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Some of Hispanic prize-winners
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Gisela Yocoso, Marketing director for the Americas and the Caribbean at American Airlines

In the course of this major event, the future of the region was addressed in some important meetings and a communication campaign aimed at reactivating the Caribbean in the United States –even below its traditional levels- was passed.

Mexico's exit as CTO member was a stunner. The country, though, won't relinquish its chances of coming back to the organization. Negotiations with the state of Quintana Roo and its possible admission as a new member will remain very much in place.

In the news conference conducted by the CTO to release the conclusions of this event, Hugh Riley was official introduced as new marketing director for the Americas, while Obie Wilchombe was presented as the new Bahamian minister of tourism and CTO chairman.

Arley S. Sobers, director of information management and research at the CTO, unveiled the new version of the www.onecaribbean.org, an intranet site that will provide information on the organization and the region.

Some of the highlights of the press conference span around the importance of Europe as a tourist-sending market for the Caribbean and efforts the CTO is currently conducting with such countries as the U.K., Germany, France and Italy, as well as with Switzerland and Spain in the near future, with a view to open offices in these countries.

The 29th edition of the Caribbean State Ball at the Waldorf Astoria topped the night off with the presentation of 50 special awards to those who have supported the development of the leisure industry in the Caribbean.

CTO AWARDS Within the framework of the Caribbean Week, the CTO awarded the 50 most relevant people for their special contribution to the Caribbean's tourist industry. Some of the Hispanic prize-winners:

Orlando Rangel, director of foreign relations at Cuba's Ministry of Tourism

Carlos Diago, professor at the University of Puerto Rico (he wasn't awarded, yet he's an outstanding personality in the Caribbean)

Angel Miolan, secretary of state without portfolio of the Dominican Republic

Jorge Pesquera, executive director of the Puerto Rican Convention Bureau, who picked up the award on behalf of his father, Gilberto Pesquera.

Orlando Rangel is one of the most outstanding figures in Cuba's tourist industry who's done a great job for its development.

Carlos Diago, professor at the University of Puerto Rico, who alongside Gilberto Pesquera was one of the forerunners of the leisure industry in Puerto Rico.

Angel Miolan is penciled in as the harbinger and father of tourism in the Dominican Republic.

Gilberto Pesquera is perhaps the premiere person in the creation of a tourist concept in Puerto Rico.

WE TALKED WITH…

Gisela Yocoso is the marketing director for the Americas and the Caribbean at American Airlines. She was recently presented with the Jerry Awards –founded in 1977 to honor Gerald Magit- within the framework of the Caribbean Week in New York.

You've just been awarded with so special a prize for your support and contribution to tourism in the Caribbean. What does this recognition mean to you? In the course of these 10 years working with the Caribbean, they've decided to give me this award in recognition to my collaboration and contribution to tourism in the Caribbean. I'm very honored for having received this award because I consider that the person these awards were named after certainly did a great job in the Caribbean.

Is there any promotional strategy in store after 9/11 to enhance the number of flights toward the Caribbean? Logically, many promotions were called off on the heels of 9/11. So far, we are not starting to enhance them.

How many weekly flights do you have right now from the U.S. to the Caribbean? Today, we fly to 37 Caribbean islands. I can't tell you the exact number of flights. I can tell you we do have a good deal of flights because American Airlines is the largest air carrier in the Caribbean, the airline covering the largest number of islands and the one with the largest number of flights.

WE TALKED WITH…

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has wanted to praise the contribution of Adwina Arens to the realm of tourism during the Caribbean Week in New York, by handing her one of the 50 honorary awards bestowed on different personalities in the sector.

What does an award like this mean to you after so many years of dedication to the world of tourism? I'm very happy with this recognition. It's a great honor for me to receive this award presented by the CTO.

When did you start working for the tourist industry? It was back in the 1970s when I started out my professional career in this industry.

What do you think it must be done for Aruba's tourist industry? For our group -La Cabana All Suite Beaches Resorts- a joint effort by both the public and private sectors for the development of tourism is a fundamental issue.