The 2025 CMEx Leadership Awards & Fundraiser took place on Sunday, December 7, at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel in Miami.

The celebration spotlighted an impressive roster of honourees whose leadership transformed Caribbean tourism, business, communications and community development. The 2025 Honourees included:

  • Carole Alexis – Choreographer and Artistic Director, Martinique
  • Dave Chang – SVP, Consumer Sales and Contact Centers, Carnival Cruise Line
  • May-Ling Chun – Director of Tourism, St. Maarten
  • Ronella Croes – CEO, Aruba Tourism Authority
  • Laura Davidson – CEO/Founder, LDPR
  • Muryad de Bruin – Managing Director, Curaçao Tourist Board
  • Cathleen Decker – Co-founder, The Decker/Royal Agency
  • Loreto Duffy-Mayers – Tourism and Sustainability Expert, Barbados
  • Monique Hamaty-Simmonds – Executive Director, Tortuga Rum Company Ltd., Cayman Islands
  • Clarisa Jiménez – President and CEO, Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association
  • Luce Hodge-Smith – Junior Minister of Tourism, British Virgin Islands
  • 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

In a historic moment, CMEx presented its first Lifetime Achievement Award to Sir Baltron B. Bethel of The Bahamas for his pioneering role in shaping modern Caribbean tourism.

The luncheon brought together industry leaders, community advocates and media professionals for an afternoon of celebration, networking and inspiration, while supporting educational initiatives for Caribbean youth and tourism professionals. The CMEx Leadership Awards luncheon was powered by Platinum Sponsor Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation.

Other sponsors and supporters included Anguilla Tourist Board; Barbara Pyle Foundation; Calabash Cove Resort & Spa (St. Lucia); Carnival Corporation & plc; Chukka Caribbean Adventures; Coco Palm (St. Lucia); Comfort Suites Paradise Island (Bahamas); Grenada Tourism Authority; Hyatt Regency Trinidad; Jade Mountain (St. Lucia); Ladera Resort (St. Lucia); Loews Coral Gables Hotel; Marketplace Excellence Corporation; Mount Cinnamon Beach Resort (Grenada); Nassau & Paradise Island Promotion Board (Bahamas); Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour (St. Kitts); Rodman Marketing Guru; Round Hill Hotel and Villas (Jamaica); St. Maarten Tourist Board; The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission; The Decker/Royal Agency; Tortuga Rum Company; Tropical Attractions; Tropical Shipping; Unique Vacations Inc. (the worldwide representative of Sandals & Beaches Resorts); and Vanessa James Media.