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Canadians will find a taste of the Caribbean in Toronto and Montreal this fall when Caribbean Week in Canada (www.caribbeanweek.ca) returns for its third year, October 23 – November 1, 2009. Organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Caribbean Week in Canada brings together 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 Caribbean to showcase its diversity and inspire travel.
“We’re thrilled to return to Canada for our third year to show our appreciation to this ever-important tourism market,” said Hugh Riley, secretary general of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). “This year’s program will engage consumers, the Diaspora community, trade professionals, meeting planners, and media by providing valuable destination information through a number of events in Toronto and Montreal.”
The Caribbean Week in Canada 2009 schedule includes:
MONTREAL:
October 23-25, 2009
SITV Show in Montreal: Known as the largest consumer travel show in Canada, this event will take place at the Place Bonaventure. In 2008, the show attracted over 35,000 visitors. For the first time ever, the CTO will coordinate a Caribbean Pavilion for the Show to highlight the vacation experiences available throughout the Region.
TORONTO:
October 30, 2009
Press Conference: On Friday, October 30 from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., CTO representatives will brief the media on initiatives the Region is taking to attract tourism from Canada and provide an update on the state of the Caribbean tourism industry.
Caribbean Media Marketplace: From 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. immediately following the press conference, the media are invited to have one-on-one interactions with tourism officials, hotels, tour operators and airline representatives to gain valuable product information about the Caribbean. Media Marketplace will take place in the Fermenting Room in the Distillery District, known as one of the most remarkable venues in Canada.
Caribbean Awards Luncheon: Attended by Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism as well as award-winning media and leaders of the travel agency community, this luncheon serves to recognize Canadian-based consumer and trade media that have captured the essence of the Caribbean in their storytelling. It also honors a member of the travel agent community who has made outstanding contributions to the Region. This ticketed and by invitation only event will be hosted at the Fermenting Room in the Distillery District.
Rum & Rhythm Festival: In celebration of the Caribbean’s award-winning rums, Caribbean Week will feature this second annual event from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. also at the Fermenting Room. The ticketed event will include a sampling of premium Caribbean rums and rum cocktails showcased by master distillers, celebrity chefs and mixologists, traditional Caribbean hospitality, musical performances and a silent auction including “one of a kind” vacations to the Caribbean. All guests must be at least 21 years of age.
October 31 – November 1, 2009
Zoomer Show: The Zoomer Show is Toronto’s first consumer show dedicated to ZOOMERS, the demographic traditionally known as the 50 plus. From 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Direct Energy Centre, more than 200 exhibitors will offer travel and product information. Also a first for the event will be an on-site Caribbean Pavilion, coordinated on behalf of the CTO. Attendance for this event is expected to be over 20,000 visitors.
For more information on Caribbean Week in Canada 2009 or to purchase tickets for the Rum & Rhythm Festival, visit: www.caribbeanweek.ca or call 416-935-0707 to speak to a representative from the Caribbean Tourism Organization. To inquire about the SITV Show, visit www.sitvcolmar.com/en; and for details on the Zoomer Show, visit www.zoomershow.ca.
SPONSORS
Sponsors of this year’s Caribbean Week in Canada include: Air Canada Vacations, Baxter, Big Bark Graphics, Dreamscapes, Occidental Hotels and Resorts, The RMR Group, Toronto Star and Travelwatch.
About the Caribbean Tourism Organization
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with the headquarters in Barbados and marketing operations in New York, London and Toronto, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency and comprises membership of over 30 governments and a myriad of private sector entities.
The CTO’s mission is to provide to and through its members, the services and information needed for the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of the Caribbean people.
The organization provides specialized support and technical assistance to member countries in the areas of marketing, human resource development, research and statistics, information technology and sustainable tourism development. The CTO disseminates information on behalf of its member governments to consumers and the travel trade.
The CTO’s New York office is located at
80 Broad St., 32nd Floor,
New York, NY 10004, USA
Tel: (212) 635-9530
Fax: (212) 635-9511
E-mail: ctony@caribtourism.com
CTO’s London office is located at
The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey
TW9 1BP, England.
Tel: 011 44 208 948 0057
Fax: 011 44 208 948 0067
E-mail: ctolondon@caribtourism.com
CTO Canada is located at
2 Bloor Street West, Suite 2601,
Toronto, Ont. M4W 3E2, Canada
Tel: (416) 935 0767
Fax: (416) 935-0939
E-mail: ctotoronto@caribtourism.com
CTO Headquarters is located at
One Financial Place, Collymore Rock,
St.Michael, Barbados
Tel: (246) 427-5242
Fax: (246) 429-3065
E-mail: ctobarbados@caribtourism.com
For more information, please visit www.caribbeantravel.com or www.onecaribbean.org.
Get the latest CTO updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ctotourism.
Connect with CTO on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CaribbeanTourismOrganization.
Media Contact
Terence Gallagher/Susannah Gregory
Lou Hammond & Associates
(212) 308-8880
terryg@lhammond.com / susannahg@lhammond.com
Media can also visit www.louhammond.com for latest press releases and images. Follow on Twitter at LouHammondPR.
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