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Home » TOURISM NEWS » Caribbean Tourism Celebrates A Powerful 2025 Week In New York, Uniting Regional Leaders Around Innovation, Sustainability, And Strategic Growth Tuesday, June 10, 2025Caribbean Week in New York 2025 wrapped up on Thursday, earning strong commendation from the Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), who hailed the event as a remarkable showcase of regional solidarity, strategic foresight, and progressive leadership across the Caribbean tourism sector.“This is my first Caribbean Week as Chairman of the CTO and based on all the feedback we received, it went extremely well,” said Gooding-Edghill, who also serves as Minister of Tourism and International Transport for Barbados. “We are certainly delighted that we’ve had so many participants (over 200) registered. It also tells us that the organization is going in the right direction.”Centered around the theme “Caribbean Resilience: Crafting Tomorrow’s Tourism,” the week-long event united tourism executives, cultural figures, and media professionals for a dynamic lineup of forums, interactive workshops, and strategic networking sessions—all aimed at steering the future direction of the Caribbean’s tourism industry.One of the event’s highlights was the Council of Ministers and Commissioners Meeting. “We were in the session for just over four hours, which speaks to the value of the contributions at that meeting. We’ve also specifically laid out additional work that the CTO will have to undertake on (behalf of members),” said Minister Gooding-Edghill. Andrea Franklin, CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., presided over the Board of Directors meeting as Chairman of the CTO Board.Gooding-Edghill highlighted the critical role of comprehensive data and research in effective decision-making, noting that continuous improvement in data collection and analysis is essential for strategic growth. He pointed out the need to refine metrics and gather deeper insights to better align regional efforts and strengthen the Caribbean’s global tourism position.A major highlight of Caribbean Week was the official unveiling of the CTO’s Reimagine Plan for 2025 to 2027. This forward-looking roadmap outlines the organization’s priorities for the next three years, structured around five foundational pillars: advocacy, enhancing market competitiveness, advancing tourism intelligence, promoting sustainable and regenerative tourism practices, and investing in talent development across the sector.“We will continue to focus on the Reimagine program. It’s an exciting time for us as CTO … ever so often you have to look back and you have to look internally and see where you are and where you want to go … and that is the Reimagine plan for us,” said Chairman Gooding-Edghill.CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper was joined in New York last week by a distinguished group of senior tourism leaders from across the Caribbean region, showcasing the strength of regional collaboration and shared commitment to advancing tourism development.The delegation included prominent officials such as ministers and directors of tourism from destinations including Barbados, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, the Bahamas, Grenada, and more—representing a wide spectrum of Caribbean territories unified in vision and purpose.The CTO Chairman also spotlighted the growing involvement of the organization’s Allied Members, recognizing their vital contributions to destination marketing and sector support. Their active participation in the special forum titled “Beyond Borders: Positioning the Caribbean Tourism Industry in a Shifting Travel Landscape” was particularly noted. According to the Chairman, the dialogue during this session provided valuable insights and addressed key challenges currently facing the Caribbean travel sector.The Chairman also addressed intra-regional travel, acknowledging progress and the work ahead. “Connectivity within the Caribbean continues to be a challenge … we have to ensure that we improve connectivity and there is a CTO Airlift Committee … tasked with not only bringing solutions to the table, but also making recommendations so we can advance greater connectivity.”Looking ahead to the 2025 State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Barbados, slated for the Fall, Gooding-Edghill signaled that connectivity, tourism growth, and economic linkages will be central to discussions. “The only way you can grow your tourism business is by increasing spend or by driving additional traffic to the destination, and we believe in both,” he said. “And of course, ensuring that we have a strong linkages program with the agriculture, manufacturing sectors within the Caribbean so that we can retain more of the foreign exchange that is spent within the Caribbean.”the Chairman emphasized that one of the most meaningful outcomes was the platform it created for industry professionals to engage, collaborate, and share innovative ideas. He stressed that Caribbean Week went far beyond typical networking—it served as a vital space for exploring evolving travel trends. The wide range of expert panelists and thought leaders underscored the CTO’s commitment to future-oriented strategies and inclusive dialogue within the tourism sector.“I extend heartfelt thanks to Minister Ian Gooding-Edghill and CEO Andrea Franklin for their outstanding leadership throughout Caribbean Week in New York,” stated CTO Secretary-General & CEO Dona Regis-Prosper. “Their vision, energy and commitment to advancing regional collaboration and sustainable growth were evident in every aspect of this year’s event. We are charting a bold and inclusive path forward for Caribbean tourism, and the success of Caribbean Week 2025 reflects the strength of that direction.”CWNY 2025 received generous backing from a diverse group of sponsors committed to strengthening Caribbean tourism.Platinum partners included Dominica and the U.S. Virgin Islands, demonstrating their top-tier support for the event.Gold-level sponsorship came from Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Global Ports Holding, and Travel & Adventure Shows, each playing a key role in elevating the week’s success.Silver sponsorship was provided by Sandals Resorts International and St. Kitts, reflecting strong industry collaboration.Bronze supporters featured a broad mix of destinations and companies, including Adara (a RateGain company), Anguilla, Barbados, Carnival Corporation & plc, Saint Lucia, and TEMPO Networks.Caribbean Tourism’s dynamic presence at the 2025 Caribbean Week in New York underscored the region’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and unified growth. By bringing together top-tier tourism leaders and stakeholders, the event laid a strong foundation for a resilient and future-ready industry. As the Caribbean charts its path forward, the collaborative spirit and strategic vision showcased in New York will continue to drive meaningful transformation across the region’s tourism landscape.
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