MARIGOT--Valérie Damaseau, Commissioner of Tourism and Culture for Saint-Martin, has been inducted into the Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Hall of Fame by the Caribbean Tourism Organization, CTO, in recognition of her lasting impact on the tourism industry.
Damaseau was among six women honored during the CTO’s third annual Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Awards, held during Caribbean Week in New York 2026. Her induction places Saint-Martin among a distinguished group of Caribbean tourism leaders recognized for their contribution to the growth and advancement of the region’s tourism sector.
Her recognition is especially significant for Saint-Martin, as it highlights the island’s presence and leadership at a major regional tourism event. As Commissioner of Tourism and Culture, Damaseau has represented Saint-Martin at the regional level and has played a role in promoting the destination and strengthening its visibility within the wider Caribbean tourism industry.
The Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Hall of Fame honors women whose work has made a lasting contribution to tourism in the region. CTO said the inductees were recognized for their enduring influence on the industry and their role in helping to shape Caribbean tourism.
Also inducted into the Hall of Fame were Marsha Henderson, Minister of Tourism of St. Kitts and Nevis; Rosa Harris, Director of Tourism of the Cayman Islands; Beverly Nicholson Doty, Chief Executive Officer of Figment Design; Petra Roach, Director of Sales and Marketing at Wyndham Grand Barbados; and Karolin Troubetzkoy, Executive Director of Marketing and Operations at Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resorts in St. Lucia.
The awards ceremony also recognized other leading women in Caribbean tourism. Andrea Franklin, Chief Executive Officer of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and Chairman of the CTO Board of Directors, received the Director of Tourism of the Year 2026 award. Luce Hodge-Smith, Junior Minister of Tourism and Culture for the British Virgin Islands, received the Minister/Commissioner of Tourism of the Year award.
