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Updated: June 6, 2025 @ 4:11 am
Christine Duffy, forefront, president of Carnival Cruise Line, and Dominica’s Olympic gold medalist Thea LaFond at the Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Awards event. Duffy delivered the keynote address.
Christine Duffy, forefront, president of Carnival Cruise Line, and Dominica’s Olympic gold medalist Thea LaFond at the Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Awards event. Duffy delivered the keynote address.
The Caribbean Tourism Organization celebrated the achievements of exceptional women across the region’s tourism landscape during its 2nd annual Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Awards.
The event was held Monday in The Westin New York at Times Square during Caribbean Week, observed June 1-6 this year.
The invitation-only dinner, themed “Elegance and Excellence,” was an initiative of CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper, according to a statement.
The event unfolded with toasts, storytelling, and a keynote from Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy, who chronicled her journey from travel agent to cruise line CEO.
“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’t all aspire to do that,” she said.
Awards were presented to five standout leaders whose remarks unveiled the personal cost and collective power of women in tourism
• Minister of Tourism Award — Marsha Henderson, who serves as Tourism minister in St. Kitts-Nevis
• Director of Tourism Award — Rosa Harris, who serves as Tourism director in The Cayman Islands
• Secretary-General’s Distinguished Service Award — Karolin Troubetzkoy, executive director of Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resorts in St. Lucia
• Legacy Award for Contribution to Caribbean Tourism — Thea LaFond, 2024 Olympic triple jump goal medalist for Dominica
• Recognition for Service — Petra Roach, outgoing CEO of Grenada Tourism Authority
“Leadership sometimes can be lonely — especially as a woman,” said Henderson, an attorney-at-law,who the statement noted 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 on the dual roles women balance in leadership and life. She reflected on her experiences caring for her family, striving for excellence at home and work, and showing up with confidence and purpose.
“A poignant moment came when Karolin Troubetzkoy, the second female president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, accepted the Secretary-General’s Distinguished Service Award. Battling the recent loss of her husband and business partner, Nick, Troubetzkoy stood at the podium with unwavering resolve,” the release stated.
“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 Petra Roach, outgoing CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority, and Dominica’s 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.
According to the statement, the event 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.”
Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism, Charles 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.
The event also marked the official launch of CTO’s inaugural women’s leadership magazine, From the Sea Suite, spotlighting more than 40 remarkable women in Caribbean tourism, created to honor the women who have long been the industry’s quiet engine, and increasingly, its visible force.
Valérie Damaseau, commissioner of Tourism and Culture of St. Martin, featured on the cover of the magazine, spoke of overcoming internal doubts and external expectations during her remarks. She reflected on her journey from humble beginnings — being 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, according to the statement.
“Don’t ever let the fear of the unknown stop you from accessing your next chapter,” she said.
The 2025 Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Awards was sponsored by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and Carnival Corporation & plc, with support from CTO member countries and industry partners.
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