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The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter offers travel, tourism, Caribbean and global news weekly. To share stories, information or intelligence, contact us at info@marketplaceexcellence.com.

September 7, 2026

Saluting Caribbean workers, celebrating Caribbean culture

This Labor Day in the United States, Marketplace Excellence salutes the workers whose dedication keeps our communities moving. From hotels, tourism departments and airlines to healthcare, education, transportation and small businesses, Caribbean people at home and across the diaspora bring skill, care and determination to their work every day. Today, we honor their contributions and the enduring importance of fair wages, dignity and opportunity for all.



That pride will fill Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn today as more than a million revelers and spectators are expected to gather for the West Indian American Day Parade, celebrating Caribbean culture through music, masquerade, food and fellowship. Behind every costume, rhythm and flag are people whose creativity and hard work keep our traditions alive. To everyone celebrating — and everyone working through the holiday — we say thank you.

Royal Caribbean executive Russell Benford recognized by CMEx

Russell Benford

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.

Russell Benford, vice president of government relations for the Americas for Royal Caribbean Group, brings more than two decades of public-sector leadership to his role overseeing the company’s government relations across North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

Before joining Royal Caribbean, Benford served as deputy mayor of Miami-Dade County. His extensive career in government also includes leadership roles as city manager of North Miami, city administrator of West Park, Florida, and village manager of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Benford is actively involved with several civic and community organizations, including Achieve Miami, The Bahamas Feeding Network, Jackson Health Foundation, the Orange Bowl Committee and Port Everglades Association.



He earned a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was named a Woodrow Wilson Public Policy and International Studies Fellow.

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), GRUPO PUNTACANA (The Westin Puntacana Resort), 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.

Cayman Islands posts record stayover arrivals

The Cayman Islands welcomed a record 333,747 stayover visitors in the first seven months of 2026, up 11% from the same period last year. July arrivals rose 10% to 45,053, marking the destination’s ninth consecutive month of growth.

The United States drove July’s gains, delivering 37,910 visitors, a 12% increase. European arrivals grew in July 12.7%. Canadian visitation fell 15.9% amid reduced nonstop flight frequency, but arrivals from Canada remained up 43.3% for the year through July.

Combined stayover and cruise visitation reached 1,058,781 through July, up 6.2% year over year.

Cruise arrivals increased 4% over the seven-month period, despite a 23% decline in July to 43,380 passengers as fewer ships called at the destination.

FCCA Leadership Series returns with Chukka’s Marc Melville

Click for video

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Leadership Series has returned with Marc Melville of Chukka Caribbean Adventures, who joined FCCA President Adam Ceserano for a candid discussion on entrepreneurship, partnerships, innovation and creating scalable tourism experiences that remain authentically Caribbean.

Drawing on three decades in the industry, Melville also shares practical advice for the region’s next generation of tourism entrepreneurs.

Watch the video.

“I am grateful to my chairmanship, our member states, ministers, commissioners, board of directors, industry partners, stakeholders and the CTO team for your trust, support and partnership. Three years is a milestone. But it is also a reminder that there is still so much more to do — and so much more we can achieve together. I remain honored to serve the Caribbean Tourism Organization and to contribute to the continued advancement of Caribbean tourism.” — Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General & CEO, Caribbean Tourism Organization

In case you missed it ...

For Caribbean Tourism Authority highlights this week, click below:

West Indies Cricket Club — A Basil Springer Column

Guyana President Irfaan Ali to Keynote CTO’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference in October

Bahamian Swim Champions Celebrated at Carnival’s Celebration Key

CTO to Launch Future Leaders Forum at SOTIC 2026

Tink Bout It

“You can’t go wrong getting strong.”

This popular physical therapy phrase reminds us that building strength does more than develop muscle — it supports mobility, protects against injury and helps keep the body resilient as we age.  



Marketplace Excellence Corporation is a global public relations, marketing and media company.