Council of Ministers Meeting

Council of Ministers Meeting

Riverview Room (3rd Floor)

(By invitation only)

Roberto Duran-Fernandez

Caribbean Tourism Research Forum: Advancing a Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Caribbean

Exhibition Center

The Caribbean Tourism Research Forum provides a platform for tourism researchers, destination officials and industry practitioners to share current research and demonstrate how evidence can inform tourism policy, marketing, product development and investment decisions. The forum will feature brief opening remarks from UN Tourism, followed by presentations highlighting applied research from across the region.

Read more.

Luis Millan

Amadeus Big Data Workshop: Turning Travel Intelligence into Destination Advantage

Exhibition Center

This session will provide a practical exploration of how tourism destinations can use big data and market intelligence to strengthen planning, marketing and decision-making.

It will introduce participants to the ways in which large-scale travel data can be used to better understand visitor demand, source-market performance, travel patterns and emerging opportunities, and demonstrate how data-driven insights can support more targeted and timely destination strategies.

CTO Annual General Meeting

CTO Annual General Meeting

Riverview Room (3rd Floor)

(By invitation only)

HE Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali

Opening Ceremony

Atlantic Conference Center

The Grand Opening Ceremony will officially launch the conference with a distinguished gathering of Ministers, government leaders, tourism stakeholders and specially invited guests.

His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, will deliver the keynote address and formally declare the conference open.

The ceremony will spotlight Guyana’s  growing position on the global tourism stage, while setting the tone for a programme focused on innovation, investment, collaboration and the future of tourism. Through powerful remarks and a celebration of Guyana’s rich culture, natural heritage and people, the opening will welcome delegates and inspire meaningful dialogue and partnerships throughout the conference.

Dress Code: Business Formal

Coffee Break

Roundabout Outside Lobby

Coffee Break & Networking | B2B for Allied Members | Local Vendor Market | CTO Services Presentation

Aliyyah Shakeer

State of the Industry Presentation

Atlantic Conference Center

Caribbean Tourism Performance and Outlook This session will provide a data-led assessment of the state of Caribbean tourism, bringing together current performance indicators and forward-looking market intelligence.

CTO will set the regional context, followed by an outlook for the Caribbean accommodation sector by CHTA and an assessment of forward travel demand and source-market trends by Amadeus.

The presentations will give ministers, destination leaders and industry stakeholders a concise view of where the sector stands, the demand signals shaping the months ahead, and the implications for destination strategy, marketing and planning.

Vanessa Ledesma

Caribbean Accommodation Sector Outlook

Atlantic Conference Center

Caribbean Accommodation Sector Outlook

Hon Susan Rodrigues

Ministerial Session: Competing for Tomorrow— Ministerial Priorities for a Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Caribbean

Atlantic Conference Center

This high-level ministerial session will examine the policy priorities required to keep Caribbean tourism competitive in a rapidly changing global environment.

Ministers will discuss how destinations are balancing growth with sustainability and inclusion while responding to issues such as investment, connectivity, climate resilience, digital transformation, workforce development, community participation and changing visitor expectations. The session will provide a forward-looking exchange on where policy attention and regional cooperation are most needed to build a smarter, more resilient and more inclusive Caribbean tourism economy.

Coffee Break & Networking

Roundabout Outside Lobby

Coffee Break & Networking | B2B | Local Vendor Market | CTO Services Presentation

Hon. Sarah Browne-Shadeek

Panel: Rooted in Place — Indigenous Tourism & the Future of Regenerative Caribbean Destinations

Atlantic Conference Center

This panel will explore how Indigenous tourism can contribute to regenerative destination development while protecting culture, strengthening community ownership and creating meaningful local benefit.

The discussion will consider community-led product development, cultural heritage and storytelling, the role of destination organizations in supporting Indigenous tourism, and how tourism can be developed in ways that respect identity, land, traditions and local priorities. Bringing together destination, product-development and community perspectives, the session will focus on approaches that move beyond sustainability toward tourism that actively strengthens places, people and cultural continuity.

Tenisha Brown

Panel: From Roots to Revenue: Food, Culture and the Creative Economy in Caribbean Tourism

Atlantic Conference Center

This panel will examine how Caribbean destinations can translate the region’s food, culture and creativity into stronger tourism value chains and more inclusive economic opportunities. The discussion will connect destination branding and visitor experience with agriculture, local sourcing, culinary tourism, festivals, cultural expression, entrepreneurship and the creative industries.

Panelists will consider how destinations can retain more tourism value locally, strengthen linkages between tourism and producers, support authentic cultural experiences, and create pathways for small businesses and communities to participate more meaningfully in the visitor economy.

TBD

Destination Media Briefings

Destination Media Briefings Atlantic Conference Center

One-on-one meetings with the CTO Secretariat

One-on-one meetings with the CTO Secretariat by appointment only.

TBD

CTO Press Conference

CTO Press Conference

Media Luncheon

Media Luncheon