The Cayman Islands is once again preparing to showcase to the Big Apple the delights it has to offer, as part of Caribbean Week 2006.
Every year representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Department of Tourism and tourism’s private sector attend and show off what the Cayman Islands has to offer as a Caribbean destination. As yet, no set delegation has been named, but plans for a delegation to travel to the event have begun, the Department of Tourism has confirmed.
Caribbean Week 2006, which takes place in New York from 11-17 June, will once again allow New Yorkers to experience the sights, sounds, colours, culture and unique vacation attributes of the Cayman Islands and other countries of the Caribbean region.
Arranged by the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Caribbean Week 2006 highlights Caribbean culture and showcases the region as a top tourist destination.
On Sunday, 11 June a Caribbean Gospelfest takes place at Hanson Place United Methodist Church in Brooklyn. The concert will feature long-time favourites and current star performers from the Caribbean including Wendy Mitchell and Wayne Johnson (Trinidad and Tobago); Hopeton Lewis and Joan Myers (Jamaica); Joseph Niles (Barbados); Cora Williamson (Guyana); Harrella Goodwin (Montserrat); Janice Charles (Grenada), Miriam Drakes (St. Lucia).
Sunday 11 June boasts a celebrity cricket match – details to be finalised. This will feature matches between local cricket league players from the tri-state area competing against an invitational team from the Caribbean.
Culinary delights
From Monday, 12 June through Friday, 16 June renowned chefs from world-class resorts of the Caribbean will be in town to spice up the city with Caribbean flair and flavours. They will also conduct in-store cooking demonstrations at Bloomingdale’s, Williams-Sonoma and Macy’s Herald Square. Customers will sample exotic Caribbean dishes and collect valuable tips on choosing the destination that’s just right for any occasion.
Also on Monday, the Town Hall Meetings at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn provide an opportunity for visiting Caribbean tourism ministers to interact with their New York-based constituents in discussions led by popular moderators. Each participating country will provide the latest details of its tourism efforts and vacation offerings.
The venue for the Tuesday, June 13th’s Caribbean Fair will be Piers 16 and 17 of New York City’s historic South Street Seaport. Throughout the day attendees at the Caribbean Fair will experience various aspects of the Caribbean by visiting individual country booths for promotional materials, indigenous products, arts and crafts, food samples prepared by celebrity chefs, and a variety of alluring vacation offers.
Governments and private sector members of the CTO support the participation of dancers, models, singers and bands, who perform on stage throughout the day.
Travel professionals will be onsite to assist the public with purchasing specially-priced vacation packages to the more than 30 Caribbean countries in the region. Prices are valid only through the duration of Caribbean Week 2006.
Caribbean ministers and directors of tourism, along with New York City and state officials and private sector strategic partners will be at the Fair for the Flag Raising ceremony and Presentation of Proclamations.
Dream weddings
Caribbean Week 2006 will host two Caribbean weddings, sponsored by the Condé Nast Bridal Group. The two lucky couples exchanging vows at the Fair will each receive a romantic Caribbean honeymoon to destination of their choice.
On Wednesday, June 14 the Caribbean marketing workshop and awards luncheon takes place at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel.
Media Marketplace also takes place at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel. This attracts journalists from a wide range of travel media and provides CTO-member governments, the CHA and private sector exhibitors the opportunity to interact with writers and photographers from the trade and consumer press.
On Friday, June 16 there is a CTO Press Conference at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel which includes comments on the status of Caribbean tourism, highlights emerging from Caribbean Week 2006 and details on other upcoming events.
That evening the 33rd Annual Governments of the Caribbean State Ball and Awards Presentation takes place at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Park Avenue, Manhattan.
Finally, on Saturday, June 17 Brooklyn Reggae presents another in its series of Caribbean entertainment and lifestyle shows in New York City. Brooklyn Reggae is one of the public events occurring during Caribbean Week 2006 but not created nor produced by the CTO, says the press release.
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