ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TOURISM AUTHORITY

Antigua and Barbuda received significant exposure via several media outlets throughout the state of Connecticut last weekend. The destination took center stage at the first "Summer FunFest" in Hartford, Connecticut on May 21-22 with an intensive promotion of the accommodations, attractions, cuisine and entertainment that the sister islands have to offer.  The show designed to target families as they plan summer vacations, brought over 10,000 Connecticut residents to the state capital.

On Sunday morning, Antigua and Barbuda was featured on two segments on FOX CT as the Summer Funfest was broadcast live from the Hartford Expo Center and also in a 30-second television ad that highlighted major attractions.

Lifestyle Expert and Host of the Home and Garden Show, Mar Jennings, taped a special feature on Barbuda and the naming of the Princess Diana Beach will be aired in early July. The destination was also featured in two separate print ads in the Sunday Hartford Courant.

Director of Tourism in the USA, Derede Samuel Whitlock did a live interview on the FOX CT Morning Show and described the destination as "Two Islands, Two Experiences, One Paradise." Whitlock added "Antigua and Barbuda is easy to get to from Connecticut with a number of convenient non-stop and connecting flight options to get you there."

She added "Our islands are great for families, with a range of accommodations from the all inclusive to the ultra exclusive, some of the most beautiful beaches, rich history, delicious cuisine and a variety of land and sea adventures that the entire family can enjoy." 

Antigua and Barbuda partnered with Vacation Center, a Connecticut based travel agency, one of the top producers for the destination in the new England area. Special travel packages and "show only" specials were promoted, generating instant bookings and hundreds of leads from potential summer travelers.

The destination also set up a culinary lounge, featuring Chef Murphy and the new coffee table book Table Manners.  This mega publication by the publishers of the Food and Drink Guide provides a culinary review of hospitality in Antigua and Barbuda and features a variety of entrees from top chefs throughout the destination.

In recognition of "National Pineapple Day", celebrated on May 20th, Chef Murphy did a live on-stage culinary performance featuring the "black" pineapple, Antigua and Barbuda's national fruit.  Audience members including celebrity chefs, connoisseurs, food writers and critics learned more about the diverse ways to prepare this fruit that symbolizes hospitality and its
medicinal properties. Scores of "foodies" stopped by for samplings of Murphy's culinary delights that utilized Susie's Hot Sauce and English Harbor Rum, as well as local herbs, spices and produce.

One of the main highlights of the Summer Sunfest was a grand prize drawing of a 2012 Mazda car. The second prize was a 3-night stay at the Lighthouse Bay in Barbuda. The event also featured many distinctive lifestyle exhibits including major restaurant chains, excursions, wellness retreats, culinary showcases, and other attractions.

The 2010 Census lists Connecticut as having the highest per capita income and median household income in the United States. Southwestern Connecticut is considered part of the New York metropolitan area and three of Connecticut's eight counties are in the New York City combined statistical area, commonly called the Tri-State area.

The Summer Sunfest was promoted by a distinguished group of media partners with wide reach throughout the state including: The Hartford Courant, FOXCT, CTnow.com, ValuMail and Advocate Weekly.