The Hon. Haydn Hughes, Minister of Infrastructure, Communications, Housing, Utilities and Tourism for Anguilla, joined by Mr. Kenroy Herbert, Chairman of the Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) and Mrs. Stacey Liburd, Director of Tourism, attended the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s (CTO’s) Caribbean Week when it returned to New York. The series of events is staged under the auspices of the CTO Foundation, and aims to showcase the vibrant Caribbean culture, foster engagement with the media, promote thought leadership, and encourage networking within the tourism industry.
“The CTO is a critically important organization as we individually and collectively seek to promote the region as the preferred leisure and business destination for US travellers, particularly those from the Northeast, our largest source market,” declared Minister Hughes. “Caribbean Week in New York offers us a platform to exchange ideas, discuss the latest industry trends, and engage with influential media partners,” he continued.
On Tuesday, June 6, Anguilla was featured on the WPIX-TV Channel 11 Morning Show, with news anchors Dan Mannarino and Hazel Sanchez. The island was the first destination featured in the network’s celebration of Caribbean-American Heritage Month and Caribbean Week, and the segment focused on Anguilla’s people, food, culture, attractions and ease of access for New Yorkers seeking the ideal spot for their next vacation.
“We enjoyed a robust winter season, but we need to maintain this momentum through the summer season,” stated ATB Chairman Herbert. “CTO Caribbean Week in New York is the ideal time for us to remind our potential visitors of all the reasons why they should consider the Caribbean, and in particular Anguilla, when making their summer vacation plans. Exciting events like our Summer Festival, which takes place in July/August are magnets for attracting incremental business to the island.”
On June 7, the ATB hosted a culinary experience, an elegant dinner at Eleven Madison Park for 26 leading media representatives from influential consumer and trade publications including Forbes, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveller, the New York Post, Essence, Architectural Digest, Indagare, The Points Guy, Travel Pulse, Luxury Travel Adviser, and more. Minister Hughes shared his experiences growing up in Anguilla and spoke to the importance of tourism as the vehicle for both economic and social development in Anguilla.
His unique insights inspired the journalists, giving them a greater appreciation for and understanding of the destination and its appeal to discerning travellers. The ATB also introduced their glossy new destination magazine, Uniquely Anguilla, and distributed the first print copies, hot off the press.
During the course of the week, the Anguilla delegation participated in a series of executive meetings at both the Directorial and Ministerial levels with their regional counterparts, to address issues facing the region and the organisation. The Tourism Industry Marketing Conference provided valuable networking opportunities, along with presentations on areas impacting the future of the travel sector including aviation, technology (AI), product developments and market diversification.
The week closed out with the Caribbean Week Media Marketplace, which attracted an interesting gathering of US and Caribbean media representatives.
