Carnival Corporation has announced it has strengthened its support for Caribbean tourism and young people by becoming the lead sponsor of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Regional Tourism Youth Congress.
The company also awarded the first-place prize to Amarni Webster, 15, of Anguilla, the 2026 Youth Congress winner.
Held October 8 as part of the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Guyana, the congress brought together students from across the Caribbean to present their perspectives on issues affecting regional tourism and share ideas for the industry’s future.
Carnival said in a press release that Marie McKenzie, the company’s senior vice president for government and destination affairs, served as chief judge for the Youth Congress.
Jill Stone, founder and CEO of Blue Group Media, and Jim Brody, vice president of destination partnerships at Tripscout, joined her in evaluating the students’ presentations.
McKenzie said the opportunity to sit with young people already thinking seriously about the region’s tourism industry was an important part of Carnival Corporation’s participation in SOTIC.
“It has been a privilege to serve as chief judge today, representing Carnival Corporation, and to hear from these remarkable young tourism leaders,” McKenzie said.
“The strength of their ideas made choosing a winner especially difficult. From one Caribbean leader to the next generation of Caribbean leaders, never underestimate your ideas, your voice or your ability to make a difference,” added McKenzie.
Carnival, in partnership with Acordis International Corporation, also donated a laptop to support the winning student’s continued education, with Philcher Grant, Carnival’s director of public and community affairs, making the presentation during the Youth Congress.
The company added in the press release that the contributions reflect Carnival Corporation’s ongoing involvement in the Caribbean and its interest in supporting young people who will eventually become part of the region’s tourism workforce and leadership.
Carnival has supported the Youth Congress as part of its broader engagement with CTO and the Caribbean tourism sector.
The Youth Congress is a longstanding feature of SOTIC, bringing together students from CTO member countries to:
- Debate tourism-related issues
- Develop their public speaking skills, and
- Consider the challenges and opportunities facing the Caribbean tourism industry.
