2025 News

CTO Appoints Norris Clement as Deputy Director of Professional Services

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (March 10, 2026) — The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has appointed tourism and human resource development professional Norris Clement as Deputy Director of Professional Services, strengthening the organization’s capacity to advance workforce development and professional advancement initiatives across the Caribbean tourism sector.

Clement brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across the public and private sectors, with recognized expertise in human resource development, service standards, quality assurance, business development and project management.

A national of Trinidad and Tobago, Clement has held senior leadership roles across multiple industries and has built a strong track record in tourism development and service excellence. Among his notable appointments was his role as Lead of the Service, Training, Attitude, Respect (STAR) Unit at Trinidad Tourism Development Company, where he led initiatives designed to strengthen service delivery standards across the tourism sector.

He also served as Manager of Customer Service and Training at ANSA Rentals, a division of the ANSA McAL Group, where he directed training and service excellence programs within a major corporate environment.

“As I assume this new role, I am excited to help shape a future-fit and future-forward tourism workforce while strengthening the capacity and competitiveness of the organizations and businesses that power our sector,” Clement said. “I look forward to working with colleagues, partners and stakeholders across the region to expand opportunities for learning, certification and professional development for tourism professionals, entrepreneurs and upcoming industry talent.”

Most recently, Clement served as project manager for the Caribbean Development Bank-funded CTO Tourism Human Capital Development Project 2025, where he provided strategic and operational leadership to support successful implementation of the initiative, including consultant coordination, stakeholder engagement and overall program execution.

In his new role, Clement will lead the advancement of CTO’s regional people development pillar in the Reimagine Plan, focusing on tourism education and training, workforce development, quality assurance, service excellence and professional advancement initiatives across member countries.

The appointment reinforces CTO’s ongoing commitment to strengthening human capital and supporting a competitive, resilient tourism sector across the Caribbean.

Caribbean Tourism and Cruise Leaders Align on Resilience, Recovery and Shared Growth

MIAMI (December 20, 2025) – Amid the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in October this year, Caribbean tourism ministers, directors and executives gathered aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas this month for an “Iconic Summit” hosted during the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) second annual Caribbean Weekend in Miami, to discuss the cruise industry’s pivotal role in recovery and long-term resilience and growth.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley detailed his company’s rapid response to the crisis, including delivering more than 100 pallets of essential supplies, generators, food and water to Jamaica’s port of Falmouth, working with partners to support distribution in hard-hit areas, and helping to provide meals in affected communities. In a candid discussion with CTO Secretary-General & CEO Dona Regis-Prosper, Bayley said the company sees itself as part of the Caribbean community: “I think over the years we’ve always tried to support the Caribbean communities. Especially in times of crisis, we answer the phone, and we try our best.”

CTO Chairman Ian Gooding-Edghill, Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport, thanked Royal Caribbean and his regional partners for their compassion and generosity in supporting Jamaica and Haiti in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

CTO Chairman Ian Gooding-Edghill (left) with Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley after the Iconic Summit

He also stressed the importance of building bridges between governments and the private sector, between countries and industries, and between challenges and shared opportunities. “The future of Caribbean tourism depends on our ability to reimagine together — to innovate, to collaborate and to believe in the boundless potential of our region,” he said, emphasizing data-driven policy, stronger connectivity and growth that prioritizes local communities.

Bayley called for “master planning” to ensure destinations can manage sustainable tourism development. He highlighted opportunities for cruise lines and destinations to collaborate and expand pathways to employment for Caribbean youth, including meeting with Caribbean labor ministers and industry leaders to address long-standing barriers to workforce participation. In addition, he elaborated on Royal Caribbean Group’s focus on forward-thinking sustainability initiatives such as environmental technologies, shore power systems, and resilient port development.

As the region welcomed millions of cruise visitors in 2025 despite setbacks, the summit delivered a clear message: with storms growing fiercer and more frequent, the Caribbean’s tourism engine remains vital to economies and jobs — and resilience must be built into every plan.

The event also featured cultural touches, including a Wizard of Oz performance and an appearance by the ship’s “Chief Dog Officer,” Rover, but the tone remained purposeful — including a call for all hands-on deck, and a reminder that tourism is everyone’s business.

Caribbean Resilience on Full Display as Jamaica and Haiti Vow Recovery After Hurricane Melissa

MIAMI (December 11, 2025) – In an impassioned address delivered at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) annual Holiday Dinner & Fundraiser on Friday, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, called on the region to transform its legendary resilience from sentiment into science, warning that the era of unprecedented mega-storms has arrived.

Speaking during CTO’s Caribbean Weekend in Miami at Loews Coral Gables Hotel just weeks after Hurricane Melissa – described by meteorologists as one of the most intense storms ever recorded in the Atlantic basin – Minister Bartlett revealed that preliminary damage assessments place losses in Jamaica alone at between 28-32 percent of GDP, with some international estimates exceeding US$10 billion.

“Once again, the recovery of tourism will be the spearhead for the recovery of the nation,” he declared, pointing to historic precedents with Hurricanes Ivan (2004), Irma and Maria (2017) and Dorian (2019). “When tourism restarts, incomes return, hope returns, and dignity returns.”

The Minister underscored that travel and tourism accounts for more than 30 percent of GDP across several Caribbean states and over 60 percent in some of the most tourism-dependent economies. In Jamaica, the sector directly and indirectly supports more than 300,000 jobs.

Drawing on three decades of hurricane impacts, he cited ECLAC figures showing US$136 billion in regional damage between 1990 and 2008, and stressed that two events in just two years – Beryl (2024) and now Melissa – signal a new climate reality that demands urgent, coordinated action.

“We need to build capacity, to not only foretell disruptions of this nature, but to be able to mitigate, to manage, to recover quickly, and to thrive afterwards,” Bartlett urged, highlighting the work of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) which he cofounded in Jamaica as a vital regional and global resource.

Innocent Junior Richard, Deputy Chief of Staff to Haiti’s Minister of Tourism, John Herrick Dessources, spoke to attendees from the heart. Having taken two days instead of two hours to reach Miami after domestic flights were suspended, Richard declared: “We want to let CTO know that we’re still alive, we’re still fighting.”

He reminded the audience that Haiti had faced Hurricane Matthew (2016), the devastating 2021 earthquake, and now Melissa – yet the country refuses to be defined by disaster. “When Haitians say ‘Sak Pase,’ you (answer) ‘N’ap boule’ … (it means) we’re fighting and we continue to fight,” he said, before thanking CTO and every guest in the room: “I hope you (have) come with your check to contribute for Haiti and Jamaica … Merci anpil for your generosity. Haiti is back in CTO!”

Minister Bartlett also thanked CTO and its partners for their solidarity with Jamaica and Haiti. “The same seas that draw millions of visitors also carry storms of historic force. Yet in every season of adversity, one truth remains constant. The Caribbean rises. Our capacity to rise is not an occasional response, it is our way of being. That is what we mean when we speak of resilience,” he said. “Tonight my heart is full, and I’ve never (been) more proud of my Caribbean-ness,” he declared.

Earlier in the evening, Ian Gooding-Edghill, Chairman of the CTO Ministerial Council and Minister of Tourism and International Transport for Barbados, expressed regional solidarity in support of Jamaica and Haiti: “We’re coming together as one Caribbean family, united by our resilience, our creativity, and our shared hope for the future.”

Patrons enjoyed musical performances by Vincentian soca sensation Kevin Lyttle, Jamaican reggae artists Shuga and Spragga Benz, and U.S. Virgin Islands steel pannist Stan Brown. Award-winning Barbadian media personality Alex Jordan was the master of ceremonies.

Proceeds from the CTO fundraiser will support tourism workers impacted by the storm.

Sponsors of the evening’s fundraiser included Barbados (Gold); U.S. Virgin Islands (Silver); Antigua & Barbuda, CTO Allied Board, and Dominica (Bronze).

CTO Unveils Dynamic Lineup for Caribbean Weekend in Miami

MIAMI (November 26, 2025) – A distinguished lineup of regional leaders, global tourism executives and Caribbean creatives will headline the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Caribbean Weekend in Miami, taking place December 4-8, 2025, at Loews Coral Gables Hotel.

Jamaica Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, will keynote the holiday dinner and fundraiser.

Among the featured talent are Vincentian soca sensation Kevin Lyttle, Jamaican musician Shuga, and U.S. Virgin Islands steel pan player Stan Brown who will perform at CTO’s fundraising dinner on Friday, December 5. Award-winning Barbadian media personality Alex Jordan will serve as master of ceremonies.

The annual four-day gathering brings together ministers, directors, entrepreneurs and partners committed to advancing Caribbean tourism and supporting communities in Jamaica and Haiti affected by Hurricane Melissa.

A full program-at-a-glance is available at https://bit.ly/caribbeanweekend.

Featured Speakers and Participants

Caribbean Weekend will feature contributions from leading voices shaping the regional and global tourism landscape, including:

• Ian Gooding-Edghill, Chairman, CTO Ministerial Council; Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Barbados
• Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica
• Owen Darrell, Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture & Sport, Bermuda
• Andrea Franklin, Chairman, CTO Board of Directors; CEO, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
• Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica
• Erin Wright, Acting CEO and Chief Operations Officer, Bermuda Tourism Authority
• Latia Duncombe, Chairman, CTO Cruise, Yachting and Ferry Committee; Director General of Tourism, Bahamas
• Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General and CEO, CTO
• William “Billy” Griffith, Chairman, CTO Allied Board of Directors
• Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean
• Jeff Hoffman, award-winning global entrepreneur, founder, investor and international keynote speaker
• Jacqueline Johnson, Chairman, CTO Foundation
• Neil Walters, Director of Finance and Resource Management, CTO

These leaders and innovators will address sustainable growth, cruise and airlift development, technology and innovation, resilience financing and the ongoing modernization of Caribbean tourism strategy.

On Friday, December 5, CTO and its Allied Members will host a holiday dinner and fundraiser with a goal of raising US$100,000 for the CTO Foundation, supporting disaster relief and tourism restoration in Jamaica and Haiti. Minister Edmund Bartlett will deliver the feature address at the event.

Kevin Lyttle to appear

Kevin Lyttle, the internationally acclaimed soca artist who reshaped the genre’s global reach, burst onto the music scene with his 2003 mega-hit “Turn Me On,” a chart-topper across Europe, Australia and the United States that went multi-platinum and earned placements on MTV and the Billboard Hot 100. He followed with additional No. 1 singles, including “Drive Me Crazy,” “Home for Carnival,” and later the reggaetón Billboard Tropical Chart-topper “Midnight.”

Lyttle has also proven himself a savvy entrepreneur with his Caribbean delivery app launched in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and a committed philanthropist through the Janice Lyttle Foundation, which has donated major medical supplies and is committed to battling heart disease.

Performance by Shuga

Born in Montego Bay, the soulful reggae artiste Shuga first gained national attention after winning Digicel Rising Stars in 2009. Her career spans collaborations with icons such as Marcia Griffiths, Queen Ifrica, Agent Sasco and Busy Signal, along with international tours and acclaimed recordings. Preparing for the release of her debut album Girl from Montego Bay next year, Shuga continues to deliver music rooted in resilience, empowerment and authenticity.

Master of Ceremonies: Alex Jordan

Award-winning media professional Alex Jordan will serve as MC for the evening. With more than 25 years of experience in broadcasting, diplomacy and community leadership, she is known for her coverage of seven ICC Cricket World Cups, two Olympic Games, and the 2006 FIFA World Cup. A Silver Sony Award honoree for her BBC coverage of Notting Hill and Leeds Carnival, Jordan brings an authentic Caribbean voice to global audiences.

Fluent in four languages and committed to youth development, she currently serves as Communications Lead for The Pierhead Barbados and as a Thought Leader with the National Transformation Initiative. She also holds board roles with Enterprise Growth Fund, GovTech Barbados Limited, and Global Super League.

On Saturday, December 6, attendees will participate in the signature “Reimagining Caribbean Tourism Together” summit aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. Sponsored by Royal Caribbean, this high-level forum features a one-on-one discussion between Michael Bayley and Dona Regis-Prosper, and will explore innovation, sustainability and competitiveness across the tourism ecosystem.

The program also features an Airbnb Tax Symposium, a timely session examining sharing-accommodation trends, tax policy considerations and opportunities for strengthened collaboration between governments, regulators and short-term rental platforms.

On Sunday, December 7, Caribbean Weekend concludes with the Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Awards & Fundraiser, honoring individuals whose work advances tourism, culture, media, business and sustainable development across the region. For further information, visit cmexmedia.org.

Throughout the weekend, visitors can explore the CTO Knowledge Exchange Kiosk, showcasing CTO’s latest research, intelligence products, training programs and development tools designed to support tourism’s growth, digital transformation and resilience.