United States

The US office, based in New York City, is responsible for promoting the Cayman Islands to the United States audience. The team consists of specialists in partner and digital marketing, advertising and sales. The team is tasked with managing a robust, integrated marketing plan and achieving optimal ROI on all media investments. The marketing team targets both consumer and trade sets through all relevant marketing channels including paid media, public relations, advertising, events and sales. The primary consumer target is an upscale, affluent, well-educated audience with the propensity to travel to the Caribbean. Key markets include Austin, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, and Washington, D.C.

Departments

The head office is located in the Empire State Building in New York City with satellite sales team offices positioned in Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, and Texas. The team consists of the US General Manager, Financial Controller, National Sales Manager, Advertising, Digital and Partnerships Specialists, and 6 sales representatives.

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  Tom Ludington has over 24 years of travel industry experience with expertise in a wide range of marketing solutions including advertising, broadcast, out of home, print media, direct marketing, and travel product development.  Taking over as the US General Manager for the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT) in January 2011, Mr. Ludington is responsible for overseeing the operational aspects of the Cayman Islands' marketing activities in the USA, which involves directing its annual advertising and promotion activities as well as brand management and development out of the New York office. Mr. Ludington joined the CIDOT from LibGo Travel Inc., where he served in various senior roles, including Vice President, ProductUSA. He also served as Vice President of Marketing for Hawaii, Tahiti, US West and Ski, Director of Partnership Development and Director of Advertising. Since his appointment as US General Manager for the Cayman Islands, he has worked with the public and private sectors to introduce the destination's multimedia advertising campaign Caymankind to the trade, consumers and media across the US. Mr. Ludington graduated from Seton Hall University with a BA in Communications.

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  Dan has served with the Department of Tourism since 2011. Formally, the Digital Marketing Specialist, Dan transitioned to National Sales Manager in April 2018. Working from the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism's (DOT) New York office.

  
  Dan's responsibilities include leading destination sales activities of the Regional Sales Representatives. The 6 regional sales representatives cover the US territories of Upper Northeast, Lower Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest and West territories. Reporting to the US GM, Dan strives to ensure that business strategy and targets are met on a national level. Activities managed include sales calls, consumer and trade shows, promotional strategies, Cayman Connect Weeks, database management, email marketing and regional activations.

  
  Dan brings more than 15 years of marketing experience that has spanned diverse interests including travel, hospitality, healthcare, tech, lifestyle, software, sports, and publishing. From his roots in the public relations industry to managing advertising efforts for upstart companies, he has earned expertise from both the agency and client sides of the business spectrum.

  
  Dan earned a Bachelor's degree from St. John's University, New York. In his spare time, Dan enjoys his family, sports, films and participating in local community activities.

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  Ayanna Victorin is the National Marketing Manager for the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, bringing over 20 years of marketing expertise to her role. She started with CIDOT in 2010 as the Advertising & Marketing Specialist. In her current role, she oversees the Cayman Islands' strategic marketing activities in the US, promoting the country as the warm weather destination of choice for discerning travellers. Prior to CIDOT, Ms. Victorin worked at an advertising agency in Barbados managing client accounts across various industries. Her career started at Time Inc. where she honed her skills working on a myriad of multimedia campaigns to drive awareness and subscription sales for People, people.com, Essence, Fortune and Sports Illustrated. Ms. Victorin holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania where she concentrated in Marketing and Entrepreneurial Management.

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  As a member of the US National Sales Office for the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Kari is responsible for executing MICE and Leisure Group strategy for the US. 
   
  Kari brings a wealth of incentive, meeting & event experience to the CIDOT Team. She has been in the travel industry for over 25 years, and her extensive resume includes positions with BI Worldwide – The Global Engagement Agency, Marriott International, Melia Hotels & Resorts and AIC Hotel Group. 
   
  Kari holds the title of CIS – Certified Incentive Specialist, has served on the SITE Minnesota Board of Directors as Vice President of Membership, and continues to actively participate in SITE and MPI events. Her long-standing industry relationships, experience with global hotel sourcing and sales, as well as her expertise at building relationships with clients and tourism partners make her an outstanding addition to the team.  
   

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  With over 25 years of travel industry experience Donna Lefer joined the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism in 2012, and is responsible for providing support services for the Sales Team in the field across the US.  Prior to joining CIDOT, Donna worked at a major travel wholesale/retail company where she was Product Manager responsible for contracting hotels, attractions and ground operators in the US West, Mexico and Canada.
   
  Donna holds a BA degree in Spanish from Montclair State University and a Hospitality Management Certificate from Cornell University.  She loves to spend her free time outdoors, and enjoys running, kayaking, and yoga

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  Julie Obreiter brings a wealth of travel industry experience to the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism. Julie spent eight years with Rock Resorts, where she held the post of Director, Travel Industry North America, looking after the company's Caribbean portfolio. Additionally, she held several sales-related leadership roles with Air Canada where she worked for 13 years.  Julie served as CIDOT USA’s Sales Representative for the West Coast region as of 2017 and was promoted to be the Department’s Partnership Marketing Specialist in 2020. Based in Denver, Colorado, she is a certified diver and enjoys spending time hiking with her family in the Rocky Mountains.

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  Vanessa Vazquez joined the CIDOT team as the Advertising & Marketing Specialist in November 2020. She previously served as Marketing and Project Manager with Bonnier Media for 7 years. Working across several brands such as SAVEUR, Field & Stream, Outdoor Life and Popular Science, has given her valuable experience in prioritization and category specialization. Vanessa was successful in creating innovative media campaigns with social, digital and custom content to foster meaningful connections between brands and consumers. Prior to Bonnier Media, Vanessa has worked with Popular Photography producing photo workshops across the globe. She has a BA in communications and marketing from Queens College. Vanessa enjoys spending quality time with her family in New York City.

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  Jeff Ginther started his career in travel in 1980, marketing and selling the Cayman Islands for a tour operator.  In 1996, Jeff was hired full-time by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism as a Sales and Marketing Representative for the Midwest Region. His love of the Cayman Islands is evident as he became a certified diver in Grand Cayman shortly after his employment and has been diving there ever since.  Jeff is very knowledgeable about all three Cayman Islands, both above and below the water.

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  Sal DeLuca has been in the travel business for over 36 years as a sales manager for a large travel/wholesale company. He now works for CIDOT as a Sales Representative for the Upper Northeast region of the US. Even though he resides in New York, his love has always been the Caribbean and the Cayman Islands quickly moved to the top of his list. His heart has always had a place in the Cayman Islands. He loves the pristine beaches, the island’s culinary delights and, most of all, ‘Caymankind’ culture.  Sal has recently passed his PADI certification and is looking forward to experiencing the 363 different dive sites the Cayman Islands has to offer.

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  Tina Hodgson has over 20 years’ experience in destination marketing, which started after she graduated from Texas State University. Several paths have taken Tina to where she is now. Prior to her current position, she worked as the Director of Sales and Marketing for a Santa Fe, New Mexico resort, a Regional Sales Manager for the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism for 10 years, and as the owner of a hotel representation company. Now, a circuitous path has led Tina back to representing the Cayman Islands once again as a Southwest Sales and Marketing Representative for the destination.

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  Marianne started her time with CIDOT in early 2022. Marianne has 20+years' experience in the travel industry. She started her prominent career in the US Airline Industry. Quickly advancing her career as a Functional Analyst with Amadeus while working abroad in both Germany and France.  She joined the cruise line industry in 1995 with tenures at Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise lines and MSC Cruises.  She furthered her travel industry experience with the Hertz Corporation in the position of Travel Territory Manager with significant contributions to growing and developing their car rental footprint. Marianne is passionate about traveling, meeting people from different cultures and international culinary experiences.

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  Veronica “Ronnie” Torra has been working for the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism since 1988. Although she received a BSc in Business Administration, her love for travel began when she worked for an airline while in college. After graduating, Veronica started working at a travel agency to travel the world, not realizing that travel agents never had enough time off to actually travel! That’s when she discovered the Cayman Islands and truly fell in love with the people and the destination. During her first few months with CIDOT, she became a certified diver and has been diving ever since. Veronica loves to interact and share her love for the islands with both travel agents and consumers from all over the US. She considers the Cayman Islands upscale, sophisticated international destination that she is proud to work for. 

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  Cheryl Hudak, CTC has been in the travel industry for over 30 years. Prior to joining CIDOT she owned travel agencies in Ohio and was active in ASTA serving as the President and CEO. Upon moving to Arizona she has worked for Costa Cruise Lines, Hertz and Apple Leisure Group as director of sales for the Host Market.

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  Yvonne joined CIDOT in July 2015.  She has an extensive background in tourism and hospitality in sales and marketing capacities.  Her previous positions have included other Caribbean destination tourism offices and hotel groups as well as the country of Canada. Yvonne was part of a team that developed and executed USA marketing and sales programs to increase awareness of Canada as a leisure destination during the lead up to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver Canada. Her areas of expertise include dynamic presentations, maximizing ROI, partnerships, and developing and maintaining key relationships with travel agent consortia, partners and entities that drive business.    

  While at CIDOT, she has planned and executed North American, USA and global sales and marketing meetings.  She has also supervised customer appreciation events for DEMA.  Yvonne enjoys counselling prospective travellers on the merits of the Cayman Islands as a must-visit vacation destination. She is most proud of being a member of a dynamic results-oriented team that thrives on success.

  Yvonne has sat on the boards or been a member of several travel industry organizations, including ANTOR, 4174 Club of New York, PATA, and the Metropolitan Association of Professional Travel Agents.  She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Pittsburgh.