Antigua and Barbuda Launches High Tea Series – Pinkies Up!

(April 14th 2009 )- : – The US Tourism Team recently hosted three Tea Tasting/Reading Parties in an effort to reintroduce the destination and strengthen relationships with key travel partners. These series of events held for the second year in conjunction with GOGO Tours, Jolly Beach Resort and Spa and Elite Island Resorts, were hosted at upscale suburban Tea Houses in New York City, Connecticut and New Jersey.

These haute couture events featured The 2009 People's Choice Award for "The Most Outrageous Hat." Top producers in the tri-state area showed up decked in Easter hats and gloves to enjoy an afternoon of High Tea.

Tourism Ambassador, Monica Matthews, did a reading and signing of her book Journey Cakes: Memories of my Antiguan Mama. The book was launched at the 2008 Antigua and Barbuda Literary Festival and chronicles the life of a young girl growing up in poverty in the islands and gives a historical overview of Antigua and Barbuda's economic and social development. Matthew also used the opportunity to promote the 2009 Literary Festival and encouraged agents to recommend the Festival to their clients who might be avid readers.

Agents also enjoyed a presentation on the destination that included excerpts of television shows that were filmed on the destination including an ABC feature of Antigua and Barbuda.

Dean Fenton, Tourism Officer who oversaw the promotion indicated that "With Michelle Obama's recent visit to Buckingham Palace to have Afternoon Tea with the Queen we have had overwhelming interest in our Tea Tasting Series this year. We have to continue to find the 'hot buttons' that will foster creativity in engaging agents and provide meaningful incentives for them to sell and recommend. We literally have to present the destination in a new and refreshing way if we want to stand out in their minds and impact their sales strategies."

The US team will continue to target top producers in these key source markets and an intensive series of interactive promotions are planned for the next quarter that are designed to engage and educate travel agents about all facets of the Antigua and Barbuda.