Caribbean leaders to headline Caribbean Week in New York

By AI, Created 4:21 PM UTC, May 27, 2026, /AGP/ – Top Caribbean tourism officials will gather in New York on June 1 for Caribbean Week 2026, a major regional event focused on strategy, marketing, airlift and tourism innovation. The meeting comes as Caribbean destinations look to deepen cooperation and strengthen their pitch to travelers and industry partners.

Why it matters: - Caribbean Week in New York gives regional tourism leaders a visible platform to coordinate strategy at the start of Caribbean American Heritage Month. - The event is designed to push collaboration on marketing, airlift, sustainability and tourism innovation across Caribbean destinations. - The gathering also helps position the Caribbean as a unified travel brand at a time of intense global competition.

What happened: - Governor Albert Bryan Jr. of the U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley and Caribbean Tourism Organization Chairman Ian Gooding-Edghill will lead a high-level delegation at Caribbean Week in New York 2026. - The event begins Monday, June 1, at InterContinental New York Times Square. - Caribbean Week is organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization under the theme “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences.” - CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper said the event is a critical platform for collaboration, strategy development and celebration of the region’s tourism industry. - Governor Bryan will deliver remarks at the Opening Ceremony on Monday, June 1. - Premier Wheatley will join the session “Around the Caribbean in 60 Minutes” with the CTO Council of Ministers. - Gooding-Edghill will deliver the opening keynote address.

The details: - The weeklong program includes strategic meetings, workshops, networking sessions and special events. - Planned discussions will cover tourism leadership, marketing strategies, airlift development, inclusive tourism, sustainability and the next generation of Caribbean tourism innovation. - Featured events include an all-day marketing conference, the Caribbean Media Awards, the CTO Foundation Scholarship Awards Luncheon and the launch of CTO TV. - The schedule also includes a media and travel trade marketplace, an allied members showcase breakfast and the official launch of a new supply-side initiative for Caribbean tourism. - Sponsors include the United States Virgin Islands, Antigua & Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, St. Kitts, Global Ports Holding, Grenada, Sandals and SITA. - Additional sponsors include Barbados, Sojern, Travel & Adventure Show, Trove Tourism Development Advisors, Bay Gardens Resorts, Carnival Corporation in partnership with Acordis International Corp., Diamonds International, Expedia Group, Sunrise Airways, Travel Unity, TRÈFLE and Virgin Voyages. - Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase Partners are the Inter-American Development Bank and Royal Caribbean. - Registration and event information are available here.

Between the lines: - The leadership lineup signals that Caribbean destinations are using the New York event to project unity around shared tourism priorities. - The focus on airlift, marketing and supply-side development suggests the region is trying to address both demand growth and the infrastructure needed to support it. - The breadth of sponsors and partners shows the event’s reach across government, airline, cruise, hotel and travel sectors.

What’s next: - Delegates will spend the week in New York on policy discussions, industry meetings and promotional events. - Caribbean tourism leaders are expected to use the forum to refine regional messaging and partnerships heading into the rest of the travel year. - CTO will continue promoting the event through its channels and the Caribbean tourism network.