The Caribbean tourism and media landscape prepares to honor its most distinguished contributors at the upcoming 2025 Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Awards. This premier event, scheduled to unite influential professionals, cultural ambassadors, and policy makers from across the Caribbean region and its global Diaspora, serves as a pivotal platform for recognizing excellence and fostering future leadership development.
A landmark feature of this year’s ceremony will be the inaugural presentation of the CMEx Lifetime Achievement Award to Sir Baltron Bethel, a foundational figure in Caribbean tourism. Hailed as a national hero of The Bahamas, Sir Baltron holds the distinction of being the first and longest-serving Bahamian Director General of Tourism, whose visionary policies have profoundly shaped regional tourism development on the international stage.
The awards will further celebrate fifteen exceptional leaders whose innovative work continues to drive progress in Caribbean tourism, cultural promotion, and economic growth. The 2025 honorees represent a diverse cross-section of expertise, including:
– Carole Alexis, Martinique’s renowned Choreographer and Artistic Director
– Dave Chang, Senior Vice President at Carnival Cruise Line
– Key tourism authority CEOs: Ronella Croes (Aruba), Muryad de Bruin (Curaçao), and May-Ling Chun (St. Maarten)
– Industry pioneers including Laura Davidson (LDPR), Clarisa Jiménez (Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association), and Monique Hamaty-Simmonds (Tortuga Rum Company)
Adding diplomatic significance to the event, numerous government officials and regional leaders will participate as distinguished guests. The confirmed attendance includes tourism ministers and directors from Grenada, U.S. Virgin Islands, Anguilla, and the Bahamas, alongside chief executives of major regional organizations including the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.
The ceremony will be elevated by a headline performance from Bahamian vocalist Simmone Bowe, whose versatile repertoire spans jazz, reggae, R&B, and gospel traditions.
Bevan Springer, CMEx President, emphasized the awards’ broader mission: “These exemplary honorees embody the Caribbean’s spirit of leadership, innovation, and service. Their transformative contributions across tourism, business, and community development inspire our collective future.”
Proceeds from the fundraiser will directly support educational programs, youth empowerment initiatives, and professional training designed to cultivate the next generation of Caribbean tourism and media leadership. The event enjoys substantial backing from platinum sponsor Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, alongside major support from Nassau & Paradise Island Promotion Board, British Virgin Islands Tourist Board, Tropical Shipping, Sandals Resorts representative Unique Vacations, and numerous additional destination and corporate partners.