Caribbean women in tourism leadership honored at CTO awards in New York
Luce Hodge-Smith, Junior Minister of Tourism and Culture for the British Virgin Islands (right), accepts the 2026 Minister of Tourism of the Year Award from Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General and CEO of CTO, during the Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Awards in New York.
Key Points(5)
- Franklin, CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
- and chairman of the CTO Board of Directors, was selected by her peers as Director of Tourism of the Year 2026.
- Hodge-Smith earned the Minister/Commissioner of Tourism of the Year award following similar voting by regional tourism leaders.
- Sponsored by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, the awards recognize excellence in visionary leadership, destination growth, regional tourism advancement and the ability to inspire the next generation of women in the industry.
- Andrea Franklin, CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
Senior tourism officials from Barbados and the British Virgin Islands were among those recognized at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) third annual Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Awards, held at the InterContinental New York Times Square during Caribbean Week in New York on Monday.
Andrea Franklin, chief executive officer of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and chair of the CTO Board of Directors, was named Director of Tourism of the Year 2026. She was selected by regional peers in recognition of her leadership in destination marketing and tourism development.
Luce Hodge-Smith, Junior Minister of Tourism and Culture for the British Virgin Islands, received the Minister/Commissioner of Tourism of the Year award, also decided through voting by tourism leaders across the region.
The awards, sponsored by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, highlight excellence in leadership, destination growth and regional tourism advancement, while also recognising efforts to inspire the next generation of women in the sector.
The ceremony featured a keynote address by Christine Valls, managing director for Latin America and the Caribbean at United Airlines, who spoke about leadership, innovation and the importance of strengthening partnerships across the industry.
The Secretary-General’s Distinguished Service Award was presented to Dr. Lisa Indar, head of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), in recognition of her contributions to safer and more sustainable tourism practices across the region.
Six women were also inducted into the Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Hall of Fame, including Valérie Damaseau, Marsha Henderson, Rosa Harris, Beverly Nicholson Doty, Petra Roach, and Karolin Troubetzkoy, each recognised for their long-standing impact on Caribbean tourism development.
During the event, CTO also launched a new scholarship initiative titled “From Her to Her: From Today’s Female Leaders to Tomorrow’s Tourism Stars,” which raised US$13,000 through a live auction. The funds will support a female Caribbean student pursuing studies in tourism through the CTO Foundation.
Attendees were also given a preview of From the Sea Suite, a women’s leadership magazine profiling influential figures in Caribbean tourism. The publication is set for its official print launch at CTO’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference in Guyana from Oct. 5–9, 2026.
