June 16, 2025

Aruba welcomes cruise tourism community

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) officially opens its PAMAC Destination Summit today in Aruba.

This high-level gathering brings together FCCA Platinum Members and cruise executives from member lines for a series of focused discussions, site visits, and strategic meetings designed to strengthen partnerships and enhance the region’s competitiveness in the global cruise sector.

Following the success of Aruba’s last hosting of a PAMAC event in 2017, this year’s summit is expected to deliver impactful results. The summit features one-on-one meetings, networking opportunities, and working sessions that allow cruise executives and destination stakeholders to address key issues such as product development, port infrastructure, sustainability, guest experience, and economic impact. 

As the Caribbean continues to evolve as the world’s leading cruise destination, the PAMAC Destination Summit remains a vital forum for fostering alignment, trust and innovation between the industry’s most influential players.

Another successful Caribbean Week in New York

The region’s top tourism brass gathered in New York earlier this month

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) recently wrapped a vibrant and forward-looking Caribbean Week in New York 2025, bringing together tourism leaders, media, students, creatives and diaspora communities to celebrate and shape the future of Caribbean tourism. 

Under the theme “Caribbean Resilience: Crafting Tomorrow’s Tourism,” the week featured high-impact sessions on artificial intelligence, cruise and airlift connectivity, sustainable development, and youth innovation.

Highlights included the CTO Reimagine Plan launch, the Women’s Leadership Dinner & Awards, the Next-Gen Tourism Showcase, and the inaugural Caribbean Cultural Showcase. Caribbean Week underscored the region’s commitment to sustainability, innovation and collaboration.

This year’s program was made possible with the generous support of the following sponsors: 

• Platinum: Dominica, U.S. Virgin Islands

• Gold: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bermuda, Global Ports Holding, Travel & Adventure Shows

• Silver: Sandals Resorts International, St. Kitts

• Bronze: Adara, A RateGain Company; Anguilla; Barbados; Carnival Corporation & plc; Saint Lucia; TEMPO Networks

Stacey Liburd lands top tourism post in Grenada

Stacey Liburd

The Grenada Tourism Authority has appointed Stacey Liburd as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Liburd, who previously served as Anguilla’s Director of Tourism, has already assumed her new role, succeeding Petra Roach, who is transitioning to a new position with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

“I am deeply honored to accept the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Grenada Tourism Authority. Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique are destinations of extraordinary beauty, culture and potential. I look forward to working closely with our industry partners to further elevate our brand and ensure tourism continues to bring meaningful, sustainable benefits to our people,” said Liburd.

Jameel Rochester has been appointed as Anguilla’s new Director of Tourism, following a recent change in government in the British Overseas Territory.

Virgin Islander launches essay contest for youth

As the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins, efforts across the Caribbean are ramping up to boost disaster preparedness and resilience. 

In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the 2025 Hurricane Preparedness Essay Competition is now underway, led by Teri Helenese in partnership with the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) and the American Red Cross. 

Helenese is the Director of State-Federal Relations and Washington Representative for the Governor of the United States Virgin Islands.

This community-focused initiative invites students to share ideas on readiness and resilience through original essays — tackling themes like youth leadership, emergency planning, and protecting vulnerable residents. Students from elementary school to those enrolled at the University of the Virgin Islands can enter the competition by visitingbit.ly/hurricaneessay to review the rules and submit their entries online. The deadline for submissions is July 1, 2025.

Meanwhile, the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association teamed up last week to host a timely Pre-Hurricane Season Webinar. Regional climate experts, tourism leaders and disaster professionals delivered the latest hurricane forecast and shared real-world insights from past storms. Attendees explored best practices in communication, evacuation and business continuity — reinforcing that proactive planning today is key to protecting lives and livelihoods across the region.

Quotable Caribbean

“We will continue to focus on the Reimagine program. It’s an exciting time for us as CTO … (every) so often you have to look back and you have to look internally and see where you are and where you want to go … and that is the Reimagine plan for us.” — Ian Gooding-Edghill, Chairman, Caribbean Tourism Organization | Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Barbados

Proverbially West Indian

“A crab never forget he hole.” 

This Caribbean saying means that no matter how far someone goes in life, they never forget where they come from — their roots or home. 

The phrase originates from coastal island communities, where observing crabs instinctively returning to their burrows inspired this metaphor for loyalty to one’s origin.

Medical Moment

World Drowning Prevention Day takes place on July 25.

According to the United Nations, drowning is a leading cause of accidental death among children and young people worldwide, with an estimated 236,000 deaths each year.

The day underscores the devastating impact of drowning and the proven strategies to prevent it.

Global efforts include installing barriers, teaching swimming and rescue skills, training bystanders, enforcing water safety laws, and improving flood risk management.

These actions are vital to saving lives and protecting communities.

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