Former Antiguan tourism director to market Caribbean in Europe

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (April 6, 2009) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has appointed Carol Hay as its Director of Marketing in the UK/ Europe.

In her new position, Ms. Hay will lead the CTO’s enhanced thrust in Europe, including designing, implementing and managing the organization’s strategic marketing and public relations programmes for all European markets. She will work in coordination with CTO’s head office in Barbados and the European Chapters. Ms. Hay will be based in CTO’s London office.

Ms Hay, who is of Jamaican heritage, comes to the CTO with over 20 years experience in the tourism, financial services and trade & investment sectors. She has worked extensively throughout Europe and the Caribbean.

“We are very pleased to have secured Ms. Hay’s expertise after a lengthy and exhaustive search in which we drew interest from many individuals,” said Hugh Riley, CTO’s Acting Secretary General. “I believe that her intimate knowledge of both the Caribbean and the European markets will be a major advantage as the organisation continues to strengthen its operations in Europe.”

Just prior to joining the CTO, Ms. Hay was Antigua and Barbuda’s Director of Tourism for the UK and Europe, a position she held since 2007. Between 2005 and 2007 she was the country’s Director of Marketing for the UK/Europe.

She says her experience working with Antigua and Barbuda will come in handy in her new role for the wider Caribbean.
“It will help a great deal because I have a clearer understanding of the European market, our stakeholders and what’s required, and I have had the advantage of working closely with tourist boards from other parts of the world so I have a clear vision as to what the competition will be like and will therefore be able to bring some ideas to the table and work with our partners as to how we can reposition the Caribbean throughout Europe,” Ms. Hay said.

“I look forward to working with all the members of the CTO and I am really looking forward to showcasing the Caribbean and helping us to maintain a position of strength and dominance throughout Europe,” she added.

Ms Hay replaces Julia Hendry, a 30 year veteran of the travel industry, who retired after more than six years as the regional tourism development and marketing agency’s Director of Marketing in Europe.

“I have enjoyed my career enormously, had some amazing jobs, been to some amazing places and worked with some amazing people, not least of all, everyone at CTO - members, chapters, colleagues and industry partners. Here in the UK, continental Europe and of course the Caribbean I have been grateful for the enormous amount of support received from colleagues in all sectors of the industry, but especially from the CTO family,” Ms. Hendry said upon her departure on 3 April. “It is time to step down and spend a little more time with family and friends and to pursue personal and leisure interests.”