Above: the Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort (CJ Photo)

By Alexander Britell

ST THOMAS — The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of the Industry Conference began on Wednesday night in St Thomas.

The event, the leading conference for the region’s largest economic driver, is being hosted at the Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort.

It officially launched with an opening ceremony Wednesday evening.

This year’s event is being held under the theme “Realizing the Vision: Position Caribbean Tourism for Major Change.”

“Realizing a tourism vision for the Caribbean is dependent on creating long-term partnerships with the private sector to provide continuous public sector policies and a focused strategy which deliver sustainable economic and social benefits to the region,” said Alex Zozaya, the event’s keynote speaker and the Chief Executive Officer of Apple Leisure Group.

The conference concludes Friday, Sep. 19.