The State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2015

cto-logoThe Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Curaçao Tourist Board have announced the dates for the region’s leading tourism forum, the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2015.

Curaçao will host SOTIC from 21- 23 October 2015 at the famous World Trade Center in Willemstad, bringing together senior industry decision makers and interested partners to address the biggest concerns and opportunities for Caribbean tourism.

“We are very pleased to have Curaçao as our host in October and we look forward to the excellent Dutch Caribbean hospitality and experience which Curaçao

offers to our regional and international delegates,” says Hugh Riley, the CTO’s secretary general. “This year the conference will rise to a new level, with the involvement of the UN World Tourism Organization and the World Travel and Tourism Council. The roster of speakers will be impressive, to say the least.”

Mr. Riley explains that there are greater benefits to the conference beyond the intense dialogue on the latest trends and challenges in global tourism.

“Just as important as the depth of the dialogue at SOTIC, is affording our member countries the chance to showcase their tourism product to international and regional audiences.  It also injects tourism revenue directly into their economies through our delegates visiting restaurants, attractions, hotels and shopping centres, which is a major objective for us when planning these initiatives,” he adds. “For that reason, special partner packages for SOTIC are being arranged in Curaçao.”

The CTO and Curaçao have already begun planning a programme that will include current issues – some controversial and vexing – as well as opportunities for substantially enhancing the Caribbean’s tourism sector.

“We are very focussed on re-strategising our tourism industry so we have been participating very actively in the CTO conferences.  Organizing and hosting SOTIC is a positive sign that we are coming up with new strategies for our industry, ” says Mr. Stanley Palm, Curaçao’s minister of economic development, , the government ministry responsible for tourism. “We are very multi-cultural and we will definitely try to show that during the conference.”

The CTO State of the Industry Conference brings together some 300 tourism industry leaders from the 30 member-countries of the CTO, as well as representatives of the regional and international private sector, academics, media, students, travel trade partners and other industry stakeholders from within and outside  the region.

For information regarding entry requirements for Curaçao please click on the following link: http://bit.ly/1xDgOv7

About Curaçao

Home to more than 35 captivating beaches, a diverse heritage spanning 55 different cultures, ‘live and let live’ attitude and unrivaled European architecture; Curaçao remains one of the most exceptional islands of the region. Its capital city, Willemstad – a UNESCO World Heritage site – with its iconic colorful Handelskade backdrop and roster of museums, monuments, flavorful restaurants and shopping, was selected in 2014 as one of USA Today’s 10 Best Caribbean Destinations.  Curaçao’s natural beauty, pristine diving and snorkeling sites are a favorite with divers and adventure seekers, and its beaches and idyllic weather, situated on the outer fringes of the Hurricane Belt, has won it further accolade and recognition. To learn more about Curaçao please visitwww.curacao.com, call toll free 1.800.328.7222 or download our newest brochure at http://curacao.com/brochure.  Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Curacaotb, Twitter: @CuracaoTravel or Instagram: CuracaoTB

 

About the Caribbean Tourism Organization

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with headquarters in Barbados and offices in New York and London, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency comprising membership of over 30 countries and territories including Dutch, English, French and Spanish, as well as a myriad of private sector allied members. The CTO’s vision is to position the Caribbean as the most desirable, year round, warm weather destination, and its purpose is Leading Sustainable Tourism – One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean.

Among the benefits to its members the organization provides specialized support and technical assistance in sustainable tourism development, marketing, communications, advocacy, human resource development, event planning & execution and research & information technology.

In addition the CTO, in partnership with the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, jointly and equally owns the Caribbean Tourism Development Company, a marketing and business development entity dedicated to promoting the Caribbean brand worldwide.

The CTO’s Headquarters is located at Baobab Tower, Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados BB 22026; Tel: (246) 427-5242; Fax: (246) 429-3065; E-mail: CTObarbados@caribtourism.com

The CTO’s New York office is located at 80 Broad St., Suite 3302, New York, NY 10004, USA: Tel: (212) 635-9530; Fax: (212) 635-9511; E-mail: CTOny@caribtourism.com;

The CTO’s London office is located at The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, England. Tel: 011 44 208 948 0057; Fax: 011 44 208 948 0067; E-mail: CTOlondon@caribtourism.com;

For more information on the Caribbean Tourism Organization please visit www.OneCaribbean.org. Get the latest CTO updates on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ctotourism. Connect with CTO on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CaribbeanTourismOrganization.