RBC this year’s platinum sponsor of St. Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival

The Saint Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB) has announced RBC Royal Bank as this year’s platinum sponsor of the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival.

RBC Royal Bank’s contribution to the hosting of the 25th edition of the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival marks a first for the SLTB RBC Royal Bank partnership, an achievement that is made more significant by the substantial value of the Bank’s commitment in its inaugural year as lead sponsor.

In expressing the SLTB’s delight at the RBC Royal Bank endorsement, Director of Tourism Louis Lewis referenced sponsorship as the lifeblood of the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, without which the gains that have been secured would not have been possible barring sponsor buy-in and support, in cash and in kind.

“Whether it’s a first time platinum sponsor like RBC Royal Bank or long standing sponsors like Heineken, LUCELEC, Tropical Shipping or Avis and Guy Car Rentals, the Festival has been defined over the years by the sheer diversity these sponsors bring to it. For the 25th anniversary edition, the SLTB is equally proud to salute the sponsorship of yet another reputable corporate entity in RBC Royal Bank”, he said.

Describing the Festival’s impact on Saint Lucia’s cultural and creative product as transformational, Mr. Lewis said this achievement is due in great part to the quality of partnership from sponsors over the years. Similarly, he said that the attainment of the twenty-five milestone is also attributable to the scores of sponsors who every year lend their name recognition and brand power to that of the Saint Lucia Tourist Board to ensure the Festival maintains its enviable ranking as one of the world’s most enduring cultural festivals, and to Saint Lucia’s international competitiveness as a destination. The Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival was first conceptualized as a marketing strategy to boost arrivals during what was previously a slow period for the tourism and hospitality sector.

RBC Royal Bank Country Head, Sandra Fontenelle described the commitment as a tangible manifestation of the Bank’s interest in facilitating the deeper aims of the festival in its new scope and focus.

“RBC Royal Bank understands the Festival’s role in the pursuit of some important growth objectives such as retaining our destination brand strength, and developing human capital in emerging sectors like Creative Industries,” she said.

Mrs. Fontenelle commended the SLTB and its partners over the years for building the Festival into an enviable cultural and touristic product while many festivals around the region have folded.

“Your ability to innovate and remain relevant gives the corporate community the level of confidence to partner. Longevity and sustainability are compelling indicators for us. We are proud to be associated with the Caribbean’s festival trendsetter,” she concluded.

The 25th edition of the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival will expand on the diversified experience that occasioned its rebranding in 2013. Dance, theatre and an Arts Village are included in the 10-day schedule and will include a performance of Derek Walcott’s Nobel winning work, Omeros, performed by the celebrated Shakespeare Globe Theatre of London. Home-grown favourites like Teddyson John, Irvin ‘Ace ‘ Loctor and Ronald “Boo” Hinkson will share the billing with such legends of pop, Latin, jazz and Caribbean as Air Supply, Shaggy, Kassav, Kool & the Gang and Marc Anthony. The Saint Lucia Jazz Festival is set to launch on Friday April 29th 2016 and will run until May 08.

For more information about the 25th Annual Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival visit http://www.stluciajazz.org.