Puerto Rico wins sustainable tourism award
The Puerto Rico Tourism Company has won the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s top sustainable tourism accolade.
TravelMoles Graham McKenzie at the ceremony in St Thomas US Virgin Islands
It was awarded the Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism (CEST) Award in recognition of excellence in planning and managing a diversified tourism product using sustainable tourism concepts and core values.
The award was presented in collaboration with TravelMole during the State of the Industry Conference at the Mariott Frenchman’s Reef and Morning Star Resort.
Six sustainable tourism initiatives in the Caribbean were also presented with awards at the ceremony.
"We started these awards to give our partners endorsements they can share with potential visitors so they can garner more business," said CTO sustainable tourism product specialist Gail Henry.
" There are persons keen on keeping their carbon footprint at a minimum during travel and through our award designations these properties and attractions can be easily identified.
"Sustainable tourism initiatives like the ones being rewarded today do more than ensure the longevity of Caribbean tourism, they also increase the region’s global competitiveness," she added.
The awards comprised six categories covering all aspects of sustainability, from overall excellence, to accommodation, community, heritage and biodiversity.
They were judged by a panel of three tourism and environmental specialists: Lloyd Gardener, the president of the Foundation for Development Planning Inc. in the USVI; Jake Kheel, the environmental director at Puntacana Resort & Club in the Dominican Republic and Gail Henry.
The full roster of recipients below signifies the diverse range of sustainable initiatives working in the Caribbean’s favour to enhance its desirability as a holiday destination:
Destination Stewardship Award:
• Special Mention: Rewa Village (Guyana)
• Winner: Ministry of Tourism and International Transport (St. Kitts & Nevis)
Sustainable Accommodation Award:
• Special Mention: Rosalie Bay Resort (Dominica) and Xanadu Island Resort (Belize)
• Winner: Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort (Belize)
Community Benefit Award:
• Special Mention: Tryall Club and Villas (Jamaica)
• Winner: Belmont Plantation Company/Belmont Estate (Grenada)
Heritage Preservation:
• Special Mention: Turks and Caicos National Trust (TCI)
• Winner: Jost Van Dykes Preservation Society (BVI)
Biodiversity Conservation Award:
• Special Mention: Atlantis Submarines (Barbados)
• Winner: Guana Island Hotel (BVI)
Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award:
• Special Mention: Compass Point Dive Resort (Cayman Islands)
• Winner: Puerto Rico Tourism Company
The CTO/TravelMole awards are aimed at identifying, recognising and showcasing sustainable tourism best practices in the Caribbean, which embrace sustainable tourism concepts and core values, and which helps to enhance the tourism product offerings.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season