Caribbean Week in New York

Caribbean Week in New York
Name	Caribbean Week in New York
Location	New York City
First	1994
Organizer	Caribbean Tourism Organization

Caribbean Week in New York is an annual series of promotional and cultural events held in New York City showcasing the music, cuisine, tourism, and diplomacy of Caribbean nations. Founded by regional organizations and hosted alongside trade delegations, cultural institutions, and media partners, the week brings together representatives from islands and diaspora communities for business forums, artistic presentations, and hospitality showcases. The program often coincides with diplomatic receptions, trade shows, and festivals that link Caribbean capitals and multinational corporations with institutions in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

History

The initiative traces roots to meetings organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization and bilateral missions such as the Embassy of Jamaica, Washington, D.C. network and the High Commission of Barbados outreach, with early participants including the Ministry of Tourism (Trinidad and Tobago), the Ministry of Tourism and Transport (The Bahamas), and delegations from Dominica and Saint Lucia. Influences included promotional strategies used by the Caribbean Development Bank and trade missions modeled on events by the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. Prominent supporters over time have included the Consulate General of Haiti in New York, the Consulate General of Guyana in New York, cultural advocates linked to the Paul Robeson Theatre and the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute, and tourism ministers such as those from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. The series evolved alongside global events like the World Travel & Tourism Council summits and developed ties with diasporic organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the New York State Pavilion cultural programs.

Events and Programming

Programming typically spans trade-focused forums, cultural performances, and culinary showcases organized with partners including the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, the Association of Caribbean States, and major venues like Lincoln Center and Brooklyn Academy of Music. Business sessions have featured panels with representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank alongside private brands such as Sandals Resorts International, Airbnb, and Virgin Atlantic. Cultural nights have hosted artists associated with labels like VP Records, producers connected to Island Records, performers who collaborated with Bob Marley affiliates, and chefs linked to restaurants in Harlem, SoHo, and Williamsburg. Events have included film screenings tied to the Tribeca Film Festival, art exhibitions curated with the Museum of Modern Art, and parades echoing traditions from Crop Over and Caribbean Carnival circuits.

Participants and Partners

Delegations have included tourism ministers, consuls, and representatives from Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Haiti, Belize, Guyana, and Suriname. Institutional partners have involved the Caribbean Export Development Agency, the United Nations Development Programme, and diaspora institutions such as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the New York Public Library. Corporate participation has spanned airlines like JetBlue, American Airlines, and British Airways as well as hospitality groups including Marriott International and Hilton Worldwide Holdings. Media partners have included outlets such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, Essence (magazine), The Guardian, and broadcasters like NPR and BBC World News.

Economic and Cultural Impact

The week aims to generate tourism receipts similar to projections published by the World Travel & Tourism Council and investment leads reported to multilateral lenders such as the Inter-American Development Bank. Exhibitions and trade missions create contracts between Caribbean suppliers and buyers from Manhattan hospitality sectors, boutique tour operators modeled after Intrepid Travel, and cruise industry firms like Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Cultural programming raises profiles for artists linked to movements such as calypso, soca, and reggae while promoting culinary entrepreneurs influenced by chefs from Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. Partnerships with cultural institutions—examples include collaborations with the Brooklyn Museum and promotional tie-ins with the Caribbean Music Awards—support heritage tourism and diaspora cultural capital.

Media Coverage and Publicity

Coverage has ranged from feature stories in The New York Times and lifestyle coverage in Vogue (magazine) to segments on CNN International and morning shows on WABC-TV. Entertainment reporting by publications like Billboard and Pitchfork has highlighted concerts and album releases timed to coincide with events, while trade press such as Travel Weekly and Skift cover industry forums. Public relations efforts have leveraged influencers who work with brands such as Instagram creators, partnerships with streaming services like Spotify for curated playlists, and collaborations with film programmers associated with the Sundance Film Festival and the New York Film Festival.

Organization and Governance

Organizing duties are primarily managed by the Caribbean Tourism Organization in coordination with national tourism boards such as the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.. Steering committees often include representatives from the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, consular corps such as the Consulate General of Trinidad and Tobago in New York, and nonprofit partners like the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute. Funding streams draw from national ministries including the Ministry of Tourism (Jamaica), private sponsors from hospitality groups such as Sandals Resorts International and Marriott International, and grants from regional organizations like the Caribbean Export Development Agency. Governance mechanisms mirror practices used by organizations such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean for stakeholder engagement.

Category:Festivals in New York City