ROAD TOWN, BVI — British Virgin Islands tourism executive Natasha J. Chalwell has been named among the Caribbean leadership laureates to be celebrated at the 2026 Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Awards and Fundraiser.
The event is scheduled for Sunday, December 6, 2026, at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel in the Miami area.
Chalwell has served as Deputy Director of Tourism with the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission since January 2025. She brings more than two decades of experience in tourism marketing, product development and stakeholder engagement to the role.
During her career, Chalwell has been involved in destination promotion, sustainable tourism development, cruise policy and international marketing, while contributing to initiatives aimed at strengthening the BVI’s tourism product and global presence.
Her work has also included a focus on modernization and the use of technology in destination marketing. Among the initiatives she has championed is the integration of MindTrip AI into the BVI’s official destination website, allowing prospective visitors to receive personalized trip-planning assistance, itineraries and recommendations.
The move reflects the growing use of artificial intelligence within the tourism industry, while Chalwell has maintained that technology should complement rather than replace the personal connections and authentic experiences that are central to the Virgin Islands’ tourism offering.
Her previous accomplishments include leading the BVI’s first Sustainable Tourism Environmental Program, Tourism Comprehensive Disaster Plan and Tourism Education Program.
CMEx said Chalwell will be celebrated alongside a group of Caribbean leadership laureates whose work, service and achievements have contributed to the region’s tourism and media sectors.
The 2026 awards are being presented with the support of a number of tourism and private-sector organisations. The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism is the event’s Platinum Sponsor.
Major sponsors include the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission, Carnival Corporation, Marketplace Excellence Corporation, Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board and the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism.
Additional sponsors include Coco Palm, Fond Doux Eco Resort and Ladera Resort of Saint Lucia; Mount Cinnamon Beach & Wellness Resort of Grenada; GRUPO PUNTACANA and The Westin Puntacana Resort; Tropical Attractions; and Vanessa James Media.
Proceeds from the event will support educational programmes, youth development initiatives and professional training aimed at developing the next generation of Caribbean tourism and media professionals.
For the British Virgin Islands, Chalwell’s recognition places a spotlight on the work of a local tourism professional whose career has spanned destination marketing, sustainability, disaster preparedness, education and the continued evolution of the Territory’s tourism product.