The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) opens its 32nd annual Cruise Conference & Trade Show today in San Juan, Puerto Rico, bringing cruise executives and destination partners together to discuss business opportunities and priorities for the sector.

Hosted by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, the conference runs through Oct. 16. One-on-one meetings, workshops and a trade show will give tourism stakeholders opportunities to engage directly with cruise line decision makers.

The program includes discussions on industry leadership, homeporting and visitor experiences, with a focus on how destinations and businesses can secure an increasing share of cruise tourism’s economic benefits.

New regional gathering will explore how sports can drive tourism growth, support community health and expand opportunities across the Caribbean

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (Oct. 10, 2026) — Anguilla will host the inaugural Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Sports Tourism Summit, Aug. 12-14, 2027, creating a new regional platform focused on harnessing the growing intersection of sports, tourism and economic development.

The announcement was made during CTO’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Georgetown, Guyana, where Caribbean tourism leaders met under the theme “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive.”

The Anguilla summit will bring together tourism and sports officials, event organizers, athletes, sports organizations, destination marketers, private-sector partners and other stakeholders to examine how Caribbean destinations can use sports to attract visitors, stimulate economic activity, strengthen destination brands and create opportunities for local communities.

“Sports is one of the most powerful connectors we have in the Caribbean, and its potential as a driver of tourism deserves greater regional attention,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, secretary-general and CEO of CTO. “This summit will create a dedicated space for destinations to share ideas, build partnerships and look more strategically at how sporting events and experiences can contribute to tourism growth while generating meaningful benefits for our people. Anguilla is an excellent destination in which to begin that conversation.”

The summit also represents an opportunity for Anguilla to build on its growing focus on sports tourism while showcasing its wider tourism product and capabilities in the meetings, incentives, conferences and events market.

Cardigan Connor, Anguilla’s minister of health, tourism and sports and a former first-class cricketer, said hosting the inaugural summit reflects the destination’s ambition to play a larger role in the development of sports tourism across the Caribbean. “Having spent much of my life in sports, I have seen firsthand the doors it can open,” Connor said. “Anguilla sees tremendous potential at the intersection of sports and tourism — not only to attract visitors and generate economic activity, but also to provide pathways to training, international exposure, scholarships and careers for young Anguillians and Caribbean nationals.”

Connor said Anguilla’s expanding sports ecosystem, including its established tennis culture and growing reputation for golf, provides a strong foundation on which to build. “Sports bring people together and generate reasons to travel,” he said. “With our tennis facilities, championship golf offerings and deep sporting traditions, we have an opportunity to position Anguilla more deliberately in this market. Hosting the first CTO Sports Tourism Summit allows us to showcase our strengths while helping to advance a regional conversation around this burgeoning market.”

He also highlighted the connection between sports, tourism and health, including the possibility of using sporting initiatives to raise funds to support people affected by cancer. Reflecting on the disease’s impact on members of the Caribbean cricketing community and families across the region, he pointed to an opportunity to bring people together through sports in support of a shared cause.

Anguilla has long incorporated sports tourism into its destination development strategy, with sporting activities and events complementing the island’s established appeal in luxury leisure travel, culinary experiences, wellness and other niche markets. 

Jameel Rochester, director of tourism for the Anguilla Tourist Board, said the summit provides an important opportunity to introduce more tourism professionals and industry partners to the breadth of the Anguilla experience. “For Anguilla, sports tourism is about much more than staging an event. It is about creating another compelling reason to visit the destination and then connecting those visitors with our accommodations, restaurants, beaches, culture, experiences and, most important, our people,” Rochester said.

“The summit allows us to demonstrate that a small destination can develop distinctive experiences, build smart partnerships and deliver the high level of hospitality for which Anguilla is known.”

Additional details on the CTO Sports Tourism Summit, including venue, program, speakers and registration information, will be announced in the coming months.

SOTIC was supported by official conference partners Amadeus and the Inter-American Development Bank, Tourism Intelligence Awards sponsor ASM Global Route Development, contributing sponsors the Association of Value Airlines, Digicel Business and Atlantic Suites Hotel, Youth Congress sponsor Carnival Corporation, and official airline partner interCaribbean Airways.

Four Anguilla resorts earn recognition; Anguilla ranks No. 8 among the Caribbean and Atlantic’s top islands

THE VALLEY, Anguilla (Oct. 6, 2026) — Anguilla’s Maundays Bay has been named the second-best beach in the world in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, recognizing the island’s exceptional natural beauty and enduring appeal as a Caribbean destination.

Four Anguilla resorts also earned recognition in the awards’ Caribbean Islands resort category led by Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel, Anguilla, at No. 2. Malliouhana Resort ranked No. 20; Zemi Beach House, LXR Hotels & Resorts, No. 23; and Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla, No. 34.

With its crescent of white sand and turquoise waters, Maundays Bay offers a setting that captures Anguilla’s relaxed charm. Home to Cap Juluca, the bay pairs natural beauty with the island’s distinctive approach to understated luxury.

“Maundays Bay’s ranking as the world’s second-best beach, alongside recognition for four of our resorts, speaks to both Anguilla’s natural beauty and the quality of hospitality our island delivers,” said Cardigan Connor, Anguilla’s minister of health, tourism and sports. “These honors also recognize the people behind the experience — the resort teams whose care and dedication help make a visit to Anguilla so memorable.”

“Recognition from Condé Nast Traveler’s readers, who have experienced destinations across the globe, carries particular weight. It reinforces the importance of protecting the natural beauty and distinctive character that draw visitors to Anguilla while continuing to deliver the exceptional hospitality they associate with our island,” added Minister Connor.

Anguilla also ranked No. 8 among the top islands in the Caribbean and the Atlantic in the publication’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards.

Condé Nast Traveler received close to 800,000 survey responses from readers across the United States rating their travel experiences around the world for this year’s awards.

The 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards are available at cntraveler.com/rca and will be featured in the magazine’s November issue.

FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique (October 1, 2026) – Alexandre Ventadour has been named tourism commissioner of the Martinique Tourism Authority (MTA), ushering in a new phase of strategic leadership focused on strengthening Martinique’s position as a leading French-Caribbean destination.

Ventadour succeeds Bénédicte di Geronimo who stepped down from her role to dedicate herself to broader responsibilities supporting Martinique’s development, particularly through European funding initiatives. The appointment was made by Serge Letchimy, president of the Executive Council of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique.

A seasoned leader in economic development, destination attractiveness, tourism and ecological transition, Commissioner Ventadour brings extensive experience in advancing initiatives that support sustainable growth and strengthen Martinique’s international appeal. In his new role, he will lead the MTA’s efforts to elevate the destination’s global visibility, deepen partnerships with the tourism industry and advance a vision that places authenticity, innovation and sustainability at the heart of Martinique’s tourism future.

“It is an honor to assume the role of commissioner of tourism for the Martinique Tourism Authority at such an important moment for our island,” said Commissioner Ventadour. “Having served as vice president for the past five years, I am deeply committed to this organization and eager to build on our strong foundation. My priority is to set a clear course that balances continuity with new momentum, driving an ambitious, collective and sustainable vision for Martinique’s tourism that honors our authentic identity while strengthening our international appeal.”

Under Commissioner Ventadour’s leadership, the MTA will continue to showcase Martinique’s distinctive identity, from its rich French-Caribbean heritage and acclaimed gastronomy to its extraordinary landscapes, vibrant cultural traditions and commitment to responsible tourism. His appointment reinforces Martinique’s ambition to accelerate destination growth while delivering meaningful experiences for visitors and sustainable opportunities for local communities.