Barbados and BVI leaders receive top honors at Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Awards | News
Luce Hodge-Smith, Assistant 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, at the Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Awards in New York
Andrea Franklin, Barbados’ top tourism executive, and Luce Hodge-Smith, deputy minister of tourism and culture for the British Virgin Islands, received top honors at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) third annual Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Awards, held at InterContinental New York Times Square during Caribbean Week in New York on Monday.
Franklin, CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and Chair of the CTO Board of Directors, was selected by her peers as the 2026 Tourism Director of the Year. Hodge-Smith earned the Minister/Commissioner of Tourism of the Year honors following a similar vote by regional tourism leaders.
Sponsored by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, the awards recognize excellence in visionary leadership, destination growth, progress in regional tourism and the ability to inspire the next generation of women in the industry.
The evening was highlighted by an inspiring keynote address from Christine Valls, managing director for Latin America and the Caribbean at United Airlines, who shared insights from her leadership journey and underscored the importance of empowering women, fostering innovation and building strong partnerships.
The Secretary General’s Distinguished Service Award was presented to Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), in recognition of her outstanding contributions to healthier, safer tourism and the development of sustainable tourism.
Andrea Franklin, CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and Chairman of the CTO Board of Directors, accepts the Tourism Director of the Year award from CTO Secretary General and CEO Dona Regis-Prosper.
The event also inducted six prominent women into the Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Hall of Fame for their lasting impact on the industry:
Valérie Damaseau, Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, Saint-Martin
Marsha Henderson, Minister of Tourism, St. Kitts and Nevis
Rosa Harris, Director of Tourism, Cayman Islands
Beverly Nicholson Doty, CEO of Figment Design
Petra Roach, Director of Sales and Marketing, Wyndham Grand Barbados
Karolin Troubetzkoy, Executive Director of Marketing and Operations, Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resorts, St. Lucia
In a major initiative, CTO launched a new scholarship fund during the evening aimed at empowering the next generation of Caribbean women in tourism. The initiative, titled ‘From Hair to Hair: From Today’s Women Leaders to Tomorrow’s Stars of Tourism’, raised US$13,000 through a live fundraising auction.
The scholarship program will provide annual support to a promising female student from the Caribbean pursuing studies and a career in tourism, with all proceeds benefiting the initiative through the CTO Foundation.
Guests also received a preview of ‘From the Sea Suite’, CTO’s women’s leadership magazine profiling notable women in Caribbean tourism. The publication will make its official print debut at CTO’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference in Guyana, scheduled for October 5-9, 2026.
