The Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) will celebrate veteran hotelier and Caribbean tourism leader Josef Forstmayr as a 2026 leadership laureate at the CMEx Leadership Awards and Fundraiser on Sunday, Dec. 6 at Loews Coral Gables Hotel in the Miami area.
Forstmayr has been welcoming guests to Round Hill Hotel and Villas since becoming managing director in 1989. Under his leadership, the iconic Jamaican resort has earned numerous international honors including the World Travel Awards’ “Best Villas” title for consecutive years, AAA’s Four Diamond Award of Excellence and the Brass Key Award for “Most Romantic Resort.” Round Hill has also been featured on Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List and Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best list.
Forstmayr has called Jamaica home since 1979 and has built a distinguished career across the island’s hospitality sector. Before joining Round Hill, he served as assistant manager at Coconut Cove in Negril, resident manager at Tryall Golf and Beach Hotel, and general manager of Trident Villas and Hotel in Port Antonio.
His commitment to Jamaica and the wider Caribbean has extended well beyond hotel operations. In April 2010, Forstmayr was appointed president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), serving through 2012. During his tenure, he championed the importance of tourism to the region through CHTA’s “Tourism Is Key” advocacy campaign.
A longtime advocate for stronger linkages between tourism and local economies, Forstmayr has consistently promoted the use of Caribbean-produced goods, from rum and beer to sauces and agricultural products. He has also supported efforts to elevate Caribbean cuisine through culinary festivals, competitions and other regional initiatives.
Forstmayr currently serves as a director of the Jamaica Tourist Board and chairman of the Montego Bay Arts Council Limited which operates the Montego Bay Cultural Centre. He is also honorary consul-general for the Republic of Austria in Jamaica.
His contributions to Jamaican and Caribbean tourism have been widely recognized. In 2005, he received Jamaica’s Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer for his service to the tourism industry. He was named Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association Hotelier of the Year in 1993 and 1996, and Caribbean Hotelier of the Year by the Caribbean Hotel Association in 2007.
Born in Steyr, Austria, Forstmayr is fluent in German, English and French. His decades of service reflect a career defined by hospitality, regional leadership and an enduring commitment to Jamaica.
The 2026 CMEx Leadership Awards and Fundraiser is powered by Platinum Sponsor, the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism with Anguilla Tourist Board and Carnival Corporation serving as Gold Sponsors.
Major sponsors include The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission, Marketplace Excellence Corporation, Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board and the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism.
Additional sponsors supporting the cause include Coco Palm (St. Lucia), Comfort Suites Paradise Island (Bahamas), Fond Doux Eco Resort (St. Lucia), Jade Mountain (St. Lucia), Ladera Resort (St. Lucia), Mount Cinnamon Beach & Wellness Resort (Grenada), GRUPO PUNTACANA (The Westin Puntacana Resort), Secret Bay (Dominica), The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, 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.
For more details visit cmexmedia.org.
