This week, the Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) highlights another distinguished leadership laureate who will be celebrated at the 2026 CMEx Leadership Awards and Fundraiser on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026 at Loews Coral Gables Hotel in the Miami area.
He is visionary Barbadian and Caribbean hospitality pioneer Ralph Taylor, who introduced the all-inclusive concept to Barbados following his acquisition of the Divi resort in 1991. He rebranded the property as Almond Beach Club & Spa and served as chairman and managing director of Almond Resorts Inc. for 20 years.
During his tenure, Taylor spearheaded the successful expansion of Almond Resorts’ all-inclusive portfolio from one property to five hotels totaling 1,549 rooms across Barbados and St. Lucia. Today, he is chairman and CEO of Arcadia Hotels & Resorts, parent company of The Soco Hotel in Barbados and The Soco House in St. Lucia.
Taylor’s contributions to Caribbean tourism have been widely recognized. In 1995, his commitment to industry development earned him the Caribbean Hotelier of the Year honor from the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). In 2006, he received the inaugural Barbados Minister of Tourism Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to tourism in the region.
A past president and chairman of CHTA, Taylor has also served as chairman of the Barbados Tourism Authority, the Tourism Development Corporation and the Advisory Council of the Minister of Tourism in Barbados as well as president of the Barbados Hotel Association. Most recently, he received an honorary doctorate from The University of the West Indies.
The 2026 CMEx Leadership Awards and Fundraiser is made possible through the support of its corporate and destination partners.
The event is powered by Platinum Sponsor, the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism.
Major sponsors include The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, Carnival Corporation, Marketplace Excellence Corporation, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism.
Additional sponsors supporting the cause include Coco Palm (St. Lucia), Fond Doux Eco Resort (St. Lucia), Ladera Resort (St. Lucia), Mount Cinnamon Beach & Wellness Resort (Grenada), Tropical Attractions, and Vanessa James Media.
Proceeds support educational programs, youth development initiatives and professional training designed to empower the next generation of Caribbean tourism and media leaders.
