Caymanian musician, James Geary took over one of New York City’s iconic double decker buses to promote Cayman as a destination spot, part of a series of “unique activations” by the Department of Tourism to attract potential visitors to the Cayman Islands.
“I have had an ongoing partnership with the [Department of Tourism] since May of last year, and this came about as one of their marketing ventures to get more people in Cayman from the Big Apple,” Geary told the Compass.
Over two days, 8 and 9 Jan., Geary serenaded visitors on the hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus, which was outfitted with Cayman Islands paraphernalia and decorated with Cayman Airways flight details; picturesque beaches; a sign stating, “Warm Up This Winter in Cayman”; people enjoying water sports and a beachside meal; and a QR code for visitors to scan and get more information on the Caribbean destination.
He said, “I was on top of the bus talking about Cayman, singing songs like Calypso for about four, five hours. We got people in New York hype, it was really cool actually.”
The bus made its way through Times Square, a popular tourist destination and major entertainment hub, as well as other strategic stops in heavily populated areas.
Even as temperatures drop for the state, Geary chuckled as he said people were out and about.
“The cold doesn’t stop New Yorkers. We had our own customised jackets, we had hot cocoa as well. We were all bundled up, but ready to bring warmth of Cayman to people and spread some cheer,” he explained.
The four-hour journey was “a cool experience” Geary said. “We drove around and saw so many people, handed out unique Cayman beanie hats for the cold weather, and cards which speak more about Cayman, and had a chance to talk to people from all walks of life.”
According to a DOT statement, the “Warm Up in Cayman’ promotional campaign in New York was held between 11 Dec. 2023 and 7 Jan. 2024 with five double decker buses. “The five buses combined are estimated to deliver a total of 56 million advertising impressions to tourists and New Yorkers during the four-week campaign,” the statement said.
The young musician, singer and songwriter, is widely known for his live music performances and entertainment across Cayman. He has also become a resource for a weekly rundown of live gigs at venues on Grand Cayman, on his social media.
Geary said he’s grateful for the opportunity to represent Cayman on the international stage.
“It’s great what we are doing to incorporate more locals into a lot of the programmes overseas. This is the genesis to having more creatives and musicians involved and showcasing the local product.”
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