The annual Caribbean Week in New York drew tourism stakeholders from across the region on Monday, with Antigua and Barbuda stepping forward as the title sponsor of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) highly anticipated Women in Tourism Leadership Dinner and Awards. This year’s gathering brought together a diverse cross-section of female change-makers, business owners and industry specialists from every corner of the Caribbean, uniting them around a shared mission: to honor the outsized contributions women have made to the region’s world-renowned tourism sector, and to nurture the next generation of young women poised to lead the industry forward.
In his opening welcome address, Charles Fernandez, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism, underscored the dual-island nation’s longstanding dedication to elevating women whose daily work and innovative thinking power the success of its own $2 billion tourism economy. He emphasized that investing in women in tourism is not just a matter of equity, but a core strategy for driving sustainable growth across the entire region’s most vital economic sector.
Adding a heartfelt, personal touch to the evening’s proceedings, Colin C. James, Chief Executive Officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, led a special commemorative prayer to honor the trailblazing women in attendance, recognizing the unique challenges they have overcome to build careers in the tourism industry.
Unlike many industry awards that only recognize top-tier C-suite leaders, this year’s ceremony was designed to celebrate women at every level of the tourism ecosystem. Organizers noted that honorees ranged from high-profile chief executives to frontline and mid-career professionals including independent hoteliers, digital marketing specialists, small business owners, administrative leaders and public service workers – all of whose collective efforts keep the $50 billion Caribbean tourism industry growing year after year.
The evening also included a landmark announcement that extends the event’s impact beyond recognition: organizers officially launched a new scholarship program through the CTO Foundation, titled “From Her to Her: From Today’s Female Leaders to Tomorrow’s Tourism Stars.” The initiative is designed to provide financial and professional support for young women across the Caribbean pursuing education and training in tourism-related fields, creating a clear pipeline of talent to fill future leadership roles across the region.