CMEx World Leadership Award winner Leon Bryant (left) celebrates after receiving her award from USVI Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty.
Margot Jordan
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ST. THOMAS, United States Virgin Islands - The
Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx) ended its 20th
session with an awards gala at the Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star
Marriott Beach Resort overlooking the territory's capital, Charlotte
Amalie, with its much anticipated Journalism Excellence and World
Leadership Awards on Sunday, December 4, 2011.
Bevan Springer,
CMEx president and founder, said the awards "saluted outstanding
journalists, travel and tourism pioneers, a sustainable development
leader and a champion of using music to enhance the allure of Caribbean
destinations."
A CMEx prize for Journalism Excellence was awarded
to Anika Kentish of Observer Radio in Antigua, who led a team of
Caribbean journalists to the earthquake-devastated Haiti and relayed
back the horror of the disaster as well as the immense courage of the
Haitian people.
Athneil "Addie" Ottley, a
popular radio personality in the US Virgin Islands, received a CMEx
Excellence in Journalism award for his widely received broadcasts of
major issues in the islands.
Patricia
Meschino, Caribbean Correspondent for Billboard Magazine, was
recognized for her championing of regional musicians and for seeing the
valuable linkages between local music and sustainable tourism.
Mrs.
Leona Bryant, former USVI director of tourism, received a CMEx World
Leadership Award for pioneering the development of tourism in the US
Virgin Islands and her promoting the islands to the rest of the world.
"Mrs.
Bryant spent more than 25 years making sure the world knew the US
Virgin Islands was a world class destination. Her receptions were
legendary; her style, grace and professionalism unmistakable," said USVI
Commissioner of Tourism, Beverly Nicholson-Doty who presented the award
to Mrs. Bryant.
Peter
Dolara, Senior Vice President for Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin
America of American Airlines, was recognized for his personal commitment
to helping the region's industry to grow with the strategic application
of added airlift over the years. The legendary airline executive was
unable to receive his prize personally.
Dr. Joan Parker,
President and Chief Executive Officer of the development and
humanitarian non-profit organization, Counterpart International,
received the World Leadership Award for its pioneering sustainable
tourism work in the region, as well as for its key contributions to
launching CMEx.
Popular US Virgin Islander radio personality "Addie" Ottley was in winners' row. Photo credit: Margot Jordan
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