James Dion, associate director of the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations, will deliver the rankings of the Caribbean destinations from National Geographic’s annual Destination Scorecard survey, which reflects evaluations made by a panel of well-traveled experts representing a variety of fields, including ecology, sustainable tourism, geography, travel writing and photography, site management, historic preservation, indigenous cultures and archaeology.

The Washington DC-based Dion said small island developing states in the Caribbean performed well, but challenges remain. “Many of these places are managing their destinations very positively,” said Dion, pointing to Dominica and the Grenadines, which scored high marks on the survey designed to highlight issues of stewardship, put them on the table for public discussion and facilitate ways for destinations to improve.

He pointed to challenges in managing growth as destinations could quickly become spoiled if they lose their “sense of place.” “The greatest asset the Caribbean has is the unique sense of place ––the question we must ask is how do we preserve the cultural scape while taking advantage of the economic opportunities offered by tourism, ” he said.

The Caribbean’s top tourism personalities will open the 11th full edition of CMEx in St Lucia on Friday morning. Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Bahamian Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, and Chairman of the Caribbean Hotel Association Berthia Parle of St Lucia’s Bay Gardens Resorts start the discourse at the newly opened Palm Haven boutique hotel in the north of the island as delegates examine the theme, “Caribbean Tourism: Another Level of Innovation.”

The opening session, to be moderated by television personality and travel professional Andria Hall, who also is an author and a former CNN news anchor, will also feature Patrick Cozier, secretary general of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union.

Matthew Sams, vice president of Caribbean Relations of Holland America, will update participants on the new direction of the cruise industry. Also, Caroline Racine, director of Caribbean Franchise Development for Choice Hotels, speaks on branding as an innovative approach to operating hotels. The Caribbean Media Exchange launched by Counterpart International in 2001, has attracted reporters, editors, young students and development specialists as well as representatives of the hospitality sector, civil society and government. Key is examining how tourism policies can be aimed at improving the lives of Caribbean people.

The meeting is supported by Air Jamaica, Almond Resorts, Anse Chastanet & Jade Mountain, Association of Caribbean Media Workers, Barbara Pyle Foundation, Bay Gardens Resorts, Bermuda Department of Tourism, BET J, Carnival Sailing, Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Caribbean Tourism Organization, Caribbean World News Network, Choice Hotels, Coco Resorts, Counterpart Caribbean, Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, Half Moon, Harry Edwards Jewelers, Palm Haven Hotel, Royal St. Lucian, Ruder Finn, Sandals Resorts, Scotiabank, SpeakEasy MEDIA, St Lucia Golf Club Cap Estate St Lucia Ltd, St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association, St Lucia’s Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, St Lucia Tourist Board, Villa Beach Cottages, The Village Inn & Spa, and Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort & Spa.