing to a site such as ReviewPro which keeps track of social
media performance and guest satisfaction.
“
Selling
Paradise
Travel
agents were treated to another way to keep their heads above water during a
well-attended seminar that focused on selling excursions above and below the waves. “This
is one of the most important and lucrative niches of the Caribbean tourism
product, “ said Sylma Brown, director, CTO USA, “from sailing and snorkeling to scuba diving and water-skiing, water sporting activities are as endless as
the expansive beaches that fringe the Caribbean. ”
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| Diving in Bonaire (credit: Bonaire Tourism) |
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| Stingray City Grand Cayman ( credit: Stingray City ) |
Commissionable
to agents, the many tour operators in the region are eagerly courting visitor
participation on virtually every one of the islands. “This multi‐billion
dollar industry represents a unique opportunity for travel agents who sell the
Caribbean to increase their profits as the destinations are continuing to develop and
upgrade their product to appeal to the maximum number of visitors,” added Sylma
Brown, director, CTO USA.
Island Banter
Opening on December
20, 230-room Sandals La Source Resort will introduce upgraded facilities to the
former La Source property and is taking bookings now for high season. “The opening of such a great resort will raise
awareness of our island, “said Christine Noel-Horsford, head of marketing , Grenada
Board of Tourism,”, the airlines are already taking notice with five flights a week
on American Airlines starting in December .” Perennially popular with elegance-seekers, Spice
Island Beach Resort will close for three weeks in September for a US$1.8
million upgrade. New at the Mount Cinnamon Resort, Cinnamon Heights is a
spacious three-bedroom villa ideal for multi-generational families or a gaggle
of good pals. Later this year, Grenada Grand Beach Resort will be renamed and
re-branded as the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort and at La Luna, thirty-five
rooms will be added by the end of this year.
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| Christine Noel-Horsford, head of marketing , Grenada Board of Tourism (credit: M. Reffes ) |
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| Spice Island Beach Resort ( credit: SIBR) |
In St. Kitts, the much-anticipated Park Hyatt will open next year with
125 rooms, spa and two restaurants. Also on the
drawing board for Christophe Harbour, Tom Fazio-designed golf course, shopping
promenades and additional hotels to be added by 2015. For the first quarter 2013, visitor arrivals saw a hike of 4.4% driven by the addition of two non-stop American
Airlines flights from Miami and Delta’s
upgrade to the aircraft size . Delta will reinstate peak season
service starting from the first weekend in November . For travel through December 15, “Feel the Warmth St. Kitts & Nevis”
offers gratis free nights, resort credits, discounts for families with children
and reduced airfare via AA Vacations, Delta Vacations and US Airways Vacations. www.stkittstourism.kn/
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| Caribbean coast in St. Kitts ( credit: SKB Tourism ) |
For agents selling St. Lucia, “Elevate Yourself” retreat takes its appreciation for travel agents to new heights with
commissions on ticket sales and added incentives for
bookings of groups of twenty or more. The three-day retreat from November 1 – 3
includes seminars, seaside yoga, rainforest tours and cooking demonstrations.
“The retreat is becoming a notable event
on island and we attribute much of the success of the program to our network of
agents, “said Louis Lewis, director tourism , St. Lucia Tourist
Board, “ the commission on tickets sales is just one way we can reward their
unwavering efforts to promote the island.” Hotels participating include Bay Gardens Beach
Resort and Smugglers Cove Resort. www.saintlucianow.com
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| Bay Gardens Beach Resort ( credit: Bay Gardens ) |
In St. Maarten, beds for heads are on
sale during the summer including Divi Little Bay Beach offering thirty percent rate cuts starting at USD $174.00 per room, per night. www.diviresorts.com. In the heart of
Philipsburg, Holland House is offering a four-night Beach Special that includes an oceanfront room, breakfast for
two and WI-Fi and is valid for travel through October 30. www.hhbh.com. At Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort and Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, "Fun in the Sun" package comes with
a thirty-five percent rate reduction on all-inclusive stays with a three-night
minimum. Five night stays include USD$200.00 in resort credits valid for travel through September 30 with reservations made by July 31. www.sonesta.com/greatbay ,www.sonesta.com/mahobeach.
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| Sonesta Maho Beach Resort ( credit: M. Reffes ) |
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Marla Chemont, Edward Dest, Rosette Generlette, St Maarten
Tourist Bureau (credit: M. Reffes)
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Next door in
Anguilla, Malliouhana Hotel with
new pools ,restaurants and revamped rooms will open later this year while the 32-room Manoah on Shoal Bay and
the Zemi Beach Resort are slated to open in 2016 . “Anguilla is not only for
the rich and famous, “ said Haydn Hughes, parliamentary secretary, tourism, “we
have 2,000 hotel rooms at various price points which appeal to travelers of all
budgets. “ http://ivisitanguilla.com/
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| Haydn Hughes, parliamentary secretary, tourism | (credit: J. Stephens) |
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| Anguilla beach ( credit: ABT) |
Show
Me the Money
The third
annual Avalon Invest Caribbean Now Forum, organized the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and digital media solutions company, Hard Beat
Communications, was the hot
ticket for Caribbean tourism ministers, private-sector partners ,government
policy makers and Chinese investors who came together on the heels of Chinese
President’s Xi Jinping’s pledge of USD$3
billion in loans to ten Caribbean nations . “The Chinese private sectors are
seeking opportunities in the Caribbean such as hospitality, real estate,
healthcare and education industry because they are easy to operate, are
transparent and create jobs,” said Li Li, managing director, Chinese American
Business Development Center,” the people of the Caribbean are dynamic
entrepreneurs, highly educated, hard-working, ambitious, and optimistic.”
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Li Li, managing director, Chinese American
Business Development Center , New York (credit: Hayden Roger Celestin)
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ICN founder Felicia Persaud, 4th from right,
with Mike Ronan, vice president of government relations for the Caribbean,
Latin America & Asia at RCCL, 4th from l.; Miguel
Reyna, director, Port Business Development and Asset Management, 3rd from
r; Kara Coleman, news anchor of One Caribbean Television, 2nd from
left and the China and the Caribbean panellists including Li Li, managing
director ,Chinese American Business Development Center ,Consul in charge of economic
& commercial affairs of the Consulate General of China in New
York, Xiaoguang Liu; 3rd from r. and Johnny Liu ,American
Chinese Commerce Development Association at right. (credit: Hayden Roger Celestin )
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Keenly
interested in Chinese investment , Dr. Rufus Ewing, premier of Turks and Caicos
said his country is open for business, “we are looking for low density high
luxury development and for
this, we are offering tax incentives to make development more
attractive. “ Other projects in the works include the expansion of the
Providenciales International Airport; Caicos Causeway Project that will stretch
from Providenciales to South Caicos and yachting tourism that includes marina
development. In 2012, China invested USD$9 billion in the Caribbean, a 9.4%
increase over 2011. In the next two years, China will invest in Caribbean
agricultural centers and the hospitality industry, set up 1,000 scholarships
for medical students, develop sports facilities and computer centers and invest
in secondary schools on several islands. Direct airlift from China to the
Caribbean is the biggest challenge, said Xiaoguang Liu, consul in charge of
economic affairs, Consulate General of China in New York, “if airlift materializes, prepare your airports and get ready for the
invasion,” he said, “Chinese travelers could top 100 million by 2015. To attract even a
small portion of these travelers, Caribbean resorts must adapt to the Chinese
visitor.”
Also in attendance,
Anthony Eterno, Caribbean affairs officer, US State Department, reiterated the Obama
administration’s commitment to an economic partnership with the Caribbean. "Ours
is a relationship that is born of a strong desire by all of our countries to
collectively participate in an improved and sustainable future," he told
delegates,” we see the positive results of this strong partnership creating
economic growth and prosperity for all of our citizens.” In 2012, U.S. imports
from the Caribbean totaled more than USD$11 billion, representing a 178 percent
increase over the past decade while U.S. exports to the Caribbean totaled USD$12
billion , a 133 percent
increase over the past decade. “ Caribbean governments should do more to sell the diverse Caribbean investment story to the
right people, “said Felicia Persaud, founder , Hard Beat Communications, “the region is relevant despite what the
naysayers may claim with eight nations
in the Caribbean ranked in the top 100 fastest growing economies globally.”
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| Anthony Eterno, Caribbean affairs officer, US State Department ( credit: M. Reffes ) |
Next Up
The
‘State of the Industry ‘Conference will be held this year in Martinique from
October 15 to October 18 under the banner ‘Perfecting The Experience and Delivering Authenticity.’ ” Hosting the State of the Industry
Conference is a great honor and we are extremely proud of it, “said Karine
Roy-Camille, commissioner tourism, “we look forward to welcoming delegates to the
Isle of Flowers in October for a taste of our special brand of French-Creole
warmth and hospitality.” www.onecaribbean.org
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| Sainte Anne, Martinique (credit: Luc Olivier ) |
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Willy Monfret, model and spokesperson Guadeloupe Tourist Board, Sandra Venite, coordinator, trade and marketing,
Guadeloupe Tourist Board, (credit: M. Reffes )
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| Rum & Rhythm ( credit: CTO ) |
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| Rum and Rhythm ( credit : CTO) |
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| Anguilla Tourist Board ( credit: CTO) |
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| St. Vincent Tourist Board ( credit: CTO ) |
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Jamaica chef Brian
Lumley serves Jamaican-style cuisine on TV and at Bloomingdale’s (credit: JTB)
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