The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is set to launch a targeted scholarship initiative designed to uplift emerging female leaders in the region’s critical tourism sector, with the formal unveiling scheduled for the upcoming Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Dinner & Awards on June 1. Named “From Her to Her: From Today’s Female Leaders to Tomorrow’s Tourism Stars”, the annual program will deliver financial support to high-potential female Caribbean students enrolled in tourism-focused academic programs, helping them transition into long-term careers in the industry. All revenue generated from ticket sales for the June 1 event will be channeled directly into the scholarship fund via the CTO Foundation, the organization’s philanthropic arm.
The celebratory dinner and awards ceremony, which will be hosted at the InterContinental New York Times Square as a centerpiece event of this year’s Caribbean Week in New York, will also recognize trailblazing women who have shaped Caribbean tourism. This year’s honorees span senior tourism officials including regional tourism ministers and directors, recipients of the CTO Secretary-General’s Distinguished Service Awards, and the first cohort of inductees into a newly created Hall of Fame, which honors individuals with decades of outstanding leadership in the sector.
For Dona Regis-Prosper, the first woman to hold the position of CTO Secretary-General, the initiative is both a core organizational priority and a deeply personal commitment. “As the first female secretary-general of CTO, fostering opportunities for women in tourism is both a professional priority and a personal passion,” Regis-Prosper shared. “This scholarship embodies the spirit of mentorship, legacy and opportunity. We are investing in the talent that will shape the future of our region’s most vital industry.”
Jacqueline Johnson, Chairman of the CTO Foundation, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the long-term impact of the intergenerational mentorship model at the heart of the program. “This initiative effectively captures the spirit of mentorship and the legacy we aim to build,” Johnson said. “The CTO Foundation team looks forward to a successful launch and to supporting the next generation of Caribbean women leaders in tourism.”
The scholarship initiative has already secured backing from several key industry partners, including Virgin Voyages, Diamonds International, and TRÈFLE, while the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority has signed on as the official sponsor of the June 1 dinner. The program marks a deliberate expansion of the Caribbean tourism sector’s broader ongoing commitments to advancing gender equity and expanding leadership pathways for women across the region.
As part of 2026 Caribbean Week in New York, the dinner is open to public attendance with individual tickets priced at $199. With limited capacity available, registration for the event will close on Friday, May 22. More details about the dinner and scholarship program can be found via the official CTO registration portal, while full information about the full schedule of Caribbean Week 2026 events is available on the official Caribbean Week website.