Apply for a Scholarship
The CTO Scholarship Foundation invites applications for scholarships for the 2025 academic year.
Dedicated to supporting Caribbean nationals, the Foundation provides opportunities to pursue studies in tourism, hospitality, language training, and related disciplines. Scholarships are awarded to individuals who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to contributing to the Caribbean’s development.
For 2025, the CTO Scholarship Foundation will offer:
Jean Holder Memorial Scholarship
Audrey Palmer Hawks Memorial Scholarship
Arley Sobers Memorial Scholarship
Bonita Morgan Memorial Scholarship
CTO Scholarship Fund for Sustainable Tourism Destination Management, in partnership with George Washington University
A limited number of Grants
Selection Process
Dedicated to supporting Caribbean nationals, the Foundation provides opportunities to pursue studies in tourism, hospitality, language training, and related disciplines. Scholarships are awarded to individuals who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to contributing to the Caribbean’s development.
The CTO Scholarship Foundation offers tuition-only scholarships and grants for study within or outside the region. Applicants must outline how they will cover any remaining tuition costs beyond the scholarship award.
Applicants may apply for up to two scholarships or grants, but must submit a separate application for each. All applications must be completed online; late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
Deadline
The submission deadline is Friday, May 2, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Late applications will not be accepted. All applications must be submitted online and will not be accepted via mail, email, or fax.
Selection Criteria
Caribbean National: Scholarships are exclusively available to Caribbean nationals.
Tourism-Related Field: We invest in the future of Caribbean tourism by funding studies in tourism, hospitality, languages, and related fields.
Academic Excellence & Leadership: Applicants must demonstrate outstanding academic performance and strong leadership both inside and outside the classroom. Our goal is to support the region’s top talent in building a globally competitive and sustainable tourism industry.
Commitment to the Caribbean: Upon receiving a scholarship or grant, recipients must sign a pledge to work in the Caribbean, to be initiated within one year of graduation and fulfilled within six months to two years (depending on the scholarship) after graduation. If this obligation is not fulfilled within the required timeframe—six months for Grant awardees and two years for Scholarship awardees—recipients must reimburse the CTO Scholarship Foundation for the awarded amount.
Scholarship-Specific Criteria: Each scholarship has unique eligibility requirements. Applicants may apply for up to two (2) scholarships, study grants, or a combination of both. Be sure to review the official scholarship guidelines linked below before submitting your application.
Key Information
The CTO Scholarship Foundation proudly offers several named scholarships and grants to support Caribbean nationals pursuing studies that will strengthen and sustain the region’s tourism industry. Each scholarship honors a visionary leader whose legacy continues to inspire excellence.
Applications are invited for the following scholarships under the CTO Scholarship Foundation for the 2025 academic year:
Jean Holder Memorial Scholarship
Up to $5,000 USD
Named in honor of the late Jean Holder—widely regarded as the father of Caribbean tourism development—this scholarship supports Caribbean nationals pursuing advanced studies in any area of Sustainable Tourism Development.Audrey Palmer Hawks Memorial Scholarship
Up to $5,000 USD
Awarded to Caribbean nationals seeking to build expertise in Public Relations, Communications, or Brand Management.Arley Sobers Memorial Scholarship
Up to $5,000 USD
For those interested in advancing their skills in Tourism Research, Statistics, Data Science, IT, or Cybersecurity—critical fields supporting the data-driven evolution of Caribbean tourism.Bonita Morgan Memorial Scholarship
Up to $5,000 USD
Offered to Caribbean nationals passionate about Tourism Education or Human Resource Development, and committed to nurturing future talent across the region.CTO Foundation Grant
Up to $2,500 USD
A flexible grant awarded to Caribbean nationals seeking to enhance their abilities in any tourism-related discipline.
Guidelines & Requirements
References
Supporting Documents
Questions
Please submit two (2) letters of reference from an educational institution, church, or community organization, attesting to your academic acumen and leadership abilities. Letters of reference from family members are not acceptable
Announcement of Winners
When submitting supporting files via the link below, please be sure to save and upload your documents with the following file name: Your Name, Description of the Document you are uploading, Name of Scholarship you are applying for. For example: “Jane Doe-UWI Degree-AudreyPalmerScholarship”.
All supporting documents to complete your application can be uploaded via the following link: https://cto.wetransfer.com
Scholarship winners will be announced by the end of June 2025.
Please direct your queries to ctoscholarshipfoundation@gmail.com and copy Sharon Banfield at banfields@caribtourism.com.
Caribbean Tourism Organization Scholarship Foundation Study Grant
Up to $2,500
The CTO Scholarship Foundation is offering study grants to Caribbean nationals seeking financial assistance to improve their skills in any tourism related field of study that will enhance the development of a sustainable tourism industry and boost service excellence in the region. These include tourism marketing, aeronautics, media, agrotourism, horticulture, event planning, piloting and a wide range of other disciplines. Study Grant awards are available for amounts up to $2,500.
Graduate Studies and Scholarship Opportunities
The Caribbean Tourism Organization Scholarship Fund for Sustainable Tourism Destination Management
In partnership with George Washington University
The CTO Scholarship Foundation is excited to announce new scholarship opportunities for students to participate in George Washington University’s Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Destination Management Program!
This new fund will support Caribbean professionals and students pursuing education in sustainable tourism practices, destination stewardship, and resilience-building. The Caribbean Tourism Organization Scholarship has been established by the CTO Scholarship Foundation and the GW International Institute of Tourism Studies (IITS).
Through this partnership, Caribbean professionals can apply for financial support to partake in courses that equip destination managers and hospitality professionals with the knowledge and skills to manage destinations sustainably, balancing economic, environmental, and social needs.
Total Scholarship per Awardee: $2,700
Deadline: Wednesday, 9 April 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
2025 Legacy Scholarships
Developing Future Leaders for Caribbean Tourism
Jean Holder Memorial Scholarship
Audrey Palmer Hawks Memorial Scholarship
The CTO Scholarship Foundation offers the Audrey Palmer Hawks Memorial Scholarship, awarding up to $5,000 in honor of the late Audrey Palmer Hawks, a trailblazing leader in Caribbean tourism.
Born in Guyana and raised in Grenada, Mrs. Hawks graduated from Cornell University and began her career in public service, serving as a senator and minister of state for tourism in Grenada. She later moved to New York as the public relations director of the Caribbean Tourism Association (CTA), eventually becoming its executive director and later director general—the first woman and Caribbean national to hold the role.
During her nine-year tenure, she elevated Caribbean tourism on the global stage, spearheading initiatives like the Salute to the Caribbean halftime show at Super Bowl XIII and the award-winning Caribbean Village at ITB Berlin. Following her passing in 1987 at just 44, her legacy continues to inspire.
The Audrey Palmer Hawks Memorial Scholarship supports Caribbean nationals pursuing studies in public relations, communications, or brand management, reflecting her passion for promoting the region to the world.*
Arley Sobers Memorial Scholarship
The CTO Scholarship Foundation proudly offers the Arley Sobers Memorial Scholarship, awarding up to $5,000 in honor of the late Arley Sobers, former Director of Information Management and Research and Acting Secretary General of the CTO until his passing in 2008.
With over two decades of service to the CTO, Mr. Sobers was committed to ensuring the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of Caribbean tourism data. A highly analytical and fair-minded leader, he deeply valued research and statistics as essential tools for shaping the region’s tourism industry. His influence extended beyond data, as he championed the role of tourism in driving Caribbean economies.
The Arley Sobers Memorial Scholarship supports Caribbean nationals pursuing studies in tourism research, statistics, data science, information technology, or cybersecurity, continuing his legacy of excellence in data-driven decision-making.
The CTO Scholarship Foundation proudly offers the Bonita Morgan Memorial Scholarship, awarding up to $5,000 in honor of the late Bonita Morgan, former Director of Resource Mobilization and Development at the CTO, where she served from 1966 until her passing in 2018.
A passionate advocate for Caribbean youth and world-class service, Mrs. Morgan dedicated her career to education, training, and professional development. She championed the introduction of tourism into school curricula, launched the Caribbean Waves newsletter to engage students, and played a key role in organizing the Caribbean Tourism Youth Congress. As secretary of the CTO Scholarship Foundation, she worked tirelessly to empower the region’s future leaders.
The Bonita Morgan Memorial Scholarship supports Caribbean nationals pursuing studies in tourism education or human resources development, continuing her legacy of fostering talent and excellence in the industry.
Bonita Morgan Memorial Scholarship
The CTO Scholarship Foundation proudly introduces the Jean Holder Memorial Scholarship, awarding up to $5,000 in honor of the late Jean Holder, widely regarded as the father of Caribbean tourism development.
A Cambridge-educated Barbadian, Mr. Holder dedicated over three decades to shaping the region’s tourism landscape. As head of the Caribbean Tourism Research and Development Centre (CTRC) from 1974, he championed tourism education, planning, and research. In 1989, he played a pivotal role in merging the CTRC with the Caribbean Tourism Association to form the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), where he served as its first Secretary General until 2004.
A visionary advocate for sustainable tourism, Mr. Holder spearheaded the region’s first eco-tourism and sustainable tourism conferences. He was instrumental in founding the CTO Scholarship Foundation in 1997 and served on the boards of major international tourism organizations, representing the Caribbean with distinction.
The Jean Holder Memorial Scholarship supports Caribbean nationals pursuing studies in Sustainable Tourism Development, continuing his legacy of excellence and commitment to the region’s future.**
Scholarship Award Amounts
The Foundation offers Scholarships of up to:
$5,000 toward a Bachelor’s Degree Program
$2,500 toward a Professional Certificate Program or Study Grant
$2,700 toward the George Washington University (IITS) Program
The future of Caribbean tourism will be shaped by the creativity, drive, and determination of its people. The CTO Scholarship Foundation supports that promise by helping students gain the knowledge and skills they need to lead and uplift the region. Each scholarship awarded reflects our belief in their potential and our shared commitment to building a strong, sustainable Caribbean—together.
