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CTO Invites Submissions for 2025 Caribbean Media Awards

BARBADOS (April 18, 2025) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is celebrating the exceptional work of journalists and influencers who capture the essence of the Caribbean through storytelling at the 2025 Caribbean Media Awards. Taking place during Caribbean Week in New York, from June 1 to 6, 2025, the awards will honor outstanding media contributions from the U.S. and the Caribbean. Submissions are open to public relations agencies, CTO member countries, and the journalistic community.

“The Caribbean is more than a destination. It’s a vibrant collection of cultures, histories and experiences that deserve to be shared with the world. These awards recognize the storytellers whose work ignites curiosity, inspires travel, and deepens the global appreciation for our region,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General & CEO of CTO.

Entries are sought in the following award categories:

• Best Feature Article or Story: Recognizes excellence in long-form storytelling (print or online) that provides in-depth analysis, compelling narratives, and unique perspectives on Caribbean culture, history, etc.
• Best News Reporting: Honors exceptional reporting of breaking news, events or issues of significance to the Caribbean region that demonstrates accuracy and journalistic integrity.
• Best Podcast/Radio: Celebrates excellence in podcasting/radio reporting, whether itʼs storytelling, interviews or discussions offering engaging and informative Caribbean content.
• Best Photojournalism: Celebrates impactful visual storytelling through photography, capturing the essence of life in the Caribbean region, from daily life to cultural events, natural landscapes, or social issues.
• Best Video Production: Honors outstanding video production, including broadcast news segments, short films, or online video content that showcases the richness and diversity of Caribbean culture, people and landscapes.
• Best Social Media Campaign: Recognizes innovative and effective social media campaigns (by journalists or influencers) that engage audiences, raise awareness, or promote positive change on issues relevant to the Caribbean region.
• Best Personal Immersive Story: Highlights a feature story that demonstrated time in the destination, integration and deep exploration of off-the-beaten-path in a destination.
• Diaspora Journalist of the Year: Honors members of the Diaspora community who impact tourism in the Caribbean region through their storytelling.
• Emerging Journalist of the Year: Spotlights the achievements of up-and-coming journalists, reporters or content creators who have demonstrated exceptional talent, potential and commitment to excellence in Caribbean media.

Only entries submitted by CTO government members, their public relations agencies or qualified media shall be eligible. Minimum circulation for newspaper or magazine entries is 20,000 (1,000 for Caribbean media). All entries must have been published or broadcast in the 2024 calendar year. Only one entry per person per category will be accepted. Submissions should showcase creativity and thoughtful knowledge of the Caribbean and have a provocative story angle.

Criteria for the judging of entries shall be:

• Content – Relevance, accuracy, cohesiveness of material, adherence to journalistic standards
• Structure & Form – Relevance of topic, clarity, pace, structure (introduction, development and conclusion), presentation of information and ideas
• Title – Relevance of title, concision, clarity
• Quality of Language – Use of language, quality of syntax, quality of sentence structure
• Originality – Originality of ideas, ability to spark audienceʼs curiosity, boldness, creativity

Entries that do not meet the selection criteria will be disqualified.

Depending on their assessment of the standard of entries, the judges may withhold awards in any category as they see fit. They may also ascribe “Special Mention” (without award) to an entry where warranted. Decisions of the judges shall be final.

Entrants are required to submit their contributions at https://bit.ly/caribbeanmediaawards2025 by the deadline of May 1, 2025.

For questions or further information, contact caribbeanweek@marketplaceexcellence.com.

CTO to Showcase the Caribbean at WTM Latin America 2025

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (April 2, 2025) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is set to make a strong impact at WTM Latin America 2025, taking place in São Paulo, Brazil, from April 14-16, 2025. For the first time, CTO will host a dedicated Caribbean Pavilion, creating a unified regional presence to showcase the Caribbean’s diverse tourism offerings. Located at Booth M90, the pavilion will feature representatives from Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Dominica, Guyana, Saint-Martin, and Turks & Caicos, providing a dynamic platform to engage with key stakeholders in the Latin American market.

As Latin America continues to emerge as an important source market for the Caribbean, CTO’s participation at WTM Latin America underscores the region’s commitment to strengthening partnerships, driving visitor arrivals, and showcasing the wide range of tourism experiences available across its member destinations. The Caribbean Pavilion will serve as a hub for pre-arranged trade meetings and multilingual services to enhance engagement. Through strategic networking and promotional activities, each participating destination will have the opportunity to connect with tour operators, travel agents, and media representatives, strengthening their presence in this growing market.

“CTO is excited to participate in WTM Latin America to engage with our partners in this growing market,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary General & CEO of CTO. “With increasing air connectivity and growing interest in the Caribbean from Latin American travelers, this event provides an invaluable platform for our member countries to showcase their distinct attractions, investment opportunities, and tourism developments.”

EM Marketing & Communication played a key role in facilitating this strategic partnership, leveraging its expertise in destination marketing and industry networking to strengthen CTO’s engagement in the Latin American market. Through its efforts, the Caribbean Pavilion will serve as a dynamic space for fostering new business relationships and expanding the region’s tourism reach.

“We are thrilled to support the CTO at WTM Latin America. This pavilion not only highlights the unique offerings of the Caribbean but also represents our commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships that drive sustainable growth in tourism. As Latin America emerges as a vital market for Caribbean travel, we recognize the immense potential for collaboration and engagement that will benefit both regions,” remarked Elsa Petersen, Founder & CEO at EM Marketing & Communication.

CTO’s presence at the event will also reinforce its mission of sustainable tourism development, highlighting regional initiatives that promote responsible travel, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation. Additionally, participating destinations will engage in B2B discussions to explore new opportunities in travel trade partnerships, airline collaborations, and market expansion strategies.

WTM Latin America is one of the region’s premier travel trade shows, attracting thousands of industry professionals from across Latin America and beyond. As part of its participation, CTO will also facilitate media engagements, reinforcing the Caribbean’s position as a top-tier destination for Latin American travelers seeking sun, sea, culture and adventure.

Inaugural CTO publication From the Sea Suite celebrates female leadership in the tourism industry

The inaugural issue of From the Sea Suite, the CTO’s annual publication dedicated to celebrating female leadership in the vital tourism industry. In this first issue, we feature over 40 remarkable female leaders from across the Caribbean and North America, all of whom work closely with the Caribbean Tourism Organization to fulfill our mandate.

This Women’s History Month, the Caribbean Tourism Organization is proud to spotlight the phenomenal women leading, shaping and transforming the region’s tourism industry.

From trailblazing ministers and directors to fearless CEOs and rising stars, the women featured in this special digital magazine reflect the strength, passion and innovation driving Caribbean tourism forward.

View From the Sea Suite.

CTO and CDB Partner to Strengthen Tourism Workforce Development in the Caribbean

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (March 18, 2025) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB, the Bank) are collaborating on a new initiative to modernize tourism education and workforce development across the Caribbean – strengthening the region’s competitiveness in an industry vital to its economic stability.

The Tourism Human Capital Development Project, funded through CDB’s Caribbean Technological Consultancy Services (CTCS) Network, will allocate about US$400,000 to update training materials, develop workforce management tools, and deliver professional development programs.

Titled “Enhancing the Knowledge and Skills of Tourism Workers in the Caribbean Region”, the project aims to bolster the sustainability of the tourism industry, particularly for micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). By modernizing educational resources, the initiative will enhance tourism curricula, improve workplace management, and expand training opportunities for employers, workers and entrepreneurs in CTO member countries.

“These efforts will equip industry professionals with the skills needed to adapt to evolving market demands and ensure the sector’s long-term resilience,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General & CEO of CTO. “Strengthening our current and future workforce – from students and educators to MSMEs and industry leaders – is key to the sector’s growth. Through targeted training, technical assistance, and enhanced educational resources, this project empowers individuals and businesses to elevate industry standards, improve service delivery, and drive sustainable tourism development across the region.”

The initiative builds on findings from the 2022 Regional Human Resource Development Knowledge and Skills Audit (also financed and supported by the Bank), which identified critical skills and knowledge gaps in the sector. The project will update CTO’s tourism education materials from primary school through to university level, design an online workforce management platform, and introduce training focused on digital innovation and leadership.

“We are grateful to CDB, and its CTCS Network, for supporting this initiative to enhance the competitiveness of the Caribbean tourism workforce and businesses,” Regis-Prosper added.

According to L. O’Reilly Lewis, CDB’s Acting Director of Projects, the project advances strategic efforts to build production resilience and promote private sector operations, including MSMEs. He added that “the Bank is pleased to engage and support CTO with this initiative. We recognize the tourism industry’s significance to many of our regional economies and CDB’s Borrowing Members in terms of its contribution to both economic and social development. The Bank’s contribution to this project complements our ongoing efforts to engender a skilled and adaptable workforce in tourism-related businesses aimed at sustaining the competitiveness of the industry.”

With global economic uncertainties, increased competition and a growing emphasis on sustainable tourism, industry experts say attracting and retaining skilled workers will be crucial to the region’s economic future.