JOINT TOURISM MARKETING CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED IN NEW YORK

New York, NY, March 26 -- To kick off a US $400,000 media campaign, jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and the Antigua Hotels and Tourist Association, and aimed at promoting Antigua and Barbuda in the United States, Director of Tourism David Fernandez and Tony Johnson, owner/manager of Siboney Beach Club, representing the co-host The Antigua Hotels and Tourist Association, met at a luncheon with a group of major travel writers today at the popular Giambelli's Restaurant in midtown Manhattan. The group included editors from magazines such as Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Bride's and Departures, as well as the leading industry publication, Travel Agent, and the top independent writers on Caribbean tourism.

The campaign starting on April 7, will include co-op advertisements with Go Go Worldwide Vacation and American Airlines Vacations; and advertisements will appear in Islands and Caribbean Travel and Life magazines. Concurrently a series of radio commercials will be aired on the major all-news stations in the top northeastern US markets. Following will be a program of familiarization visits to Antigua and Barbuda by key travel agents and an ongoing initiative to arrange visits for selected travel writers to our twin island destination. 

David Fernandez told the group that he was using this occasion to mark the beginning of the new marketing campaign, to thank the travel writers for their dedicated support of the destination and to apprise them of improvements and developments in the hotel sector along with the good news that US Air and Air Jamaica are providing new airlift. Fernandez further said, "There is also good news in the starting up of additional visitor attractions particularly in the Eco field such as adventure experiences in Kayaking, visits to offshore islands, Nature Trails and Off Track tours."

Tony Johnson gave a detailed account of all that is new on the hotel front, and expressed the association’s satisfaction at being a partner in this new joint venture. He extended an invitation to the writers on behalf of AHTA and said, "Come visit us as soon as you can and let us show you the other side of the island, the side beyond the boundaries of the hotel."

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