MPE CARIBBEAN REPORT NEWSLETTER – AUGUST 28, 2023

We extend warm wishes to the government and people of Trinidad and Tobago as the nation celebrates its 61st anniversary of independence on August 31.

With six of MPE’s team members either hailing from or residing in the vibrant twin-island republic, this day holds special meaning within our organization. 

The words from the national anthem, “Here every creed and race find an equal place, And may God bless our nation,” resonate deeply as we join in celebrating the triumphs and accomplishments of the “Land of the Hummingbird”.

SOTIC 2023 to ignite innovation and investment for tourism growth

The Shore Club, an award-winning resort in Providenciales, will host SOTIC 2023

The theme for the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) has been unveiled: “Invest. Innovate. Inspire. – A new model for Caribbean tourism growth.”

In addition to the official SOTIC conference, business meetings, destination press briefings and the Caribbean Youth Congress will be held in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos.

Visionaries, thought leaders and industry experts will gather from October 9-13 at The Shore Club, and explore “Tourism Investment and Financing in the Caribbean” and “Exploring the Drivers for Caribbean Tourism Growth”.

For more details visit sotic.onecaribbean.org.

Miss Aruba and peers celebrate Women’s Equality Day on Carnival Vista

From left: Miss Universe El Salvador Alejandra Guajardo Sada, Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel (USA), and Miss Universe Aruba Kiara Arends

Joining hands with fellow titleholders R’Bonney Gabriel (USA) and Alejandra Guajardo Sada (El Salvador), Miss Universe Aruba 2022 Kiara Arends commemorated Women’s Equality Day aboard Carnival Vista over the weekend in Galveston, Texas.

Against the stunning backdrop of the ship’s bridge, the young women spoke with Carnival Vista Captain Claudio Bozzo and female deck and engine officers about the importance of women’s empowerment.

Women’s Equality Day celebrates the women’s suffrage movement and acknowledges the hurdles women have had to overcome in their pursuit of equality. 

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said “We’ve made progress and our Deck and Engine women officers have increased significantly, along with an increase in women leaders across other departments. I’m so pleased that R’Bonney and her fellow titleholders could be with us on Women’s Equality Day as they represent a sisterhood that is committed to uplifting each other.”

Delta launches new Miami-Nassau route

After scoring new flights from Los Angeles via JetBlue and Alaska Airlines for the upcoming winter season, the Bahamas has more exciting airlift news to share: Delta Air Lines has announced new Miami-Nassau service beginning in November, a first for the carrier.

“This move is another demonstration of the incredible demand for the destination and the reward of our efforts to strengthen partnerships to increase stopover visitors to our shores,” said I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation for the Bahamas. “The route will help satisfy that demand and it will also help Bahamians get to and from Florida easier,” he added.

The daily flights begin on November 5, 2023, and will operate year-round on Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

With this route, Delta will now serve Nassau from five U.S. airports, including Atlanta, Boston, and JFK and LaGuardia in New York, for the winter.

In addition to service from Los Angeles, Alaska Airlines will also fly to Nassau from Seattle, beginning in December.

Fond Doux named No. 1 in the Caribbean again!

Fond Doux Eco Resort has been named the “Caribbean’s Leading Green Resort” for the second successive year at the 30th World Travel Awards (WTA) Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony 2023 at Sandals Grande St. Lucian over the weekend.

Fond Doux Eco Resort, situated within a 250-year-old cocoa plantation in St. Lucia and within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has implemented various eco-friendly initiatives to save energy, reduce water consumption, recycle, support local communities, and protect the island’s precious natural resources, earning the property a Green Globe certification.

The resort’s dedication to sustainability is evident in its practices, from stocking the gift shop with locally made goods to planting new fruit trees regularly and harvesting the produce for use in its eateries. The Bamboo Restaurant offers a “plantation-to-plate” experience, where the chef uses freshly picked fruits, vegetables, and spices grown on the organic plantation to create authentic Creole dishes. 

With an assortment of 17 uniquely crafted cottages, two on-site restaurants, a collage of outdoor swimming pools, as well as an organic spa, the resort is just minutes away from St. Lucia’s main attractions, including The Pitons, Sulphur Springs – the “Caribbean’s only drive-in volcano” – and the best diving sites on the island.

During the awards, St. Lucia was named the “Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination” for the 14th time, while also clinching the title of “Caribbean’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination” for the second time. According to the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, the pinnacle of this year’s accolades was the coveted title of “Caribbean’s Leading Nature Destination”, a maiden recognition that underscores the island’s commitment to preserving its natural treasures.



Other winners included Jamaica, which emerged as the “Caribbean’s Leading Destination”, “Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination”,and “Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board”. 

Turks & Caicos was voted the “Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination”, while The Bahamas took the title of the “Caribbean’s Leading Luxury Island Destination”.

Medical Moment

World Patient Safety Day 2023 will take place on September 17under the theme “Engaging patients for patient safety”, in recognition of the essential role patients, families, and caregivers play in making progress in the areas of health care safety, patient satisfaction, and health outcomes.

The objectives of World Patient Safety Day 2023 are to:



1. Raise global awareness of the need for active engagement of patients and their families and caregivers in all settings and at all levels of health care to improve patient safety.
2. Engage policymakers, health care leaders and workers, patient organizations, civil society, and other stakeholders in efforts to engage patients and families in policies and practices for safe health care.
3. Empower patients and families to be actively involved in their own health care and in the improvement of the safety of health care.
4. Advocate urgent action on patient and family engagement, aligned with the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030, to be taken by all partners.



The global campaign for World Patient Safety Day 2023 will propose a wide range of activities for stakeholders on and around September 17, including national campaigns, policy forums, advocacy and technical events, capacity-building initiatives and, as in previous years, lighting up (in the color orange) iconic monuments, landmarks and public places.

MPE Caribbean Report

In this week’s MPE Caribbean Report, Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism for the Turks and Caicos Islands, extends an invitation to CTO’s landmark tourism event this fall.

To view video click HERE

Marketplace Excellence Corporation (MPE) is a global public relations, marketing and media company.