Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture, Honourable Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4) has been bestowed with the CMEx 2025 Leadership Award. Photo: Facebook

The 2025 Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Awards ceremony, an event that brings together influential figures, cultural icons, tourism professionals, and community advocates from across the Caribbean region and its Diaspora was held on December 7, 2025. Photo:Facebook

The 2025 Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Awards Ceremony, an event that brings together influential figures, cultural icons, tourism professionals, and community advocates from across the Caribbean region and its Diaspora, was held on December 7, 2025.

Hodge Smith stated in a Facebook post on December 5, 2025, "I’m truly honoured to be recognised by CMEx for the 2025 Leadership Awards. This acknowledgement means a great deal to me, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported, encouraged, and uplifted me throughout my journey. I remain committed to serving with purpose, integrity, and a genuine love for my community. Thank you, CMEx, for this incredible honour."

Honourees

Among those also recognised were:

– Carole Alexis – Choreographer and Artistic Director, Martinique
– Dave Chang – Senior Vice President, Consumer Sales and Contact Centres, Carnival Cruise Line
– May-Ling Chun – Director of Tourism, St Maarten
– Ronella Croes – CEO, Aruba Tourism Authority
– Laura Davidson – CEO and Founder, LDPR
– Muryad de Bruin – Managing Director, Curaçao Tourist Board
– Cathleen Decker – Co-founder, The Decker/Royal Agency
– Loreto Duffy-Mayers – Tourism and Sustainability Specialist, Barbados
– Monique Hamaty-Simmonds – Executive Director, Tortuga Rum Company Ltd., Cayman Islands
– Clarisa Jiménez – President and CEO, Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association
– Janelle Hopkin – President and Managing Director, Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada
– Vonulrick “Von” Martin – Broadcaster, Producer & Dean, Caribbeana Communications Inc.
– Shomari Scott – Chief Business Officer, Health City Cayman Islands
– Marcus Simmonds – CEO, Tortuga International Holdings Ltd., Cayman Islands

This year’s ceremony also featured a special highlight: the debut of the CMEx Lifetime Achievement Award.

This accolade was presented to Sir Baltron Bethel, a renowned tourism pioneer and a national hero of The Bahamas.

Regional officials

The winners and the Lifetime Achievement recipient were also joined by a lineup of distinguished guests and regional officials:

– Lady Betty Hopkin of Grenada
– Jennifer Matarangas-King, Commissioner of Tourism, US Virgin Islands
– Cardigan Connor, Minister of Health, Sports and Tourism, Anguilla
– Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General & CEO, Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO)
– Latia Duncombe, Director General, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation
– Joy Jibrilu, CEO, Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board
– Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, Former Minister of Tourism, The Bahamas, and Former CTO Secretary-General
– Vanessa Ladesma, CEO, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association
– Wendy McDonald, Regional Vice President, Government Relations (Caribbean), Royal Caribbean Group
– Dr Lisa Indar, Executive Director, Caribbean Public Health Agency

Additional confirmed participants included tourism directors Jameel Rochester (Anguilla), Clive L. McCoy (Virgin Islands), Rosa Harris (Cayman Islands, former CTO Chair), Marva Williams (Dominica), and Stacey Liburd (Grenada).