In Santo Domingo, preparations for the 2026 edition of the Epifanio Lantigua National Tourism Journalism Award have entered a key stage, with the Dominican Association of Tourism Press (Adompretur) announcing the formation of a 13-member judging panel that brings together leading professionals from four distinct but interconnected sectors: journalism, higher education, communications, and tourism.
During the jury’s inaugural plenary gathering, members voted unanimously to select Ana Bélgica Güichardo as the panel’s president. Güichardo currently serves as director of the School of Communication at Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), boasting a doctorate in journalism and communications alongside more than two decades of academic leadership in the field. Following the vote, Adompretur President Sarah Hernández formally administered the oath of office to Güichardo in an official swearing-in ceremony.
The jury roster reflects a deliberate effort to integrate diverse perspectives across the award’s core focus areas. Joining Güichardo are Aguie Lendor, executive vice president of the Dominican Republic Hotel and Tourism Association (Asonahores); José Antonio Aybar, veteran journalist and editor of digital outlet Testigo; and Caroll Mueses, president of the Dominican Association of Social Chroniclers (ADCS).
Additional panel members include Danny Rincón, who leads the Hotel Management program at Universidad Católica Santo Domingo; Edgar Lantigua, a working journalist and son of Epifanio Lantigua, the award’s namesake; Ernesto Veloz, president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism Projects of the Eastern Region (Asoleste); and José Mármol, an acclaimed poet, essayist, and executive vice president of Corporate Communications, Reputation and Responsible Banking at Grupo Popular.
Completing the 13-member panel are Julián Sosa, director of the School of Social Communication at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD); Luis Felipe Aquino, president of the Caribbean Tourism Exchange (BTC); Luis Pérez Nova, president of the Dominican College of Journalists; Yahaira Brea, communications director at the Ministry of Education; and Rosa Alcántara, an experienced journalist and university lecturer.
In comments after the jury formation announcement, Adompretur President Hernández emphasized that the panel was intentionally assembled to blend decades of on-the-ground professional experience and specialized expertise from across media institutions, academic circles, and major tourism development stakeholders across the country.
Millizen Uribe, Adompretur’s vice president and the award’s executive director, echoed that sentiment, noting that the broad range of professional backgrounds represented on the jury will strengthen the fairness and rigor of the entry evaluation process. For her part, newly sworn-in jury president Güichardo highlighted the panel’s core responsibility: to identify and celebrate outstanding work that elevates the standards of tourism journalism across the Dominican Republic.
The 2026 Epifanio Lantigua National Tourism Journalism Award counts on a broad coalition of institutional and corporate sponsors, including the Ministry of Tourism, Banco Popular, Cap Cana, the National Institute for Technical and Vocational Training (Infotep), Arajet, the Ministry of Education, Lopesan Costa Bávaro, and the José Ignacio Morales “El Artístico” Foundation. Additional supporting partners for the award include Industrias Banilejas, Casa Brugal, and Cosmos Cuisine restaurant.