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| Caribbean Week in New York 2026 concluded after four days of high-level dialogue, strategic partnerships and thought leadership, reinforcing the Caribbean’s unified vision under the theme “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences.” Hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) at InterContinental New York Times Square, the event brought together tourism ministers, commissioners, industry leaders, media, travel advisors and students from across the region and beyond. The week featured ministerial discussions, a busy Caribbean Media and Travel Trade Marketplace, Marketing Conference, Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase, Caribbean Media Awards, CTO Foundation Scholarship Awards, and the Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Dinner & Awards. A major milestone was the launch of the CTO Tourism Supply Side Committee, an initiative aimed at strengthening regional linkages, increasing economic retention and building a more integrated and resilient Caribbean tourism economy. As Caribbean-American Heritage Month began, Caribbean Week once again demonstrated the region’s collective commitment to collaboration, innovation and sustainable growth, providing a powerful platform to showcase the Caribbean’s diverse experiences while shaping the future of tourism for the benefit of its people and economies. To follow news and highlights from Caribbean Week 2026, visit CTO’s social media platforms, CTO TV and caribbeantourismauthority.com. |
| Charmaine Spencer named CMO of Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority |
 Charmaine Spencer at Caribbean Week in New York last week |
| Charmaine Spencer has been appointed Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) following her successful tenure as the twin-island nation’s director of tourism for the Caribbean and Latin America, a position she has held since 2018. During her 15 years with the Authority, Spencer has served in several senior leadership roles including marketing manager, marketing consultant and, most recently, director of tourism for the Caribbean and Latin America. She has played an instrumental role in diversifying source markets, strengthening partnerships with airlines, the travel trade, media and industry stakeholders, navigating periods of crisis, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and elevating destination awareness through global marketing campaigns. As director of tourism for the Caribbean and Latin America, Spencer led initiatives that enhanced Antigua and Barbuda’s brand visibility and drove growth across key markets. She also played a pivotal role in securing new air and sea routes, boosting regional connectivity and further positioning Antigua and Barbuda as a Caribbean hub. Spencer’s appointment comes at a significant time as the destination builds on its tourism momentum, expands its presence in emerging markets, and integrates new technology and data-driven insights into its marketing strategy. As CMO, she will oversee ABTA’s global marketing and commercial strategy, including brand development, integrated marketing, public relations, market intelligence, trade and partnership marketing, and events strategy. Shermain Jeremy will succeed Spencer as director of tourism for the Caribbean and Latin America, bringing 18 years of destination marketing experience to the role. Jeremy currently serves as ABTA’s special projects and events manager, where she leads high-impact initiatives that strengthen the destination’s global brand, create new tourism products, deepen stakeholder engagement and generate new reasons for travelers to experience Antigua and Barbuda. The leadership appointments come as ABTA reports a strong 7% increase in stayover visitor arrivals during the first quarter of 2026 and positions itself to build on that momentum. |
| Quotable Caribbean |
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| “The Caribbean is one of the world’s most beloved travel destinations — and pets are increasingly part of the journey. PadsPass exists to make that possible, safely and seamlessly, for every family.” — Lauren Anders Brown, CEO & Co-Founder, PadsPass |
| Quotable Caribbean |
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| “Tourism must not only create wealth in the Caribbean; it must help keep that wealth in the Caribbean.” — Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister, St. Kitts and Nevis | Chairman, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) |
| Dominica appoints Wendy Lake as Destination Marketing Manager |
 Caribbean tourism professional Wendy Lake Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) has appointed Wendy Lake as its destination marketing manager. In this key leadership role, Lake will oversee strategic marketing initiatives designed to elevate the Nature Island’s global profile and drive sustainable visitor growth. Lake brings 16 years of experience in the Caribbean travel and tourism sector, most recently serving as international promotions specialist at Tourism Trinidad Limited. Her expertise spans destination branding, market research, stakeholder engagement and targeted promotional campaigns. Throughout her career, she has forged strong public- and private-sector partnerships to execute high-impact tourism initiatives. An alumna of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, she holds a Master’s degree in International Strategic Marketing. As destination marketing manager, Lake will lead the DDA’s core marketing team, focusing on innovative branding campaigns, collaborative trade partnerships and data-driven strategies across the destination’s primary source markets. Her mandate includes strengthening Dominica’s unique market positioning while enhancing the effectiveness of its international and regional promotional efforts. |
| Tink Bout It |
 “Tourism represents the singular most important element that will define Caribbean integration in the future. It’s the only industry over which we have had both competitive and comparative advantage in the region. And it’s the only industry that has survived the vicissitudes of time and the disruptions of weather and all the other global disruptions that have come. Tourism has survived and not only survived, but after, has thrived. So let us today make the pivot from a dominant demand side tourism to an effective supply side tourism.” — Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica |
| Medical Moment |
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| World Blood Donor Day is observed annually on June 14 to recognize the lifesaving impact of blood donation and thank voluntary donors for helping patients in need. Blood donations are essential for treating conditions such as anemia and cancer, supporting complex surgeries, and responding to emergencies including natural disasters and motor vehicle injuries. This year’s theme, Honoring the Heroes of Life, celebrates blood donors whose generosity helps save lives every day. In 2023, the Pan American Health Organization reported that 23 countries in Latin America and six non-Spanish-speaking Caribbean nations collected 9,212,861 units of blood. That represented an increase of approximately 16% compared with 2020 when 7,776,198 units were collected. World Blood Donor Day also highlights the need for governments and health systems across the region to continue encouraging voluntary blood donation and strengthening national blood collection programs to ensure safe and reliable supplies for those who need them most. |
| Caribbean Week in New York 2026 concluded after four days of high-level dialogue, strategic partnerships and thought leadership, reinforcing the Caribbean’s unified vision under the theme “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences.” Hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) at InterContinental New York Times Square, the event brought together tourism ministers, commissioners, industry leaders, media, travel advisors and students from across the region and beyond. The week featured ministerial discussions, a busy Caribbean Media and Travel Trade Marketplace, Marketing Conference, Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase, Caribbean Media Awards, CTO Foundation Scholarship Awards, and the Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Dinner & Awards. A major milestone was the launch of the CTO Tourism Supply Side Committee, an initiative aimed at strengthening regional linkages, increasing economic retention and building a more integrated and resilient Caribbean tourism economy. As Caribbean-American Heritage Month began, Caribbean Week once again demonstrated the region’s collective commitment to collaboration, innovation and sustainable growth, providing a powerful platform to showcase the Caribbean’s diverse experiences while shaping the future of tourism for the benefit of its people and economies. To follow news and highlights from Caribbean Week 2026, visit CTO’s social media platforms, CTO TV and caribbeantourismauthority.com. |
| Charmaine Spencer named CMO of Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority |
| Charmaine Spencer at Caribbean Week in New York last week |
| Charmaine Spencer has been appointed Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) following her successful tenure as the twin-island nation’s director of tourism for the Caribbean and Latin America, a position she has held since 2018. During her 15 years with the Authority, Spencer has served in several senior leadership roles including marketing manager, marketing consultant and, most recently, director of tourism for the Caribbean and Latin America. She has played an instrumental role in diversifying source markets, strengthening partnerships with airlines, the travel trade, media and industry stakeholders, navigating periods of crisis, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and elevating destination awareness through global marketing campaigns. As director of tourism for the Caribbean and Latin America, Spencer led initiatives that enhanced Antigua and Barbuda’s brand visibility and drove growth across key markets. She also played a pivotal role in securing new air and sea routes, boosting regional connectivity and further positioning Antigua and Barbuda as a Caribbean hub. Spencer’s appointment comes at a significant time as the destination builds on its tourism momentum, expands its presence in emerging markets, and integrates new technology and data-driven insights into its marketing strategy. As CMO, she will oversee ABTA’s global marketing and commercial strategy, including brand development, integrated marketing, public relations, market intelligence, trade and partnership marketing, and events strategy. Shermain Jeremy will succeed Spencer as director of tourism for the Caribbean and Latin America, bringing 18 years of destination marketing experience to the role. Jeremy currently serves as ABTA’s special projects and events manager, where she leads high-impact initiatives that strengthen the destination’s global brand, create new tourism products, deepen stakeholder engagement and generate new reasons for travelers to experience Antigua and Barbuda. The leadership appointments come as ABTA reports a strong 7% increase in stayover visitor arrivals during the first quarter of 2026 and positions itself to build on that momentum. |
| Quotable Caribbean |
|
| “The Caribbean is one of the world’s most beloved travel destinations — and pets are increasingly part of the journey. PadsPass exists to make that possible, safely and seamlessly, for every family.” — Lauren Anders Brown, CEO & Co-Founder, PadsPass |
| Quotable Caribbean |
|
| “Tourism must not only create wealth in the Caribbean; it must help keep that wealth in the Caribbean.” — Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister, St. Kitts and Nevis | Chairman, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) |
| Dominica appoints Wendy Lake as Destination Marketing Manager |
| Caribbean tourism professional Wendy Lake Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) has appointed Wendy Lake as its destination marketing manager. In this key leadership role, Lake will oversee strategic marketing initiatives designed to elevate the Nature Island’s global profile and drive sustainable visitor growth. Lake brings 16 years of experience in the Caribbean travel and tourism sector, most recently serving as international promotions specialist at Tourism Trinidad Limited. Her expertise spans destination branding, market research, stakeholder engagement and targeted promotional campaigns. Throughout her career, she has forged strong public- and private-sector partnerships to execute high-impact tourism initiatives. An alumna of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, she holds a Master’s degree in International Strategic Marketing. As destination marketing manager, Lake will lead the DDA’s core marketing team, focusing on innovative branding campaigns, collaborative trade partnerships and data-driven strategies across the destination’s primary source markets. Her mandate includes strengthening Dominica’s unique market positioning while enhancing the effectiveness of its international and regional promotional efforts. |
| Tink Bout It |
| “Tourism represents the singular most important element that will define Caribbean integration in the future. It’s the only industry over which we have had both competitive and comparative advantage in the region. And it’s the only industry that has survived the vicissitudes of time and the disruptions of weather and all the other global disruptions that have come. Tourism has survived and not only survived, but after, has thrived. So let us today make the pivot from a dominant demand side tourism to an effective supply side tourism.” — Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica |
| Medical Moment |
|
| World Blood Donor Day is observed annually on June 14 to recognize the lifesaving impact of blood donation and thank voluntary donors for helping patients in need. Blood donations are essential for treating conditions such as anemia and cancer, supporting complex surgeries, and responding to emergencies including natural disasters and motor vehicle injuries. This year’s theme, Honoring the Heroes of Life, celebrates blood donors whose generosity helps save lives every day. In 2023, the Pan American Health Organization reported that 23 countries in Latin America and six non-Spanish-speaking Caribbean nations collected 9,212,861 units of blood. That represented an increase of approximately 16% compared with 2020 when 7,776,198 units were collected. World Blood Donor Day also highlights the need for governments and health systems across the region to continue encouraging voluntary blood donation and strengthening national blood collection programs to ensure safe and reliable supplies for those who need them most. |
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making
The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
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