BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – TOMMY Thompson, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, will be honored for his significant contributions to the tourism industry at the 2024 Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Awards and Fundraiser. The prestigious event is set to take place in December in Miami.
Thompson is among 16 leaders from across the region recognized for their impactful work in tourism, media, sports, and public health. Other notable awardees include Tracy Berkeley, CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority; Ambassador Victor Fernandes, veteran Caribbean broadcaster and Barbados’ Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States; Dr. Lisa Indar, Interim Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA); Thea LaFond, Dominica’s 2024 Olympic Champion; and Vanessa Ledesma, CEO of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA).
Thompson, a Bahamian national who stepped down from his role earlier this year, was instrumental in several initiatives that significantly boosted the tourism industry in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Reflecting on his tenure during a recent interview, Thompson described his time at the St. Kitts Tourism Authority as both rewarding and challenging, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Yes, it was definitely the hardest," Thompson said. "When I came to St. Kitts, it was basically at the tail end of the COVID, but it was still the regulations that St. Kitts were high…during COVID, everything was shut down. So it was a matter of how do you keep the lights on, and how do you keep your destination relevant, and top of mind for when things improved, and you could get visitors back into your destination”
Among his notable achievements, Thompson credited his team’s collaborative efforts and highlighted key successes, such as increasing flight connectivity to the islands.
“I was happy to share my years of experience with them. I think they lapped it up like sponges. And one of the things I wanted to make sure that they did was make recommendations…I think that has made them grow tremendously. And then the other thing is definitely bringing JetBlue into the Federation, giving us year-round service from the New York area,” Thompson said
The CMEx Leadership Awards and Fundraiser will bring together industry professionals, government officials, and media representatives to celebrate Caribbean excellence. The event aims to foster collaboration, emphasize unity, and promote sustainable tourism initiatives and social responsibility across the region.
