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News-Cultural Event in NYC New York City, NY, Dec. 20, 2004 -- A press conference was hosted on Thursday, December 16th in Manhattan by the Grenada Board of Tourism (GBT), in conjunction with MTV and VP Records. The event was a compact showcase of Grenada’s tourism product, Caribbean culture as expressed in music, and the promotion of a special Hurricane Ivan relief effort. The afternoon at the Park Central New York Hotel included an informative update on tourism-related, post-Hurricane Ivan reconstruction efforts in Grenada, from Mr. William B. Joseph, Director of the Grenada Board of Tourism. This was accompanied by a slide show that focused on the somewhat disfigured, but certainly unspoiled beauty of the tri-island state. In the words of the USA Director of the GBT, Christine Noel, "The event was a very successful one - our goal was to update the invited guests and the public at large of our rebounding efforts, especially in the area of tourism, and we were able to do so." "I was particularly encouraged by the support for our rebuilding efforts as expressed by the attending travel, media and entertainment representatives," she added. Additionally, there was a brief MTV segment comprised of addresses by Frederick A. Morton, Jr., MTV Sr. V.P. & Deputy General Counsel of Business & Legal Affairs, Quddus, - a MTV VJ, and Amanda Diva of Grenadian descent - another MTV2 VJ. The MTV representatives used their time before the audience to announce their partnership with VP Records, Universal Music Group, and The American Red Cross to raise funds for the Caribbean countries affected by Hurricane Ivan. The funds will be raised through an on-line auction - at WWW.AUCTION.MTV.COM - of property and gift items donated by numerous organizations and celebrities like Wyclef Jean, Jennifer Lopez, Destiny’s Child and Ludacris. The speeches and slide show were followed by an impressive unplugged entertainment session featuring Machel Montano singing his reworded hit-song "We Will Carry On," with Lima Calbio as vocal backup, and Super P singing "Grenada Will Rise Again," accompanied by Machel Montano on guitar. The 65 or so attendees of the press conference and promotional event represented several current and prospective stakeholders in the future of Grenada’s tourist industry. They included among others, Air Jamaica Airline, Air Jamaica Vacations, Adventure Tours, La Luna Hotel Group, Rex Grenadian Hotel Group, Travel Span, GoGo Worldwide Vacations, and Travel Impressions. Also in attendance were Grenada’s new Ambassador to the U.N., Her Excellency Ambassador Ruth E. Rouse, Hugh Riley, Director of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Markley Wilson, Director of International Marketing - New York State Department of Economic Development. |
