AA to improve schedules to the Caribbean, says CTO lifetime achievement awardee

American Airlines will improve both its winter and summer schedules to the Caribbean, with the highest number of flights in the last three years, while the next winter schedule will be the biggest in the last five years, said Peter Dolara, AA´s senior vice president for Miami, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Mr. Dolara made the disclosure at the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)’s 30th annual Governments of the Caribbean State Ball last Friday, where he was presented with CTO’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2003.

"American is committed to the Caribbean. We will be working with governments to bring back the business. We are here to stay," stated the AA veteran who heads American´s largest operating unit, including the airline´s major connecting hubs in Miami and San Juan as well as 51 destinations in the region.

Close to 600 delegates, including New York State and City officials attended the Ball - - one of the most notable events of Caribbean Week - - at the famed Waldorf=Astoria in New York City, where more than a dozen winners of the inaugural CTO Travel Writers/Photographers Awards were also honored.

CTO officials including Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, chairman; Dr. Jean S. Holder, secretary general, Karen Ford-Warner, deputy secretary general; Ministers, Commissioners and Directors of Tourism for CTO Member Countries, allied marketing partners, supporters and media, enjoyed the rhythmic sounds of calypso, soca, salsa and reggae.

Notable Caribbean entertainers, the legendary Apple Elliott Orchestra, hailing from the Islands of the Bahamas, versatile Phantoms from Haiti, and the dynamic TCL Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra from Trinidad & Tobago, provided the musical entertainment for the gala black-tie affair.