CMEx anniversary meeting heads to US Virgin Islands

The United States Virgin Islands (USVI) will host the Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx).

The 10-year anniversary of the popular regional media and tourism symposium is slated for St Thomas over December 1 to 5, 2011.

In the 20th session of its first decade CMEx will attract to the USVI its hallmark blend of media specialists, business, government and non-profit leaders to discuss the use of sustainable tourism to enhance the quality of life of Caribbean nations.

Produced this year in partnership with New York University's top-ranked public relations and corporate communication programme, CMEx will look at enhancing clarity and efficacy in the communications and public relations sectors of the Caribbean business communities.

"In the 10 years since we launched in Jamaica in October 2001, we have produced 20 editions of our educational, interactive symposia and we are thrilled to debut this special session in the United States Virgin Islands," declared Bevan Springer, CMEx President and organiser of the four-day forum.

Under the theme, 'Communicating for Clarity and Prosperity,' CMEx will introduce the Caribbean public relations, and related industries, to the latest in top-notch research to help practitioners promote thriving and prosperous sustainable tourism development.

"Having supported and participated in previous editions of CMEx, it is truly a great honour to host CMEx in the territory," said USVI Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty.

The commissioner believes CMEx has a formidable capacity to promote tourism in the USVI and to expose local, regional and international journalists and local tourism stakeholders to cutting-edge communications strategies.

In addition to discussing media relations, social media and crisis communications, speakers and participants will zero in on topics affecting the current state of the industry. These will include airlift, fuel prices, airline passenger taxes, the environment, tourism linkages and tapping emerging markets.

interactive forum

CMEx is known as a vibrant, interactive and neutral forum which encourages journalists, young and established leaders from the Caribbean, North America, Latin America and Europe to interact with development specialists and representatives of the hospitality, civil society and government sectors.

Since 2001, the Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) has produced 19 conferences and symposia throughout the Caribbean and North America to underscore the value of the region's largest industry, tourism, in bettering the health, education, culture, environment and wealth of Caribbean communities, at home and abroad, in a climate-friendly fashion.

The upcoming CMEx meeting, hosted by the United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, is supported by the Barbara Pyle Foundation, Caribbean Business Enterprise Trust, Caribbean Broadcasting Union, 4P Group, Marketplace Excellence, michaelD. Communications, Ruder Finn, and The SpeakEasy M.E.D.I.A. Foundation.

About The Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx)

CMEx's mission is to support and develop the ability of the media, government, the travel and tourism industry and communities to consider the importance of tourism in sustainable development, while lending a hand to the communities involved by sharing relevant expertise, financial and in-kind assistance. For additional details, visit www.cmexmedia.org.