CTO brings positive, infectious vibes to Toronto on Caribbean Media Day

Author

Johnson Johnrose

Release Date

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

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TORONTO, Canada (27 Aug, 2019) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) celebrated Canada’s best examples of travel journalism and social media entrepreneurship at a recent luncheon at Toronto’s Boulevard Club honouring recipients of the 2019 Caribbean Media Awards. The programme was hostedby award-winning journalist Dwight Drummond and attended by tourism officials and dignitaries representing destinations throughout the Caribbean.

With two award-winning features in the Consumer Magazine and Trade Publication categories, Mark Stevens (pictured left) was among the big winners at the luncheon, along with Erin MacLeod, who received the award for Best Feature in a Consumer Newspaper as well as overall Best of the Bestaward.

“There was no shortage of quality journalism and social media aptitude displayed by all of the finalists in our awards programme. However, only one award can be bestowed per entry and these went to the highest calibre of writers and influencers whose work continue to have a daily impact on the demand for Caribbean holidays,” said Sylma Brown, director of CTO USA Inc. 

The following are the Caribbean Media Awards winners:

 Been There, Wrote That: Best Feature in a Consumer Magazine

v  Mark Stevens: “Looking for Jerk in All the Right Places” – All At Sea

Inner Circle: Best Feature in a Trade Publication

v  Mark Stevens: “Saint Lucia: Inspiration Island” – Caribbean Business & Travel

I Couldn’t Have Written It Better Myself: Best Feature in a Consumer Newspaper

v  Erin MacLeod: “In Post-Carnival Trinidad, the Party Never Really Ends” – The New York Times

Virtual Visitor Award: Best Online Feature

v  Bianca Bujan: “How to Eat Like a Bajan” – BC Living

Oh Snap! Best Photograph Accompanying a Story

v  Ann Ruppenstein: “Discovering Another Side of Jamaica” –  Travel Courier

Oh My Word, I Blogged!: Best Blog Posting

v  Tamara Elliott: “Belize’s ATM Cave Tour: Where Adventure Meets Mayan Sacrifices” – Globe Guide

Me Too! I Rediscovered Home! Best Feature by a Diasporan Journalist in Diaspora Media

v  Michael Van Cooten: “Soca Royalty”  –  Pride News

Look, I’ve Gone Social: Best Social Media Coverage of an Event or Activity

v  Kael Rebick: “Fam Trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines” 

I Have Influence: Best Executed Influencer Campaign That Delivered Results Based On Agreed Objectives

v  Monika Koehler: “#LoveBarbadosFood”

 In addition, Trinidad-born Canadian storyteller and cultural icon Rita Cox (pictured below with CTO chairman and Saint Lucia’s minister of tourism Dominic Fedee) was presented with the CTO’s Lifetime Achievement Award, only the second person to receive this award in Canada.

Earlier, the CTO chairman brought the media up-to-date on the region’s performance and plans for a ‘leaner and more effective’ organisation. He told a news conference with Canada being an important market for the Caribbean, arrivals from that market to the region grew by four per cent in the first quarter of this year when compared to 2018, resulting in an estimated 1.4 million visits.

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