FIRST ANNUAL CARIBBEAN BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT SET FOR CARIBBEAN WEEK IN NEW YORK, JUNE 16-17, 2007

- Top Teams in AVP-Sanctioned Qualifier Win Trip to Puerto Rico for Championship Matches -

NEW YORK, NY (May 14, 2007) – The First Annual Caribbean Beach Volleyball Tournament will be held in Long Beach, NY on June 16-17, as part of Caribbean Week in New York 2007, an annual week-long series of consumer-focused events, including cooking demonstrations, sporting events, music and cultural performances.

Players will compete for $1,500 cash prizes, as well as vie for a qualifying spot in the championship matches.  The top placing team from both the male and female open divisions will receive a complimentary trip to Isla Verde, Puerto Rico in early November, where they will compete with winning teams from other qualifying tournaments elsewhere in the U.S. for the First Annual Caribbean Beach Volleyball Championship, sponsored by Marriott.

The Caribbean Beach Volleyball Championship will be held Nov. 3-4, 2007, awarding $2,000 cash prizes as well as the Caribbean Challenge Trophy.

The Hiler Trophy – named in honor of Guy H. Hiler, a Caribbean national who became involved in working for the promotion and uplifting of Caribbean people –  will be awarded to a player who best exemplifies true sportsmanship and the spirit of the Caribbean Beach Volleyball Championship.

“While Cricket is the most popular sport among Caribbean nationals, the Caribbean itself is best known for its pristine beaches and tropical weather,” said Hugh Riley, one of the event’s main organizers.  “We are happy to include this new event in our weeklong program to incorporate the sun and sand for which so many travelers escape to the Caribbean every year.”

The Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC) has partnered with New York-based East End Volleyball to produce the tournaments.  Sanctioned by AVPNext, the grassroots organization of the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP), East End Volleyball has grown into the largest series on the East Coast of the United States with over 35 events featuring more than 3,000 players each year.  In addition to the Long Beach tournament taking place during Caribbean Week in New York, qualifiers will be held in Myrtle Beach, SC; Newport, RI; Pt. Pleasant, NJ; and Clearwater, FL.  Visit www.eevb.net for more information about the tournaments and how to register.

Caribbean Week in New York 2007

Caribbean Week in New York 2007 aims to recognize and acknowledge June as Caribbean Heritage Month.  The Caribbean Week 2007 schedule includes the following:

Celebrity Invitational Cricket Match — The Celebrity Cricket Match features past, present and emerging players from West Indies cricket teams competing against a team of all-star players from New York-area cricket leagues on June 9 at 11:00 am at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, NY.  Further details on the Celebrity Invitational Cricket Match may be obtained calling the CTO at 212-635-9530 or visiting www.CaribbeanWeekNY.com.

Caribbean Gospel Fest — An Interfaith Gospel Concert entitled, Gospel Fest, scheduled for Saturday, June 9, 7 pm – 9 pm, at St. George’s Episcopal Church (209 East 16th Street at Stuyvesant Square, Manhattan) will feature performances by internationally acclaimed gospel artist Lieutenant Stitchie; The Grace Thrillers, winners of several international gospel awards; Trinidad & Tobago native Gerard Placide, a three-time winner of McDonald’s Gospelfest; Mya Daniel of Barbados; Selta Brown from St. Vincent & the Grenadines; Simeon Outten of the Bahamas; and the A Fe We Culture Ensemble featuring Mykal Somer.  Caribbean Ministers, Commissioners and Directors of Tourism, New York State and City officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps, tourism industry leaders, representatives of the media, and a cross section of New York’s Caribbean-American community will be in attendance.  Tickets can be purchased for $20 by visiting www.CaribbeanWeekNY.com or calling CTO’s New York office at 212-635-9530.

Gospel Performances — A number of performers from Gospel Fest will also be participating in special Gospel Performances taking place on Sunday, June 10 throughout the day in New York.  The performances will take place during religious observances at St. George’s Episcopal Church (209 East 16th Street at Stuyvesant Square, Manhattan), St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (777 East 222nd St at Barnes Ave., Bronx), and Grace Deliverance Church (650 Remsen Ave, Brooklyn).

Caribbean Gospel Brunch — Themed “Caribbean Culture on the Sound,” the Caribbean Gospel Brunch will feature performances by internationally acclaimed gospel artist Lieutenant Stitchie; The Grace Thrillers, winners of several international gospel awards; Trinidad & Tobago native Gerard Placide, a three-time winner of McDonald’s Gospelfest; the South Street Steel Orchestra; the A Fe We Culture Ensemble; and others.  Authentic Caribbean cuisine will be prepared by celebrated Dominican Chef Daniel Andrew.  Caribbean art, vacations, and culinary items donated by Bloomingdale’s will be auctioned.  Caribbean Culture on the Sound – so named as much for the location of the venue on the Long Island Sound as for its rousing gospel notes - will take place on Sunday, June 10 from 11 am – 3 pm at Caribbean Island Restaurant in City Island, Bronx.  Tickets for the event are $100 per person ($50 per child under 10 years) and can be purchased by visiting www.CaribbeanWeekNY.com or contacting the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s New York office at 212-635-9530.  Roundtrip coach transportation will depart the Marriott Marquis in Manhattan at 10 am and costs an additional $20 per person.  Proceeds from the Caribbean Culture on the Sound Gospel Brunch will benefit the Caribbean Tourism Organization Foundation.

Caribbean Celebrity Chefs — Chefs from world-class Caribbean resorts and restaurants will be in New York to spice up the city with savory regional flavors.  These “celebrity” chefs will prepare samples of authentic Caribbean dishes at Bloomingdale’s flagship store at 59th Street and Macy’s Herald Square at 34th Street.  The chefs will be featured at various New York City restaurants, the Caribbean Media Marketplace (Marriott Marquis), the Caribbean Fair & Vacation Mart (South Street Seaport), and the 34th Annual Governments of the Caribbean State Ball (Waldorf=Astoria).

Town Hall Meetings — Scheduled for June 11, simultaneously in Brooklyn and the Bronx, the two Town Hall Meetings will provide an opportunity for visiting Caribbean tourism ministers to interact with their New York-based constituents in discussions led by popular moderators.

In Brooklyn, attendees will meet at Medgar Evers College (S Building Auditorium, 1650 Bedford Avenue, between Montgomery & Crown Streets) where Hon. Aloun N’Dombet Assamba, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica; and Hon. Glen Beache, Minister of Tourism, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, will be on-hand to discuss the state of Caribbean tourism.  This forum will be moderated by veteran broadcaster Donn Bobb.

In the Bronx, participants will meet at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (777 East 222nd Street at Barnes Avenue) with the Hon. Joseph Parry, Premier and Minister of Tourism, Nevis; and Hon. Richard “Ricky” Skerritt, Minister of the State for Tourism of St. Kitts & Nevis.  The moderator for this session will be Irwine G. Clare, co-founder and managing director of Caribbean Immigration Services, Inc. (CIS).

Senator the Hon. Allen Chastanet, Minister of Tourism, St. Lucia and Chairman, CTO, will also be participating in the evening’s events.

Caribbean Fair & Vacation Mart — For the third year in a row, the South Street Seaport will be the host venue for the Caribbean Fair & Vacation Mart, featuring approximately 70 booths manned by representatives from Caribbean destinations, hoteliers and strategic partners.  Slated for June 12 from 11 am – 9 pm on Piers 16 and 17 at the South Street Seaport, the Caribbean Fair & Vacation Mart will offer consumers the opportunity to purchase specially-priced Caribbean vacation packages from travel professionals.

During a special Presentation of Proclamations, Caribbean tourism ministers and directors of tourism, along with private sector strategic partners, will be in attendance as New York City and State officials deliver proclamations officially declaring June 9-17, 2007 Caribbean Week in New York.

The Fair will also feature two ‘live’ Caribbean Weddings, sponsored by the Condé Nast Bridal Media, scheduled for 3 pm and 4 pm.  The two lucky couples exchanging vows at the Fair will each receive a romantic Caribbean honeymoon to either the British Virgin Islands or St. Maarten/St. Martin.

New at the Fair this year will be the Children’s Village.  Organized by the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI), the Children’s Village will include artist workshops on music, arts and crafts and storytelling that would be held throughout the day.

The Fair will conclude with a Caribbean Concert from 6 – 9 pm featuring performances by popular Caribbean musicians.

34th Annual Governments of the Caribbean State Ball — Fine food, fashion and fun will be showcased at the black-tie 34th Annual Governments of the Caribbean State Ball scheduled for Friday, June 15 at 7 pm in the Waldorf=Astoria’s Grand Ballroom.  Tickets, advertising opportunities and special sponsorship packages for the Ball may be obtained by visiting www.CaribbeanWeekNY.com or calling CTO’s New York office at 212-635-9530.  Proceeds from the Ball will benefit the CTO Foundation.

Caribbean Week 2007 Sponsors

Caribbean Week in New York 2007 is sponsored by American Express® Publishing, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Bloomingdale’s, British Virgin Islands, CaribVision, CaribWorldNews.com, Condé Nast Bridal Media, Dominican Republic, Empire State Building Company, Grenada, Jamaica, Macy’s, Monroe College, New York Cricket Region, New York Magazine, New York Times, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, St. Maarten/St. Martin, Southern Living Magazine, and Turks & Caicos Islands.

For additional information about Caribbean Week 2007, please contact CTO’s New York Office directly at 212-635-9530 or visit www.CaribbeanWeekNY.com.

The Caribbean Tourism Development Company

The Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC) is a marketing and business development unit, owned equally by the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). Its mission is:

To own, promote, protect, advance and enhance the Caribbean brand.

The CTDC combines the resources of the Caribbean region’s destinations, accommodations and service providers to create a viable, cohesive, business unit that is able to identify commercial opportunities and allow the members of CHA and CTO to benefit collectively from those opportunities in ways that individually they could not.  In all its endeavors the company will engage only in activities that honor the Caribbean brand and benefit the members of CHA and CTO.

CTDC may be contacted through the offices of CHA and CTO: CHA’s Miami office is located at 2665 Le Jeune Road, Suite 910, Coral Gables, FL 33134. Tel. (305) 443 3040; Fax (305) 443 3005. E-mail TGrace@CaribbeanTDC.com.  CTO’s New York office is located at 80 Broad Street, Suite 3200, New York, NY 10004. Tel: (212) 635-9530; Fax: (

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Richard Heiles
East End Volleyball
PO Box 49
Hampton Bays, NY 11946
www.eevb.net
631-728-0397 or 631-355-1293