The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), in collaboration with the Grenada Tourism Authority, has organized a compelling program featuring prominent figures and developmental collaborators for the upcoming Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC 2024). This event, scheduled for April 22-24, 2024, will focus on pioneering new approaches to sustainable tourism in the face of changing global scenarios, under the theme “The 5 Ps – People, Planet, Prosperity, Purpose, and Partnership.” The conference will gather experts to discuss innovative tourism practices that leverage the Caribbean’s abundant natural and cultural assets, offering strategies and exemplary solutions for leveraging emerging prospects and tackling sustainable tourism challenges.
Adam Stewart, the Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International and a distinguished advocate for sustainable tourism, is set to give the keynote speech on April 22. His address is anticipated to spark a series of insightful discussions aimed at establishing a sustainable and ethical tourism framework in the region.
The conference will also present a distinguished array of speakers who will share their insights on sustainable tourism development during various sessions:
GENERAL SESSION I – Planet: Preserving Paradise – Nurturing Nature for a Sustainable Future (April 22, 10:30 am – 11:45 am): This session will highlight the crucial link between the health of our planet and the welfare of all life forms. It aims to shift focus from mere discussions to actionable conservation efforts, with participants delving into real-world solutions and hands-on approaches. Featured speakers include:
Christopher Corbin, Coordinator, Cartagena Convention Secretariat, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Giselle Carr, Head of Brand and Communications, InPlanet
Maria Fowell, Senior Technical Specialist-Tourism, Economic Development Unit, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission
Rosana John, Attorney-at-Law, Dentons Delany
Michael Russek, Artist, Designer, Fabricator & Eco Creator
Maxine Welsh (Moderator), Director, The Nature Conservancy, Eastern Caribbean Division
GENERAL SESSION II – People: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Harnessing Equity, Education, and Empowerment in Tourism (April 22, 11:45 am – 1:00 pm): This session will delve into the critical roles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and education in the tourism industry to empower individuals and promote sustainable growth. Speakers include:
Tonni Brodber, Representative of UN Women Multi-Country Office, Caribbean
Dr. Acolla Lewis Cameron, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus
Amrita Bhalla, Managing Director, A.B. Consulting
Melnecia Marshall, Deputy CEO, St. Kitts Tourism Authority
Christopher Lee, Executive Recruiter & Consultant, BIPOC Executive Search
Richard Young (Moderator), Fashion Director & Creative Consultant, Richard Young Inc.
GENERAL SESSION III – Indigenous Excellence: Elevating Community, Nation, and Harmony in Grenada (April 22, 2:15 pm – 3:30 pm): As Grenada marks its 50th anniversary of independence in 2024, this session shines a spotlight on the country’s progress in nurturing Indigenous Excellence through both public and private sector collaborations. The following speakers are set to participate:
Dr. Angus Friday, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Waitt Institute and Executive Chairman of the Atlantean BioSphere Program
Tiffany Geer, Marketing Manager and Dive Master at Aquanauts Grenada, also serving as an Event Coordinator
Dr. Guido Marcelle, a dedicated Pharmacognosist, Environmentalist, and Practicing Natural Farmer
Mr. Phil Saye, Director at Grenada Fund for Conservation
Petra Roach, presiding as Moderator, is the Chief Executive Officer at Grenada Tourism Authority
MASTER CLASS – Enhancing Resilience Across the 5Ps: Frameworks for Strengthening Tourism’s Resilience and Competitive Edge (April 22, 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm): This engaging session is set to discuss robust strategies for reinforcing resilience within the Caribbean tourism sector, with a focus on environmental sustainability, comprehensive disaster management, and climatic challenges. The speakers include:
Dr. Deborah Brown, Disaster Recovery Specialist at the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency
Barry Collymore, a leading figure in tourism as Owner and Executive Chairman of Mount Cinnamon Beach Resort and Co-Founder of the West Indies School of Hospitality
Dr. Roché Mahon, Social Scientist at the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology & Hydrology
Prof. Lloyd G. Waller, serving as Moderator, is a Professor of Digital Transformation Policy and Governance at the University of the West Indies and Executive Director at the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre
Market & Industry Insights Panel (April 23, 8:15 am – 9:00 am): This panel brings together leading voices from major source markets and key industry figures to discuss the latest trends, policies, and developments in the tourism sector. Featured speakers include:
Carol Rose, Head of Sustainability at ABTA, The Travel Association
Hannah Swift, Country Manager – Caribbean at Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd.
Dr. Allison T. Walker, Chief Surveillance Officer at the Travelers’ Health Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Rich Pruitt, Vice President of Environmental Operation at Carnival Cruise Line
Kendra Hopkin Stewart, Deputy Managing Director at Blue Horizons Garden Resort and President of the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association
Frank Comito, serving as Moderator, is a Special Advisor and former CEO/DG at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association
Inter-Ministerial Dialogue on Cooperation and Intersectoral Linkages (April 23, 9:00 am – 9:30 am): A vibrant discussion featuring contributions from four Grenadian government ministers addressing current challenges and solutions in sustainable development and disaster risk reduction. Participants include:
Senator Adrian Thomas, Minister for Tourism, Creative Economy & Culture
Lennox Andrews, Minister for Economic Development, Planning, Agriculture and Lands, Forestry, Marine Resources & Cooperatives
Kerryne James, Minister for Climate Resilience, Environment & Renewable Energy
Senator Jonathan La Crette, Minister of Youth and Sports
Bevan Springer, Moderator and President of Marketplace Excellence Corporation
GENERAL SESSION IV – Prosperity: Charting Sustainable Futures: A Donors’ Roundtable on Sustainable Tourism Financing (April 23, 9:30 am – 10:30 am): This session gathers a distinguished group of donors, development organizations, and financial institutions committed to supporting sustainable development in the Caribbean. The speakers include:
Dr. Louise Twining-Ward, Senior Private Sector Specialist at The World Bank
Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy, Regional Manager for the Caribbean at CAF – Development Bank of Latin America & the Caribbean
Petipha Lewis, Director at the Board of the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund and Executive Director at the Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce
Chris McNair, Programme Specialist in Business Development at CARICOM Development Fund
Wayne Elliott, Productivity & Innovation Coordinator at Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility
Amanda Charles, Moderator and Sustainable Tourism Specialist at the Caribbean Tourism Organization
GENERAL SESSION V – Purpose: Aligning Purpose with Passion in Sustainable Tourism (April 23, 11:00 am – 12:15 pm): This session brings to the forefront discussions on how the interplay of purpose and passion can lead to transformative travel experiences that align with sustainable development goals. Notable speakers include:
Alicia Johnson, Author at Lonely Planet
Dr. Thérèse Yarde, Caribbean Fellow/Senior Director at Conservation International for Caribbean SIDS Programming
Kirpa Grewal, Co-Chair of the Volunteerism Committee and Board Member at Women in Cleantech & Sustainability
Kitaka Mawuto, Chief Executive Officer at Elevate Media
Russ Fielden
, Owner at True Blue Bay Resort
Michael Carabash, Moderator and Partner at DMC LLP
GENERAL SESSION VI – Partnership: Cultivating Sustainable Partnerships in Tourism (April 23, 12:15 pm – 1:30 pm): This session underscores the pivotal role of cross-sector partnerships in driving sustainable advancements in the tourism sector. It aims to explore new collaborative avenues for achieving responsible and inclusive tourism development. Speakers include:
Michael Akin, President at LINK Strategic Partners
Marc Melville, CEO at Chukka Caribbean Adventures Group
Trevor Jonas Benson, President & CEO at Bannikin
Annie Bertrand, Consultant specializing in Public-Private-Community Partnerships
Glenn Mandziuk, CEO at Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
Michelle Mason, Social Impact and Recognition Manager at Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
Kennedy Pemberton, Moderator and Director of Operations at Green Case Consulting
MASTER CLASS – Fu-Tech Tourism: Unpacking the Realities and Exploring Future Opportunities in Tourism Technology (April 23, 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm): This session aims to demystify the fusion of future technologies (Fu-Tech) with the tourism industry, examining the risks, benefits, and burgeoning opportunities for innovation. Engage with forward-thinking experts who will set the stage for future advancements in the sector. Speakers include:
Ed Limon, Co-Founder and Producer at Winged Whale Media
Kyle Maloney, Tech Ecosystem Builder, Digital Marketer, and Investor; Co-Founder at Tech Beat Retreat
Stacey Hines, Founder & CEO at Epic Transformation
Orlando Romain, Moderator and Advisor at the Grenada Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, with responsibilities for ICT and the Creative Economy
CONVERGENCE POINT – Shaping the Future of Caribbean Tourism (April 23, 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm): The closing session aims to amalgamate diverse perspectives to foster dialogue and drive actions that will shape the future of Caribbean tourism. It examines how various stakeholders are addressing challenges, adapting to market demands, and promoting responsible tourism while embracing the 5Ps framework. Speakers include:
Shelley V. Worrell, Founder at I AM CaribBeing and Little Caribbean NYC
Rodney Payne, Chief Executive Officer at Destination Think
Oneidge Walrond, Minister of Tourism, Industry & Commerce in Guyana
Aria Laidlow-Ferdinand, Technical Officer at Caribbean Natural Resource Institute (CANARI)
Krisma McDonald, Director of Sustainability at Six Senses La Sagesse
Tenille Clarke, Moderator and Managing Director at Chambers Media Solutions
Partners and sponsors for STC 2024 include notable entities like LINK Strategic Partners, Little Caribbean NYC, Royal Caribbean International, Silversands Grenada Beach Resort, and Six Senses La Sagesse Grenada Resort.
Airline partners are interCaribbean Airways and Virgin Atlantic, with the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association, Grenada Investment Development Corporation, International Institute of Tourism Studies at the GW School of Business, and the World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards as sponsors.
The event’s media partners are Breaking Travel News, Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Caribbean Media Corporation, and Wanderlust.
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