Leadership across tourism, media and sustainability is increasingly being defined by the ability to connect business growth with community impact. The Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) has announced the first seven honorees for its 2026 Leadership Awards, recognising professionals whose work spans journalism, tourism, sustainability, government and community development across the Caribbean.

The Caribbean’s tourism economy depends on more than hotels, airlines and visitor numbers. It also relies on journalists who shape public understanding, policymakers who guide development, sustainability professionals who manage environmental pressures and business leaders who create opportunities for local communities.

The Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) is highlighting that broader leadership ecosystem through its 2026 Leadership Awards.

The nonprofit organisation has announced the first group of seven honorees who will be recognised at the 2026 CMEx Leadership Awards and Fundraiser on December 6 at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel in the Miami area.

This year’s first group brings together professionals from journalism, government, tourism, sustainability and the blue economy—fields that increasingly overlap as Caribbean destinations confront questions around economic resilience, environmental sustainability and workforce development.

The honorees are Anne Kalosh, freelance journalist, editor of Seatrade Cruise News and senior associate editor of Seatrade Cruise Review; Carmen Portela, Justice and Equity Coordinator at GreenLatinos in Puerto Rico; and Gercine Carter, journalist at The Nation Publishing Co. Limited in Barbados.

The group also includes Giora Israel, president of Giora Israel LLC and strategic adviser in global cruise tourism, port development and the blue economy; Jake Kheel, vice president of sustainability at Grupo Puntacana in the Dominican Republic; Jennifer Griffith, permanent secretary at Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism; and Josef Forstmayr, managing director of Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Jamaica.

The range of backgrounds is notable because tourism is increasingly becoming a multidisciplinary workforce.

A modern tourism organisation needs professionals who understand hospitality and operations, but also sustainability, communications, public policy, technology, environmental management and community engagement. That creates demand for leaders capable of working across traditional organisational boundaries.

The CMEx awards reflect that reality.

For HR and workforce leaders, the recognition also points to the importance of cross-sector leadership development. Tourism businesses often depend on relationships with governments, local communities, media organisations, environmental groups and transportation providers. Leadership therefore requires collaboration well beyond an individual company.

Sustainability is an increasingly important part of that equation.

The inclusion of Jake Kheel, whose role focuses on sustainability at Grupo Puntacana, illustrates how environmental expertise has become embedded within tourism organisations. Caribbean destinations face particular exposure to climate risks, ecosystem pressures and resource constraints, making sustainability knowledge increasingly relevant to both business and workforce planning.

The emergence of the blue economy as a leadership discipline adds another layer. Cruise tourism, ports, coastal development and marine resources require professionals who can balance economic activity with environmental stewardship.

That creates a different type of skills requirement.

Tourism professionals increasingly need to understand sustainability metrics, community impact and environmental regulation alongside conventional commercial measures. Employers therefore have an opportunity—and in many cases a necessity—to build interdisciplinary capabilities into leadership development programmes.

Media also plays a critical role.

Journalists such as Kalosh and Carter operate at the intersection of tourism, business and public information. Their reporting can influence how destinations, companies and policymakers understand developments affecting the industry.

For organisations navigating sustainability or workforce transformation, effective communication is becoming a strategic capability rather than simply a public-relations function.

The awards also include government leadership through Jennifer Griffith’s recognition. Tourism ministries have an unusually broad workforce and economic remit, influencing policy, investment, skills development and destination strategy.

That public-private relationship is particularly important in Caribbean markets, where tourism can represent a substantial part of national economic activity.

CMEx President Bevan Springer said the honorees represent leadership, vision and service that contribute to stronger communities, expanded opportunities and a more sustainable future for the region.

The organisation’s awards programme is also designed to support that ecosystem. Proceeds from the annual event help fund CMEx programmes connecting tourism and media professionals, alongside educational and community initiatives.

That makes the event more than an awards ceremony. It functions as a networking and knowledge-sharing mechanism for professionals operating across connected sectors.

From a workforce perspective, those networks can have practical value. Emerging leaders gain access to experienced professionals, while established executives can exchange ideas about sustainability, technology, communications and regional development.

The second group of 2026 honorees is expected to be announced later in the month.

The broader trend is already clear: tourism leadership is expanding beyond traditional hospitality management.

The Caribbean’s next generation of leaders will need to navigate climate resilience, digital transformation, community expectations, changing traveller behaviour and increasingly complex stakeholder relationships. Building those capabilities requires investment in people as much as infrastructure.

The CMEx honorees represent different parts of that emerging leadership model—and highlight how the future of Caribbean tourism will depend on professionals capable of connecting economic opportunity with environmental and community outcomes.

Market Landscape

The Caribbean tourism workforce is evolving as destinations balance tourism growth, sustainability, climate resilience, digital transformation and community development.

That is changing the skills employers need. Tourism leaders increasingly require expertise in sustainability, data, communications, public policy and stakeholder management alongside traditional hospitality capabilities.

For HR teams, the implications include greater emphasis on interdisciplinary leadership programmes, sustainability training and partnerships with educational institutions. Cross-sector networks can also help address talent shortages by creating pathways between tourism, government, media, environmental organisations and local communities.

The CMEx awards reflect this broader definition of leadership. Instead of focusing exclusively on commercial performance, the programme recognises contributions spanning tourism, journalism, sustainability and community development.

Top Insights

• CMEx’s 2026 honorees represent a cross-sector leadership model spanning tourism, journalism, government, sustainability and the Caribbean’s emerging blue economy.
• The awards highlight growing demand for leaders who can connect tourism growth with environmental responsibility, community development and long-term economic resilience.
• Sustainability expertise is becoming a core tourism workforce capability as Caribbean destinations manage climate risks, coastal development and resource pressures.
• CMEx’s professional network creates opportunities for tourism and media leaders to exchange knowledge while supporting educational and community development initiatives.

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