2023 CMEx Leadership Awards – Nicola Madden Greig, OD

In the heart of Coral Gables in Miami, a moment of profound recognition unfolded earlier this month as Jamaican Nicola Madden-Greig, OD, a paragon of the Caribbean tourism industry, was one of close to a dozen to accept the 2023 Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Award. Madden-Greig, with an array of experiences from the cruise industry, tourism attractions, airlines, and hotels, radiates both professionalism and deep passion for her field. Her words resonated with the audience, a blend of industry experts and professionals from the Caribbean Diaspora, as she recalled her days at Florida International University, marking the ceremony not only an accolade but also a homecoming of sorts. “It is truly indeed an honor to be recognized in this way,” she expressed, her voice carrying the weight of her accomplishments and the challenges overcome. As Madden-Greig detailed her tenure as president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) since October 2021, her narrative wove through the trials of COVID-19, highlighting the extraordinary collaboration between the public and private sectors. Her vision, ambitious yet grounded, aimed to propel Caribbean tourism beyond mere recovery to unprecedented heights. “I want to see the Caribbean region not only grow but reach the stratosphere in terms of Caribbean tourism,” she said while expressing her gratitude towards her peers.