CTO Honors Jacqueline Johnson With Legacy Award

The Caribbean Tourism Organization has given Jacqueline Johnson its Legacy Award as the CTO Foundation nears 30 years of funding scholarships and training for future tourism leaders. The recognition highlights her role in building the Foundation’s education mission and her broader influence on Caribbean tourism.

Why it matters: - The award spotlights the Caribbean Tourism Organization Foundation’s push to grow the next generation of tourism workers through education and mentorship. - The recognition also reinforces Jacqueline Johnson’s long-running influence on Caribbean tourism, especially in scholarships, professional development and romance travel.

What happened: - The Caribbean Tourism Organization presented Jacqueline Johnson with the Caribbean Tourism Organization Legacy Award. - The honor came as the CTO Foundation approaches its 30th anniversary. - Johnson is chair of the CTO Foundation and a founding board member. - The Foundation was established 27 years ago by former CTO Secretary General Dr. Gene Holder.

The details: - The CTO Foundation supports Caribbean nationals pursuing careers in tourism, hospitality, language studies and related fields. - Since its founding, the Foundation has awarded major scholarships to 128 students. - The Foundation has also given study grants to 186 additional students. - The organization has raised more than US$1.0 million for those education programs. - Johnson said the Foundation’s work is about investing in talented young Caribbean nationals whose careers will shape the future of the industry. - Johnson said tourism grows through people, and education now strengthens the Caribbean’s competitiveness over time. - Johnson is president and CEO of Global Bridal Group, a multimedia company focused on branding, media, e-commerce and destination marketing. - Her work has centered on romance travel, including destination weddings and honeymoons. - Johnson has spent more than three decades helping destinations build romance tourism programs through marketing, partnerships and consumer engagement. - Her career includes senior roles at Condé Nast Bridal Group, Bridal Guide and New York Magazine. - Johnson also served as vice president and media director at a Madison Avenue advertising agency that handled campaigns for cruise lines, hotels, tourism boards and travel companies. - Johnson has moderated international marketing forums, hosted bridal symposiums and led educational seminars worldwide. - Those events brought together destinations, travel advisors, media and industry stakeholders. - Johnson has received the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Tourism Medal of Excellence. - She has also received Jamaica’s Marcella Martinez Award, the Jerry Award for Outstanding Support of Caribbean Tourism and MarryCaribbean.com’s Service Award of Excellence. - Johnson is a Certified Travel Counselor and participates in the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, the Pacific Asia Travel Association and the Africa Travel Association. - The CTO Foundation says it was established in 1997 as a New York-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. - The Foundation’s website is cto-foundation.com.

Between the lines: - The award appears to serve two purposes at once: honoring Johnson’s personal record and drawing attention to the Foundation’s scholarship model as it reaches a milestone anniversary. - The emphasis on education signals a long-term strategy for Caribbean tourism, where workforce development can matter as much as marketing. - Johnson’s romance travel background helps explain why she is positioned as both an industry executive and an education leader.

What's next: - The CTO Foundation is expected to keep focusing on scholarships, grants and professional development as it moves toward its 30th year. - Johnson’s remarks suggest the Foundation will continue framing education as a core tool for regional tourism competitiveness. - The anniversary gives the organization a platform to seek more support for student training across the Caribbean.

The bottom line: - The Legacy Award ties a milestone for the CTO Foundation to one of Caribbean tourism’s most visible advocates for education-driven growth.