By Bevan Springer, Market Place Excellence

November 15, 2024

Remembering Lorine Charles-St. Jules

Our team at Marketplace Excellence mourns the loss of Lorine Charles-St. Jules, former CEO of the St. Lucia Tourism Authority, who passed away this week.

Lorine was a driven, passionate, and highly respected tourism marketer who made many personal sacrifices to promote her beloved St. Lucia and uplift her Caribbean neighbors. 

With unwavering dedication, she contributed significantly to the growth of St. Lucia’s tourism sector, always approaching her responsibilities with clarity and commitment. Lorine understood the importance of relationships, as demonstrated by the heartfelt tributes from industry peers across the Caribbean and beyond. 

Not only was she a results-driven tourism professional, but Lorine was also a caring, humble, and warm-hearted individual who shared the essence of Caribbean hospitality with everyone she encountered. Her impact on those around her was profound and lasting.

The Caribbean has been enriched by her life and mourns the passing of one of its brightest stars. May she rest in peace.

Caribbean shines at World Travel Market 2024

CTO Secretary-General & CEO Dona Regis-Prosper and her team had a highly productive meeting with Julia Simpson, President & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (third from right), at WTM in London. From left to right are Aliyyah Shakeer, CTO’s Director of Research; Evelyne Freiermuth, WTTC Government Affairs Director; Florian Valmy-Devillers, Business Development Director for the CTO Chapter UK & Europe; and WTTC Senior Vice President Virginia Messina.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) marked a highly successful presence at this year’s World Travel Market (WTM) in London, with strategic engagements and productive discussions that set the stage for a strong future. Led by Secretary-General & CEO Dona Regis-Prosper and Director of Research Aliyyah Shakeer, CTO showcased the region’s tourism potential and reaffirmed partnerships with key global industry players.

The Caribbean Pavilion at WTM, along with individual destination stands, were vibrant hubs for attendees, showcasing the region’s diverse offerings and fostering fruitful collaborations. Regis-Prosper was among a number of Caribbean speakers, including Rosa Harris, Cayman Islands Director of Tourism, and Colin James, CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, who captivated audiences during panel discussions.

One standout moment was the Ministerial Roundtable, which offered a platform for the CTO to connect with members and industry leaders. This high-level meeting facilitated the exchange of ideas and the exploration of new growth opportunities for the Caribbean tourism sector. Katrina Dawson from ForwardKeys delivered an insightful presentation on current travel trends, highlighting a 9% year-to-date increase in Caribbean air arrivals compared to 2023. 

Shakeer outlined a transformative vision for the organization’s research capabilities with a strategic focus on improving data collection, standardizing reports, and enhancing partnerships with industry leaders. Upcoming initiatives include the launch of a tourism statistics dashboard, which will centralize key metrics and make data more accessible for stakeholders, empowering member countries to make data-driven decisions for sustainable growth.

Florian Valmy-Devillers, Business Development Director for the CTO UK and Europe Chapter, also addressed the roundtable and emphasized the importance of a cohesive marketing strategy. He shared exciting plans for 2025, including expanding the Caribbean’s presence in British and European markets through targeted outreach and strategic media partnerships.

Tobago Secretary talks tourism at World Travel Market 2024

screenshot Councillor Tashia Burris of Tobago. To watch video clock HERE

Tobago brought its unique flair to World Travel Market 2024. In this interview, Councillor Tashia Burris, Secretary of Tourism for Tobago, shares the diverse opportunities being explored, from the island’s vibrant new Carnival product and rich cultural heritage to sports tourism offerings and emerging hotel developments. She also highlights the powerful synergy of Trinidad and Tobago coming together on the global stage.

Barbados celebrates Caribbean Tourism Month

screenshot Andrea Franklin, CEO, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and Chairman, Board of Directors, Caribbean Tourism Organization. To watch video click HERE

Caribbean Tourism Month opened this month with a message from Andrea Franklin, CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and Chairman of the CTO’s Board of Directors. From being awarded Best Tourist Board at the Global Travel Awards to the Barbados Food and Rum Festival capturing the title of Caribbean’s Best Culinary Festival for the second consecutive year, 2024 is shaping up to be a landmark year for Bimshire.

The CTO is inviting everyone to celebrate the theme, “ONE CARIBBEAN: Building a Resilient Future,” highlighting the limitless potential of tourism.  Happy Caribbean Tourism Month!

Meet CMEx 2024 honorees

Simón Suárez, Vice President, Grupo Puntacana (left) and Marie McKenzie, Sr. Vice President of Government & Destination Affairs, Carnival Corporation & plc will be honored in Miami next month.

Digital Digest

Quotable Caribbean

“I have a duty to talk about our region – how to get to it, what is on offer, and then I can talk about the Cayman Islands as well. But, equally, as a Caribbean region, we have to work together. There’s no solo venture for the Caribbean. We have to be purposeful. We’re up against safaris in Africa, Dubai as a destination, Paris, Italy – all of these traditional markets that have a following (and) have a positioning that is super strong that we need to break through to be able to bring travelers into the Caribbean.” – Rosa Harris, Director of Tourism, Cayman Islands

Medical Moment

World Day of Remembrance (WDoR 2024) for Road Traffic Victims will be observed on November 17. Since the first recorded road death 125 years ago, over 50 million people have died worldwide, with hundreds of millions more injured, resulting in severe economic impacts on communities and families. 

According to the United Nations, Latin America and the Caribbean experience 110,000 road deaths and over 5 million injuries in road accidents. 

The Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 aims to reduce road casualties by 50 percent. 

This year’s campaign theme, “Remember. Act. Support.” emphasizes the importance of honoring those who have lost their lives, supporting those who have been affected, and taking action to prevent future road deaths and injuries.

Marketplace Excellence Corporation (MPE) is a global public relations, marketing and media company.

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