Joe Pike (right) accepts his award from CTO secretary general Hugh Riley

The article by Joe Pike of Travel Agent magazine won the Best of the Best award at today’s awards luncheon at the Marriott Marquis in New York, part of the programme for Caribbean Week New York organized by the CTO.

Dubbed, How to Sell LGBT Travel to the Caribbean, the story explores Caribbean destinations and properties that pursue the $200 billion market and provides tips and trends to those who are considering it. It has its origin in a session organized by the CTO during last year’s State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Curacao.

“It is an extremely informative, well-researched and reported story. Mr. Pike did a nice job working to inform his readership about a growing LGBT travel market. Thanks to extensive research, he provided interesting data about the market potential and did first-hand reporting by interviewing industry experts to gather market intelligence. He also covers important sub-topics like safety, family travel, and same-sex marriage. Lastly, through detailed research, Mr. Pike identifies the most welcoming islands and hotels. This was an original idea and will definitely provide new and interesting information to the reader,” said director of international communications at the Washington-based The Boeing Company Steve Lott, one of the judges for the contest.

“It is very unique and different,” added Yuriy Boykiv, chief executive officer of Gravity Media, a New York-based marketing and advertising agency.

Pike was one of ten travel writers and photographers awarded today for their coverage of the Caribbean.

The winners of this year’s Caribbean Travel Media awards are as follows:

Been There, Wrote That – Best Feature Article In A Consumer Magazine

Vivian Holley - Jamaica Magic--Having it All at Half Moon – Southern Seasons Magazine

I Couldn’t Have Written Better Myself – Best Feature In A Consumer Newspaper

Sharon Millar - Mermen Come Calling (a story on the folkloric legends of Tobago) – The New York Times

Inner Circle King/Queen– Best Feature Article In A Trade Publication

Joe Pike - How to Sell LGBT Travel to the Caribbean - Travel Agent Central

Virtual Visitor Award – Best Online Feature

David McFadden – Jamaica hopes Jewish Tourism can help fading community – The Associated Press

Golden Mic – Best Broadcast Feature

Valerie D’Elia - Experiencing Antigua Like a Local – NY1 News

From Infinity…And Abroad! (Best Feature by a foreign Journalist in US or Caribbean Media)

Eric Vohr – From James Bond to a smuggler's hangout, Bahamian chain has it all – Chicago Tribune

Oh Snap!– Best Photograph accompanying a feature

Brian Irwin - Fly-fishing on the Sapodilla Cayes off the coast of Belize, a photograph accompanying a story entitled, Ecotourism a Natural for Belize in the Boston Globe

No Anansi Story! (Best Feature by a Caribbean Journalist in Caribbean Media)

Chanaz Kokkelmans - Statia-cation : A Vacation on Statia - St. Maarten Daily Herald

Oh My Word, I Blogged! (Best Blog Post)

Rachelle Hay - Salt & Shimmer: Down D Islands, looking at travel in the region. This winner of this award was determined by voters in an online poll.

Caribbean Week New York celebrates the sights, sounds, colours, culture and unique holiday experiences of the Caribbean.

Caribbean Week is supported by American Express, Academy Engraving, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, the Atrebor Group, the Islands of the Bahamas, Barbados, Bloomingdales, Caribbean Airlines, Cayman Islands, CitiTech Solutions, Dominica, El Dorado Rum, Empire State Building, Grace, Grenada, Golden Crust, Jade Mountain/Anse Chastanet Resort, Jamaica, Marry Caribbean, Martinique, Nassau Paradise Island, Nevis, Proximo, Resonance, The Real McCoy Rum, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sugar Beach, Travel + Leisure, Resonance Consultancy; Trinidad and Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, Unique Vacations, Inc./Sandals and Willams-Sonoma.