During Caribbean Week 2017 to be held in New York next month, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) will single out industry leaders for special awards, in addition to the presentation of media awards, during its annual Caribbean Tourism Industry Awards Luncheon.

The Caribbean Tourism Industry Awards Luncheon will take place June 8 at the Wyndham New Yorker.

Ralph Higgs, Minister of Tourism for Turks & Caicos Islands, will be presented with the Allied Award; Cyndi Miller Aird from Miller Aird Destination Marketing will receive this year’s Special Recognition Award; and for the first time, two people will be presented with the Jerry Award – Adam Stewart, deputy chairman and CEO of Sandals Resorts International, and Alex Zozaya, CEO of Apple Leisure Group.

“It is both an honour and a privilege to recognize these four industry icons for their stellar contributions to the Caribbean tourism product and sustainability practices,” said Sylma Brown, director, CTO-USA.

In addition to these awards, CTO will recognize journalists and photographers who have published stories about the region with the Caribbean Media Awards.

Bahamas-based journalists are among those shortlisted, including Etienne Dupuch Jr Publication’s writer Tosheena Robinson-Blair.