LONDON, UK (8 Sept, 2010) – A high-level delegation of Caribbean tourism ministers in London this week as part of a regional mission to develop closer ties and lobby British government, has been meeting with the Commonwealth Secretariat. Hon. John Maginley MP, Minister of Tourism Civil Aviation and Culture for Antigua and Barbuda and Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization said: “This ... 

London, UK (6 September 2010)  -  National British newspapers the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail and the UK’s nationwide news service The Press Association have already reported news of the Caribbean tourism ministers delegation in London this week, as have travel specialist press such as Travel Weekly, Travelmole and Travel Trade Gazette. At the end of the first day of intense meetings with members... 

BARBADOS (September 7, 2010) – For the first time, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is hosting a high-level leadership strategy conference, taking place in Barbados, October 8-11, 2010.  Ministers, commissioners and directors of tourism, as well as senior officials  of all tourism-related industries, including labour unions, airlines and airports authorities, hoteliers and other private... 

New York, NY (Sept 7, 2010) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has tapped Quinn & Co., a New York City-based award-winning public relations firm, to handle the USA PR efforts for the region. After a multi-stage PR review process, which began with 20 proposals and culminated with presentations by six companies in the finals, Quinn & Co. was selected as the agency of record for CTO. ... 

Pictured left to right are David Jessop Managing Director of the Caribbean Council, Hugh Riley, Secretary General, Caribbean Tourism Organisation Hon. John Maginley MP, Minister of Tourism Civil Aviation and Culture for Antigua and Barbuda and Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism OrganisationHon. Glynis Roberts MP, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Grenada Senator the Hon. Richard Skerritt, Minister... 

Marigot, Saint-Martin—Friday, September 3, 2010—The Saint-Martin Tourist Office is pleased to report that the Island has sustained only minimal damage from hurricane Earl that passed 30 miles north of the island on Monday, August 30, 2010 -         There are no reports of injuries or structural damage. -         Hotel properties report no serious damages and that all visitors... 

Like St. Lucia, Dominica has lost one of its cruise liners. After almost 20 years of doing business with Dominica, the management of Carnival Victory cited the high costs of fuel as the main reason for the cancellation. Authorities in the Nature Isle have expressed regret over that decision, which Former Tourism Minister Charles Savarin has “a major blow to local tourism”. Just April this year,... 

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — If you want to showcase your destination, company or product to cruise executives, destination governments, tour operators, ship agents and all facets of the industry spanning the globe from Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America, then the 17th Annual FCCA Conference & Trade Show in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic is the place... 

ISSUED AT 11:15AM ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, 31st August 2010 – LIAT wishes to advise its passengers of the possibility of further disruptions to its services as a result of the impending passage of Tropical Storm Fiona through the Leeward Islands later today and tomorrow. All passengers with confirmed bookings for travel to Antigua, St. Kitts, Nevis, St Maarten, the US and British Virgin Islands, Anguilla,... 

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – The Dominica government Monday said the decision by Carnival Cruise lines to withdraw one of its vessels after 21 years will have a severe impact on the local tourism sector. Immigration Minister Charles Savarin told a news conference that the company had indicated it would stop the cruise line “Victory” from making its weekly calls here from November 2. “The loss of... 

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, 30th August 2010 – LIAT announces the resumption of a number of its services to and from Antigua effective today, Monday August 30. The following flights will operate today: ·          LI 364 – From Barbados and Dominica ·         LI 766 – From Barbados and St. Lucia ·         LI 662 – From Barbados and Guadeloupe ·         LI 610... 

Anthony CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – The St Lucia government has criticised the main opposition Labour Party over allegations that the collapse of an agreement for the construction of a hotel here could result in the State losing 500 acres of land. In a weekend statement, the St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) said that the receiver for the collapsed German bank, Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander Limited,... 

ISSUED AT 10:15AM ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, August 29, 2010 – LIAT on Sunday announces the cancellation several flights as Tropical Storm Earl hurried towards the Leeward Islands. The cancelled flights are: ·         LI 500 – Antigua/Santo Domingo ·         LI 506 – Antigua/St. Kitts ·         LI 501 – Santo Domingo/Antigua ·         LI 553 – Anguilla/Antigua ·        ... 

LIAT/TROPICAL STORM EARL ADVISORY # 1 ISSUED AT 5:30PM ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, August 28, 2010 – LIAT wishes to advise that it will be forced to suspend some services from Sunday afternoon due to the expected passage of Tropical Storm Earl over the Leeward Islands. The following flights are likely to be affected: ·         LI 508/509 – Antigua/St. Maarten/Tortola/St. Maarten/Antigua ·        ... 

Brown HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC — Bermuda has recorded its best ever second-quarter total of cruise ship arrivals, Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown said on Wednesday. Brown told a news conference that 171,295 cruise passengers stepped ashore between April and June. “Cruise arrivals soared over 37 per cent during this quarter, an increase from the 124,553 cruise arrivals in 2009,” he... 

Blackmore ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – the Dominica government says it has been given the green light by the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation (ECCA) to commence night landing after a series of test flights “Based on discussion with the director of the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority, (ECCA) this week we will get certification for landing and take-off paving the way for commercial activity... 

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – The St. Kitts and Nevis government says it will lift a 15-year old ban on the importation of jet skis into the twin-island Federation. The ban on the small water sport craft was imposed after an accident at sea left a sea bather nursing injuries to the head. “Over the last 15 years, the propulsion technology for jet skis has changed thereby eliminating the propeller... 

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – Acting Chief Executive Officer of regional airline LIAT Brian Challenger has made it clear that the island-hopping carrier is not opposed to competition. “We welcome competition. We are quite confident in our ability to continue to provide a service which we think the region requires and we think the competition actually complements what we are doing,” Challenger told... 

Blackmore ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Aviation officials here are upbeat following a history-making flight on Tuesday night by regional airline LIAT testing the night landing facilities at the Melville Hall Airport. “I think what we have seen tonight demonstrates LIAT’s level of competence with flying and to have total control of the sky,” said Aviation Minister Rayburn Blackmore. We in Dominica... 

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, August 18, 2010 – Regional airline LIAT on Tuesday carried out a series of test flights, in the night, at Dominica’s Melville Hall Airport. “Several concerns were identified during the test flights and these items will be reviewed with the regulatory authorities,” Director of Flight Operations Capt. George Arthurton said. “Even though we have done the test flights,... 

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The shareholder governments of the regional airline, LIAT, are being urged to examine new options to finance the modernisation of the airline. Acting Chief Executive Officer, Brian Challenger, said that while the airline recorded a small profit on its operations in 2009, an aging fleet, maintenance costs and ongoing industrial disputes were taking a toll on the company’s... 

Hotel specials run from now until December 2010 CASTRIES, Saint Lucia (August 12, 2010) – The island of Saint Lucia is revving up for a fantastic fall fiesta as many of its acclaimed hotels announce cool autumn deals. The tailor-made packages, offering up to 60 percent savings, free nights and food and beverage credits, have already started and run until the start of the peak winter season in... 

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – LIAT and the Grenada Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU) on Tuesday said a deal had been struck to bring to an end the latest labour dispute at the regional airline. The deal on salary and wage adjustments for the two-year period July 2008 to June 2010 follows a sick out by staff at the Maurice Bishop International Airport and the airline’s city office last... 

CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC -Director General of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) Alec Sanguinetti has called for a re-tooling of the region’s tourism industry in the wake of the recent decline caused by the world economic and financial crisis. Sanguinetti told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) such action was necessary so that the industry could capitalise on the resurgence that will accompany... 

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The regional airline, LIAT, has denied reports that one of its aircraft malfunctioned while attempting to land at Piarco International airport in Trinidad on Friday. The airline also said that it was resuming normal service to Grenada on Saturday after suspending the operations due to industrial action by employees in that country. In a statement, LIAT said that the aircraft... 

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, August 05, 2010 – LIAT wishes to advise that its employees at the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA) and several employees at its City Ticketing Office in Grenada called in sick today, Thursday, August 05, 2010. As a result of the industrial action, LI 761/760 which was scheduled to operate Grenada/Port-of-Spain/Grenada has been cancelled. All other scheduled flights... 

New UK PM David Cameron. *Photo: greatersurbiton.wordpress.com BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados, which depends on the United Kingdom  market for most of its tourists, is not holding out much hope that the new David Cameron-led coalition administration will immediately repeal the controversial Air Passenger Duty (APD), being levied on passengers to the region out of the UK. Tourism Minister... 

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas government says China has “given formal approval” to enter into a joint venture to build a multi-billion dollar mega-tourist resort that had previously been put on hold. A brief government statement said that China’s ambassador to the Bahamas, Dingxian Hu, had advised the government “that his Government has given formal approval for various agencies of the... 

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, July 27, 2010 – Regional airline LIAT said recent technical failures from various utility service providers within its network have been negatively impacting its operations. The company is pointing out that it has been experiencing some difficulties in its communication network, as a direct result of the technical failures at the utility companies. LIAT listed three recent... 

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (26 July, 2010) – The Caribbean goes to Canada this October, taking along its vibrancy, diversity and energy. The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) – an international agency responsible for the development of the region’s tourism sector – takes the true spirit of the Caribbean to Canada’s two largest cities, Toronto and Montreal, during Caribbean Week in Canada. From... 

Jagdeo GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – President Bharrat Jagdeo has defended his government’s decision to invest in a new 160-room hotel, brushing aside remarks by the chairman of a leading hotel in the country. “I think we need not one but three more modern hotels for this country, not captured by the narrow vision of people like (Robert) Badal and the others,” Jagdeo said. “We have to grow this... 

SHANGHAI, China, CMC – Tourism Minister Richard Sealy has stoutly defended moves by the Barbados government to tap into China and other emerging markets, saying if the island “is serious about the tourism business, we have to make sure we are there”. But the move does not have the full backing of former prime minister Owen Arthur, who says while the island has prospered as a premium destination,... 

Sylma Brown-Bramble BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (19 July, 2010) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has named a familiar face to the key vacant post of director of CTO USA, with responsibility for marketing the Caribbean throughout the Americas. A Commonwealth of Dominica native, Sylma Brown Bramble has been confirmed to the post effective immediately. Ms. Brown Bramble, the CTO’s former deputy... 

ANGUILLA/ST. MAARTEN -After a series of talks, government officials in both St Maarten and Anguilla have come to an agreement that they say will significantly improve the guest experience coming via ocean charter from the dock at Simpson Bay Lagoon to Anguilla. Under the new agreement, among the areas of improvement for visitors travelling to Anguilla will be easier access to the ferry boats and ... 

Anguilla’s Chief Minister Hon. Hubert Hughes. Anguilla’s Chief Minister Hon. Hubert Hughes, departed Anguilla for Barbados on the 5th of May for meetings and the CTO conference on Sustainable Tourism. While there, Mr. Hughes met with representatives of the European Union, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP), the Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados...