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Today we spotlight two distinguished individuals who will be honored at the 2024 Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Awards and Fundraiser, happening on December 8, 2024, at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel in Miami.
Laura Dowrich-Phillips – Caribbean journalist and Public Relations Manager, Experience Turks and Caicos
For close to 30 years, Laura Dowrich-Phillips was a dedicated and passionate journalist making her name in the coverage of arts, culture, entertainment, tourism and lifestyle topics, and events across the Caribbean. From her media debut as a freelancer with the Trinidad Guardian newspaper to Culture and Lifestyle Manager at Loop News, she steadily built her career, covering events as far as the Mediterranean and absorbing knowledge first-hand from the likes of the late Richard Stolley, founding Editor of People Magazine as a participant in Stanford University’s Midlevel Professional Publisher’s Program.
A 2019 Gabo Fellow in Cultural Journalism, Dowrich-Phillips has been the founding editor of several newspaper publications, including Metro Magazine, which provided a platform to elevate artists in the Caribbean and the diaspora. Fearless in pursuing her passion to contribute to Caribbean development, she switched careers in 2023, delving deeply into tourism, the lifeblood of the Caribbean, as the PR manager of Experience Turks and Caicos, where she marries her journalism skills with that of public relations to promote one of the region’s leading premium destinations. She enjoys mentoring and inspiring young people and believes in showing by example that it is never too late to reach for the stars.
Latia Duncombe – Director General, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation
Latia Duncombe is a visionary and passionate leader, whose transformative approach has strengthened The Bahamas’ global tourism position. Duncombe helped The Bahamas reach the historic achievement of a record-breaking 9.65 million visitor arrivals in 2023. Her leadership has consistently set new standards of excellence in the industry.
Duncombe is the seventh Director General and third female to hold this senior position. She leads a global team of 400 employees, executing strategic global initiatives which were pivotal to The Bahamas’ post-pandemic tourism recovery. Her leadership is defined by a commitment to innovation and the long-term growth and development of the 16 unique island destinations within The Bahamas.
A strong advocate for sustainable growth, Duncombe champions and continues to oversee initiatives focused on environmental responsibility and sustainable growth within the tourism sector.
Her current contributions extend to international organizations such as the Caribbean Tourism Organization, where she served as Vice Chair for two years; UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); the Organization of American States (OAS); among others.
Duncombe holds an MBA with Merit from the University of Liverpool. Outside her professional endeavors, she is a loving wife and the proud mother of two sons – Tre’ and Zion.
The 2024 CMEx Leadership Awards is powered by The Islands of The Bahamas (Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation).
The event is also being supported by:
- Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
- Blue Horizons Garden Resort, Grenada
- Brion City Hotel, BW Signature Collection, Curaçao
- Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba
- Calabash Cove Resort & Spa, St. Lucia
- Carnival Corporation & plc
- Coco Palm Resort, St. Lucia
- Comfort Suites Paradise Island, Bahamas
- Fort Young Hotel and Dive Resort, Dominica
- Gallows Point Resort, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
- Golden Rock Dive & Nature Resort, St. Eustatius
- Ladera Resort, St. Lucia
- Little Good Harbour & The Atlantis Historic Inn, Barbados
- Montpelier Plantation & Beach, Nevis
- Mount Cinnamon Hotel & Beach Club, Grenada
- Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour, St. Kitts
- Radisson Aquatica Resort Barbados, Barbados
- Rodman Marketing Guru
- The Buccaneer Beach & Golf Resort, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
- The Courtleigh Hotel & Suites, Jamaica
- The Hamilton Beach Villas & Spa, Nevis
- The Hartling Group, Turks and Caicos
- The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Jamaica
- The Palms Turks and Caicos, Turks and Caicos
- Ti Bananne West Indian Bistro & Bar
- Tropical Shipping
- Wyndham Grand Barbados, Sam Lord’s Castle All-Inclusive Resort
- Marketplace Excellence Corporation
- Vanessa James Media
For tickets and information, visit https://bit.ly/cmexawards2024.
