News Room

CMEx World Leadership Award winner Leona Bryant (left) celebrates after receiving her award from USVI Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty.
Photo credit: Margot Jordan
Photograph available at:
www.tinyurl.com/cmexleona

ST. THOMAS, United States Virgin Islands (December 9, 2011) – The Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx) ended its 20th session with an awards gala at the Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort overlooking the territory’s capital, Charlotte Amalie, with its much anticipated Journalism Excellence and World Leadership Awards on Sunday, December 4, 2011.

Bevan Springer, CMEx president and founder, said the awards “saluted outstanding journalists, travel and tourism pioneers, a sustainable development leader and a champion of using music to enhance the allure of Caribbean destinations.”

A CMEx prize for Journalism Excellence was awarded to Anika Kentish of Observer Radio in Antigua, who led a team of Caribbean journalists to the earthquake-devastated Haiti and relayed back the horror of the disaster as well as the immense courage of the Haitian people.

Popular US Virgin Islander radio personality “Addie” Ottley was in winners’ row. Photo credit: Margot Jordan
Photograph available at:
www.tinyurl.com/cmexaddie

Athneil “Addie” Ottley, a popular radio personality in the US Virgin Islands, received a CMEx Excellence in Journalism award for his widely received broadcasts of major issues in the islands.

Patricia Meschino, Caribbean Correspondent for Billboard Magazine, was recognized for her championing of regional musicians and for seeing the valuable linkages between local music and sustainable tourism.

Mrs. Leona Bryant, former USVI director of tourism, received a CMEx World Leadership Award for pioneering the development of tourism in the US Virgin Islands and her promoting the islands to the rest of the world.

“Mrs. Bryant spent more than 25 years making sure the world knew the US Virgin Islands was a world class destination. Her receptions were legendary; her style, grace and professionalism unmistakable,” said USVI Commissioner of Tourism, Beverly Nicholson-Doty who presented the award to Mrs. Bryant.

Peter Dolara, Senior Vice President for Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America of American Airlines, was recognized for his personal commitment to helping the region’s industry to grow with the strategic application of added airlift over the years. The legendary airline executive was unable to receive his prize personally.

Dr. Joan Parker, President and Chief Executive Officer of the development and humanitarian non-profit organization, Counterpart International, received the World Leadership Award for its pioneering sustainable tourism work in the region, as well as for its key contributions to launching CMEx.

Anika Kentish of Observer Radio in Antigua and Barbuda celebrates with media colleagues (from left) Sasha Harrinanan, Alita Singh and Ela Moore.
Photo credit: Margot Jordan.
Photograph available at:
www.tinyurl.com/cmexanika

The CMEx meeting, hosted by the United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, was supported by American Airlines, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Barbados Tourism Authority, Barbara Pyle Foundation, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, Caribbean Business Enterprise Trust, Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Caribbean Tourism Organization, Choice Hotels International, Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, 4P Group, Marketplace Excellence, michaelD. Communications, Princess Juliana International Airport, Ruder Finn, Spirit Airlines, Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, Tourism Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago, and The SpeakEasy M.E.D.I.A. Foundation.

About The Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx)
CMEx’s mission is to support and develop the ability of the media, government, the travel and tourism industry and communities to consider the importance of tourism in sustainable development, while lending a hand to the communities involved by sharing relevant expertise, financial and in-kind assistance. For additional details, visit www.cmexmedia.org.