CTO honors trailblazing women at 2025 Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Awards

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) celebrated the achievements of exceptional women across the region’s tourism landscape during its second annual Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Awards on Monday, June 1, the opening night of Caribbean Week in New York.

An initiative of CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper, the elegant, invitation-only dinner was held at The Westin New York at Times Square under the theme “Elegance and Excellence.”

With background entertainment by St. Lucian vocalist Michel Aubertin and The Legendary Supreme Team and speeches by several industry leaders, CTO said it was “an evening of tribute, empowerment, and sisterhood.”

CTO said the event unfolded with toasts, storytelling, and a stirring keynote from Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy, who chronicled her journey from travel agent to cruise line.

“My mantra has always been ‘aspire to inspire.’ We really can’t inspire others. That’s up to each person, whether they feel or are inspired. But we can all aspire to do that,” she said.

CTO said the night’s emotional center came during the awards presentation to five standout leaders, “whose remarks peeled back the curtain on the personal cost and collective power of women in tourism.”

The awardees were: Minister of Tourism Award: Marsha Henderson, Minister of Tourism, St. Kitts and Nevis; Director of Tourism Award: Rosa Harris, Director of Tourism, Cayman Islands; Secretary-General’s Distinguished Service Award: Karolin Troubetzkoy, Executive Director of Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resorts, St. Lucia; Legacy Award for Contribution to Caribbean Tourism: Thea LaFond, 2024 Olympic triple jump gold medalist, Dominica; and Recognition for Service: Petra Roach, Outgoing CEO, Grenada Tourism Authority.

“Leadership sometimes can be lonely — especially as a woman,” said Henderson.

An attorney-at-law, Henderson spoke candidly about the expectations and biases she’s navigated in her political ascent.

Harris, who recently served as the chairman of the CTO Board of Directors, delivered a deeply personal speech reflecting the dual roles women balance in leadership and life, according to CTO.

It said she reflected on her experiences caring for her family, striving for excellence at home and work, and showing up with confidence and purpose.

CTO said a poignant moment came when Troubetzkoy, the second female president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, accepted the Secretary-General’s Distinguished Service Award.

Battling a recent personal loss—her husband and business partner, Nick—she stood at the podium with unwavering resolve, the CTO said.

“It’s not shallow words when I say I’m not only flattered — I’m really deeply humbled that you found me worthy,” she said. “It was hard work, and I’m my harshest critic.”

Troubetzkoy, a 45-year veteran of Caribbean tourism, used her moment to reflect on shifting her energy toward biodiversity and conservation.

“Now that I’m surrounded by so many wonderful women, I knew for the last few years that Caribbean tourism was in excellent hands,” she said.

The awards ceremony also recognized Roach, outgoing CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority, and Olympic gold medalist Thea LaFond, who accepted the Legacy Award for her global ambassadorship of Caribbean excellence.

“Everything that I am, everything I was raised on was off the backs and off the prototypes and off the trial and errors of the women in my life — specifically the Caribbean women,” LaFond said.

Beyond the honorees, the CTO said the night offered its share of sharp commentary and celebratory laughter.

Colin James, CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, set the tone early with a blend of humor and homage.

“You ladies are gathered … to do what Caribbean women do best — shine, support, and slay in that exact order,” he said. “The world may be 70 % water, but tonight, it’s 100 % women making waves.”

CTO said Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism, Charles “Max” Fernandez, struck a reflective chord as he spoke about the economic gains of gender-inclusive leadership.

“Tonight is more than a celebration; it’s a statement — and this is a regional win,” he said.

CTO said the event also marked the official launch of its inaugural women’s leadership magazine, From the Sea Suite. The magazine “spotlights more than 40 remarkable women in Caribbean tourism, created to honor the women who have long been the industry’s quiet engine—and now, increasingly, its visible force.”

Valérie Damaseau, Commissioner of Tourism and Culture of Saint-Martin, who was featured on the magazine’s cover, spoke of overcoming internal doubts and external expectations during her remarks.

CTO said she reflected on her journey from humble beginnings — raised by a single mother of eight — to becoming a leader in Caribbean tourism, emphasizing the power of self-trust, breaking barriers, and defying the notion that leadership belongs to men.

“Don’t ever let the fear of the unknown stop you from accessing your next chapter,” Damaseau urged.