17 December 2006 -  As New Yorkers revel in the sights and sounds of the Yuletide season, The Ministry of Tourism in the US partnered with legendary Jazz musician Wynton Marsalis in hosting his annual Christmas production "Red Hot Holiday Stomp." This appearance under the mistletoe featured Marsalis' world renowned jazz ensemble, performing traditional Christmas carols jazzed up with musical arrangements by the award winning music director and trumpet player.

The concert attracted over 1200 fans and jazz aficionados who paid as much as $120 to attend this annual event at Frederick B. Rose Theatre at Lincoln Center. Antigua and Barbuda hosted a cocktail reception at the event and joined other sponsors such as Uptown Magazine, Cadillac, the Louis Armstrong Foundation, BETJ and lead corporate sponsor Coca Cola.

Antigua and Barbuda's culinary master, Chef Murphy brought the house down with his delectable appetizers and Wynton Marsalis stopped by the Antigua and Barbuda display to sample lobster bisque and "drunk and disorderly" fruit. Marsalis who hails from New Orleans, loves the Caribbean but admits that he has not yet visited Antigua and Barbuda. He has now been inspired to visit the twin island destination after reviewing photos of the pristine beaches in "A Little Bit of Paradise" and samples of Barbuda pink sand that were presented to him by US Director of Tourism, Derede Samuel-Whitlock.

Marsalis made his recording debut in 1982 and has won 9 GRAMMY Awards. He was the first jazz artist to be awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for his music. He was designated cultural ambassador in 1999 by the White House Millennium Council Programme.

US Director of Tourism, Derede Samuel-Whitlock commented "the event was a big win for the destination. As the sole destination sponsor, it provided an opportunity for us to be featured among Fortune 100 companies and to interact with an affluent group of jazz enthusiasts who will travel to follow their music idols. We have extended an invitation to Wynton to visit Antigua and Barbuda and this is the type of influencer who can help to reach the right consumers and create greater awareness about the destination."

The US Director announced that the Ministry will participate in several similar events in 2007. She indicates that by forming alliances with large organizations that have effective consumer promotional programs is a low cost, high return approach to effectively reach affluent consumers who travel.