Ms. Laura Dowrich-Phillips, Public Relations Manager of Experience Turks and Caicos and Mr. Kashmie Ali, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Sailrock Resort, were among esteemed Caribbean nationals honoured with the 2024 CMEx Leadership Award.
The award ceremony took place during a gala luncheon at the Loews Hotel, Coral Gables, Miami on December 8th.
Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Josephine Connolly and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Wesley Clerveaux attended the awards ceremony.
PS in the Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Wesley Clerveaux presents Ms. Laura Dowrich-Phillips Ali with her CMEx Leadership Award along with CMEx founder Mr. Bevan Springer and event host Ms. Vanessa James
“I am very proud of Laura and Kashmie and I congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition,” said Minister Connolly. “Since joining the Experience Turks and Caicos team, Laura has proven to be an energetic and hard worker who is passionate about ensuring the Turks and Caicos Islands remains the top luxury destination of choice for affluent travellers. Kashmie has built a reputation for leading the charge to market South Caicos and the Sailrock Resort and the results show with the top-class clientele they continue to attract. I believe our industry has been enriched by the work they have been doing and continue to do to for the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
Minister of Tourism, the Hon Josephine Connolly presents Mr. Kashmie Ali with his CMEx Leadership Award with CMEx founder Mr. Bevan Springer and event host Ms. Vanessa James
The Minister also congratulated the other awardees, some of whom enjoy a close relationship with the Turks and Caicos Islands such as Mrs. Marie McKenzie, Senior Vice President of Government and Destination Affairs, Carnival Corporation, Vanessa Ledesma, CEO, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and Dr. Lisa Indar, Interim Executive Director, Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).
The 2024 CMEx Laureates are as follows:
- Kashmie Ali – Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Sailrock South Caicos
- Tracy Berkeley – CEO, Bermuda Tourism Authority
- Latia Duncombe – Director General, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation
- Laura Dowrich-Phillips – Caribbean Journalist and Public Relations Manager, Experience Turks and Caicos
- Ambassador Victor Fernandes – Veteran Caribbean Broadcaster and Barbados Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States
- Gloria and Solomon Herbert – Co-founders of Black Meetings & Tourism magazine
- Dr. Lisa Indar – Interim Executive Director, Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)
- Eroline and Lyton Lamontagne – Owners, Fond Doux Eco Resort in St. Lucia
- Thea LaFond – 2024 Olympic Champion, Dominica
- Vanessa Ledesma – CEO, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)
- Marc Melville – CEO, Chukka Caribbean Adventures
- Marie McKenzie – Senior Vice President of Government and Destination Affairs, Carnival Corporation & plc
- Jennifer Nugent-Hill – Director of Government and Community Affairs, Tropical Shipping
- Simón Suárez – Vice President, Grupo Puntacana
- Ellison “Tommy” Thompson – Former Deputy Director General of Tourism, Bahamas, and Former CEO, St. Kitts Tourism Authority
- Christine Valls – Director of Sales for Latin America and the Caribbean, United Airlines
Caribbean Media Exchange is nonprofit organisation whose 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.