**St. John’s, Antigua**…**May 21, 2025** – On the sidelines of the 43rd Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM) 2025, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment, the Hon. H. Charles Fernandez, hosted an intimate and elegant dinner at the world-renowned Jumby Bay Island. The evening brought together key regional tourism ministers and high-level industry stakeholders in celebration of the destination’s successful hosting of the region’s most prestigious tourism trade show and to foster deeper regional collaboration.
In attendance were the Ministers of Tourism from Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Anguilla, as well as key figures including the President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Mr. Sanovnik Destang; CEO of CHTA, Ms. Vanessa Ledesma; and other distinguished partners and executives across the regional tourism landscape.
Minister Fernandez expressed heartfelt appreciation to his colleagues and industry leaders for their endorsement of Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism product and for supporting the destination as host of CTM 2025. He emphasized the importance of deepening regional collaboration and solidarity, particularly as Caribbean nations continue to navigate global challenges and embrace innovation in tourism development.
Guests were treated to a refined evening of cultural elegance, featuring captivating live performances by two young Antiguan musical prodigies: celebrated saxophonist **Lael Farrell** and **award-winning pannist Maurissa Potter**. Their performances added a vibrant and uniquely local touch to the occasion, showcasing the depth of Antiguan talent and cultural richness.
In a special moment during the evening, Minister Fernandez presented **CHTA President Mr. Sanovnik Destang** with a handcrafted mahogany boat replica, complete with sails fashioned from the national flag of Antigua and Barbuda, a symbolic token of appreciation from the Ministry of Tourism, celebrating both heritage and partnership.
President Destang, in his response, thanked Minister Fernandez for the exclusive invitation and expressed admiration for the country’s exceptional staging of CTM 2025. He noted that Antigua and Barbuda has set a new benchmark for excellence in regional tourism hosting.
The dinner served not only as a celebration of CTM’s success but also as a reaffirmation of Antigua and Barbuda’s role as a leader in Caribbean tourism, innovation, and hospitality.