Delta Airline View photo »

One the eve of Delta Airlines' inaugural flight, direct from Atlanta to Antigua which begins on Sunday, Dec.18, the twin islands of Antigua and Barbuda will sponsor an exciting line-up of events to celebrate this new service.

To kick off the festivities, the destination will be a major sponsor of the 22nd Annual Mayor's Masked Ball on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta, Ga. Antigua and Barbuda will share the spotlight with other sponsors such as Anheuser-Busch, The Coca-Cola Company, Macy's, ING and UPS.

The destination will host an "After Party" that night, and a sunrise breakfast and ribbon cutting ceremony the following morning, preceding the inaugural flight. The Mayor's Masked Ball is expected to attract over 1200 attendees including celebrities and dignitaries from across the United States. This prestigious event is the United Negro College Fund's signature gala in Atlanta and one of the city's premiere events of the holiday season.

MAYOR'S MASKED BALL EVENTS

As the only destination sponsoring one of Atlanta's most influential annual events, Antigua and Barbuda will mesmerize celebrities and guests with the sights and sounds of the tropics. The islands have commissioned renowned Carnival costume-designer Danny Knowles, to create original, authentic masks to be worn by Antiguan and Barbudan dignitaries, including Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and Hon. Harold Lovell, Minister of Tourism.

The masks will depict the cultural and historical attributes of Antigua and Barbuda through representative emblems and artwork including the national flag, the magnificent frigate bird, the sugar mill of Betty's Hope, the pink sand beaches of Barbuda and the sweet Antigua Black Pineapple.

Knowles, who has been a major contributor to Antigua and Barbuda's Carnival costume designs for over 30 years, was judged best designer in the 1977 Ms. World Pageant and has won numerous local and Caribbean competitions.

Beginning at midnight, the "After Party" sponsored by Antigua and Barbuda will feature Rhonda Thomas, a burgeoning soloist and Antiguan descendant, who is currently heating up the soul music market with her new CD "Breathe New Life." Thomas will perform a jingle that she composed to celebrate the launch of the new direct service to Antigua and Barbuda. An Atlanta resident, Thomas has been a back up singer with the legendary Isaac Hayes for the past 7 years and has also performed with Luther Vandross. She will be accompanied by authentic Antiguan steel pan musician, Vere Henry.

The flavors of the Caribbean will be in full force as renowned Antiguan, "Chef Murphy," prepares an indigenous island specialty, spiny lobster, for guests to sample.

Antigua and Barbuda's Tourism Director in the US, Derede Samuel-Whitlock is extremely excited about the events and commented, "This is a unique targeted opportunity to market the Antiguan and Barbudan experience. Our aim is to provide prospective visitors with a foretaste of all that our twin-island paradise has to offer and to highlight the fact that getting to Antigua and Barbuda just got easier."

INAUGURAL DELTA FLIGHT CEREMONIES

On Sunday, December 18, 2005 at 7 a.m., early bird travelers and the media are invited to converge at the Atlanta International Airport for a sunrise breakfast and ribbon cutting ceremony at the departure gate, Terminal B.

The proceedings will celebrate the fully booked inaugural Delta flight 1613 direct to Antigua departing at 10:20 a.m. and will feature Antiguan dignitaries, Delta representatives and officials from the Atlanta community, including Mayor Patsy Jo Hilliard of The City of East Point.

The new non-stop service to Antigua is available twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays and is expected to increase airlift from the U.S. through Delta's domestic and international network by adding over 15,000 seats in the next year.

The Ministry of Tourism recently collaborated with PR and sales representatives from several hotel properties to conduct the first "on the road-show" throughout Atlanta to help boost the Delta service. Plans are in place to stage similar shows in some of the major feeder cities including Birmingham, Chicago and Norfolk.

For more information go to www.antigua-barbuda.org.