Toronto Plays Host to Country Leaders,
Chefs, Entertainers and more
Canadians will have the Caribbean closer to home this fall when Caribbean Week Toronto 2008 (www.caribbeanweek.ca) descends upon Toronto for its second year from September 24-26, 2008. Organized by the Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC), Caribbean Week Toronto brings together the most influential policy makers, financial leaders, marketing professionals and tourism industry officials to interact and discuss both tourism and investment opportunities in the region. It also serves to provide a taste of the region to inspire travel and showcase its diversity.
“The first Caribbean Week in Toronto last year exceeded our expectations by attracting more than 5,000 attendees,” said Hugh Riley, co-chief operating officer for CTDC. “This year we will provide another exciting program and interactive events where attendees can immerse themselves in Caribbean hospitality and understand why their life needs the Caribbean.”
This year’s Caribbean Week Toronto, themed Secrets of the Caribbean, honors Caribbean-Canadian achievement, recognizes bi-lateral business success and reveals investment opportunities in the travel and tourism industry alongside cultural celebrations of the multi-lingual Caribbean destinations. The three-day affair will feature a variety of distinctive events highlighting the Caribbean experience. It kicks off in the heart of downtown Toronto with a Caribbean Travel Conference to be held at the Sutton Place Hotel on Wednesday, September 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registered participants will have the opportunity to gain insight into the future of the Caribbean market and learn how to increase their business potential by unlocking the secrets to selling the destination. Dedicated breakout sessions in the afternoon will be targeted to travel agents and those interested in investment opportunities in the region.
Other highlights of Caribbean Week Toronto 2008 include:
- Town Hall Meetings: On Wednesday, September 24 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Sutton Place Hotel, Caribbean government officials and their nationals will be available to converse in an open forum on a variety of topics. The Town Hall meetings are especially designed to reach out to Canada’s extensive Caribbean Diaspora as well as those with a vested interest, or simply a curiosity in the region. This event is open to the public and has no admission fee.
- Media Marketplace and Caribbean Awards Luncheon: On Thursday, September 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the media are invited to have one-on-one interactions with tourism officials, hotels, tour operators and airline representatives to gain valuable product information. Awards recognizing media and a member of the travel agent community who have made outstanding contributions to the region will be the highlight of the luncheon event. This ticketed and by invitation only event will be hosted at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel.
- Caribbean Fair at Yonge -Dundas Square: Welcoming Canadians to the Caribbean is the focus of this vibrant celebration in downtown Toronto on Friday, September 26. From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Yonge-Dundas Square will feature Caribbean performers, celebrity chef demonstrations with tastings and chances to win Caribbean vacations. Representatives from the tourist offices, hotels, tour operators, travel agents, cruise lines, airlines and other suppliers featuring the Caribbean will provide the latest product updates and vacation offerings available. Specially priced Caribbean Week travel deals will be available for booking with travel agent partners exhibiting at the event.
- Rum & Rhythm Festival: In celebration of the Caribbean region’s award-winning rums, Caribbean Week will feature Rum & Rhythm from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, September 26 in the private Caribbean Tent at Yonge-Dundas Square. The ticketed event will include a sampling of premium Caribbean rums and rum cocktails, celebrity chefs and mixologists, traditional Caribbean hospitality, musical performances and a silent auction including “one of a kind” vacations to the Caribbean. Must be over 19 years old to attend.
For more information on Caribbean Week Toronto 2008, to register for all events and to purchase tickets, visit: www.caribbeanweek.ca or call 416-935-0707 to speak to a representative from the Caribbean Tourism Development Company.
Partners
Partners supporting this year’s Caribbean Week Toronto include Puerto Rico, American Express and Travelocity.
The Caribbean Tourism Development Company
The Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC) is a marketing and business development unit, owned equally by the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). Its mission is to own, promote, protect, advance and enhance the Caribbean brand. The CTDC combines the resources of the Caribbean region’s destinations, accommodations and service providers to create a viable, cohesive, business unit that is able to identify commercial opportunities and allow the members of CHA and CTO to benefit collectively from those opportunities in ways that individually they could not. In all its endeavors the company engages only in activities that honor the Caribbean brand.
Media Contacts
Terence Gallagher/Anna Lagos
Lou Hammond & Associates
(212) 308-8880
terryg@lhammond.com; annal@lhammond.com
Hugh Riley
Caribbean Tourism Development Company
(212) 635-9530
hriley@caribtourism.com
|
