At this year’s Caribbean Tourism Week in Canada (L-R): Chief Officer of the Ministry of Tourism Gloria McField-Nixon; Minister of Tourism Hon Charles Clifford; and Shomari Scott, Acting Director of Tourism.

Local tourism officials said they put on “quite a show” at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) annual Caribbean Tourism Week in Toronto in Canada last month.

Held from 24 to 26 September, Caribbean Week was organised by the Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC), a marketing and business development unit owned equally by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).
According to the Department of Tourism (DoT), the Cayman Islands featured its delicious local delicacies to the calypso island rhythms of the steel pan.

The DoT, who was a major sponsor of CTO Caribbean Week this year, kicked off the week with an elegant cocktail party held Tuesday, 23 September at the dramatic and contemporary Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

“Caribbean Week provides a valuable opportunity for the Cayman Islands to reach out to the travel industry, influential media and consumers to share what makes our three islands unique as a travel destination,” said Shomari Scott, Acting Director of Tourism. “With the wide range of events held we were able to show the diversity of our destination, giving Canadians a taste of the Cayman Islands and hopefully inspiring them to want more.”

Minister of Tourism Hon Charles Clifford welcomed members of the travel industry, financial partners and the media for an event that was billed “Discover the Colours of the Cayman Islands”.

The opening day of the event featured several keynote speakers including Rebecca Grinnals of Engaging Concepts. Her address was sponsored by the DoT and she spoke about the changing face of today’s destination bride and groom, referencing Cayman as a destination that is leading the way in offering one-of-a-kind weddings that answer to today’s discerning bride to be.

On Thursday, 25 September, a Media Marketplace and Caribbean Awards Luncheon provided an opportunity for the DoT public relations team to mingle with influential travel media.

At the event, renowned Caymanian steel pan artist Earl La Pierre Jr played for the crowd and Chef Vidyadhara Shetty of Grand Cayman Beach Suites, assisted by Desiree Ebanks of the Tourism Apprenticeship Training Programme, prepared local delicacies.

Before serving each dish, chefs from various Caribbean nations presented their dishes. Chef Shetty, who prepared Jumbo Lump Crab as an appetizer, showed how the dish is prepared and spoke about his love for the Cayman Islands.

The final day of Caribbean Week (Friday, 26 September) included a consumer travel fair at Yonge-Dundas Square, one of Toronto’s busiest areas. Again Chef Shetty wowed the crowds with cooking demonstrations and samples of Caymanian flavours. That evening, the Rum and Rhythm Festival capped off a successful week, providing an opportunity to introduce Canadians to Seven Fathoms Rum among award-winning Caribbean rums at this exclusive event.

The grand finale of Caribbean Week included cooking demonstrations by Chef Shetty and tourism apprentice Desiree Ebanks at one of Toronto’s busiest cross sections, Yonge-Dundas Square.