MOUNT VERNON MAYOR, CTO TO HOST KICKOFF RECEPTION FOR CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH & CARIBBEAN WEEK IN NY
NEW YORK, NY (April 25, 2012) – The Honorable Ernest D. Davis Mayor of the City of Mount Vernon, NY, along with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), will host a kickoff reception in honor of both Caribbean American Heritage Month and Caribbean Week in New York on Friday, June 1, 2012.
The Mayor’s office is inviting guests and dignitaries to help launch what will be an event-filled month beginning with Caribbean Week in New York commencing June 3, 2012 and culminating on June 9, 2012.
“Mount Vernon is a community made up of representatives from over 95 countries of origin,” said Davis. “We here in Mount Vernon embrace the rich culture individuals from the Caribbean contribute to our community and find that by celebrating our commonalities, we realize there’s very little we have in difference,” he added.
Considered the largest regional tourism activity in the New York area, Caribbean Week promises to bring artists, performers, celebrity chefs, fashion designers, models, government officials and prestigious media outlets together for an entire week to showcase the color, spirit and vitality of the Caribbean.
“The Caribbean appreciates the attention that a city with such a significant impact opportunity, like Mount Vernon, New York, is placing on Caribbean American Heritage and the events of Caribbean Week in New York,” commented Sylma Brown Bramble, director of the Caribbean Tourism Organization USA, Inc.
Organized by the CTO, Caribbean Week in New York combines business sessionsand consumer-oriented events. Beginning with a Gospel Celebration and concluding with the much anticipated Caribbean Fashion, Art and Trade Expo, participants will feel like they are basking in the region’s heritage.
Caribbean culture at its finest will take over the northeast region for one week only, providing guests with opportunities to try Caribbean cuisine and beverages, dance to a wide array of music, meet with Caribbean Diaspora during workshops and conferences, and purchase traditional clothing, arts and instruments.
Combined with meetings and seminars for Ministers of Tourism, Directors of Tourism, National Tourist Office representatives and other key tourism and hospitality officials from around the Caribbean, Caribbean Week activities will also include the Rum & Rhythm benefit which is both a fundraiser for the CTO Foundation and a Caribbean culinary experience which enables consumers to mix, mingle and taste award-winning rums and a variety of food from the region. In addition, Caribbean Week serves as a stage for the annual Media Marketplace drawing travel writers from across North America in addition to the Caribbean Travel and Cultural Fair, Wedding and Vacation Mart which is the setting for the celebration of folklore, culture, religion and tradition including discount vacation packages, elaborate costumes and lots of food and music.
The week-long agenda of activities also include:
- Gospel Celebration – A Tribute to Caribbean Unity – Sunday, June 3, 2012 – 5 – 9 pm
- Workshop for NTOs – Monday, June 4, 2012 – 9 am – 12:00 noon
- Workshop for Travel Agents – Monday, June 4, 2012 – 6 – 9 pm
- Celebrity Chef Program – Monday, June 4 to Friday, June 8, 2012
- Student Colloquium – Tuesday, June 5, 2012 – 2:30 – 4:30 pm
- Caribbean Diaspora Forum – Tuesday, June 5, 2012 – 6 – 8 pm
- Investment Power Forum – Wednesday, June 6, 2012 – 7:30 – 10 am
- Caribbean Travel & Cultural Fair, Wedding and Vacation Mart at Grand Central Terminal – Wednesday, June 6, 2012 – 10 am – 7 pm
- Caribbean Media Marketplace – Thursday, June 7, 2012 4 – 6 pm
- Allied Marketing Conference and Awards Luncheon – Friday, June 8, 2012 – 8 am – 2:30 pm
- Rum and Rhythm Benefit – Friday, June 8, 2012 – 6:30 – 10:30 pm
- Caribbean Fashion, Art and Trade Expo – Saturday, June 9, 2012 – 11 am – 10 pm
For more information on attending any of the Caribbean Week events contact the Caribbean Tourism Organization at 212-635-9530 or visit www.CaribbeanWeekNY.com.
About the Caribbean Tourism Organization
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with the headquarters in Barbados and marketing operations in New York and London, 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, advocacy 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 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 visitwww.caribbeantravel.com or www.onecaribbean.org. Get the latest CTO updates on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ctotourism. Connect with CTO on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/CaribbeanTourismOrganization.
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