TCHTA Relaunches Young Leaders Forum, Inducts New Cohort of Emerging Industry Professionals
TCHTA Relaunches Young Leaders Forum, Inducts New Cohort of Emerging Industry Professionals
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – April 28, 2026 – The Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) has officially relaunched its Young Leaders Forum (YLF), marking a renewed commitment to developing the next generation of leaders within the country’s tourism and hospitality sector.
The relaunch was commemorated with an induction ceremony held at The Blue Haven Resort, Turks and Caicos, where a new cohort of young professionals was formally welcomed into the 2026 – 2028 program.
Designed as a leadership development initiative, the Young Leaders Forum brings together a select group of professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are currently in supervisory, management, or leadership-track roles within the industry. Over the course of two years, participants will engage in structured mentorship, targeted leadership development, industry exposure, and peer collaboration, all aimed at supporting their progression into senior leadership positions.
The programme reflects a strengthened local commitment to leadership development while maintaining alignment with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Young Leaders Forum, connecting participants to a wider regional network of emerging industry leaders. As part of the induction, the cohort received a special video message from CHTA President Sanovnik Destang, reinforcing the importance of regional collaboration and leadership across the Caribbean.
Omega Simmons, TCHTA Board Director, Co-Chair of the People Development Committee, and President of the Young Leaders Forum, who played a key role in shaping and driving the programme’s relaunch, noted that the relaunch represents a significant step forward in building industry connection and continuity.
“As the original cohort, we are proud to support the next group of young leaders as they begin their journey. This programme is about more than individual development – it is about intentionally building a connected and capable leadership pipeline for our industry, strengthening relationships locally while expanding opportunities for engagement across the region.”
Speaking at the ceremony, TCHTA President James McAnally emphasized the importance of investing in human capital as a pillar of industry sustainability. He encouraged the inductees to take an active role in their own development, challenging them to remain curious, resilient, and disciplined.
“The most valuable asset we have is our people – those in this room and those we continue to develop for the future. Ask questions. Be courageous. Be persistent and the results will come. Continue to educate, motivate those around you, and be intentional in your work. Growth requires consistency and action.”
TCHTA CEO Stacy Cox shared reflections on her own journey through the industry, highlighting the role that mentorship has played throughout her career – from being mentored in her early years to now serving as a mentor to others.
“Mentorship is one of the most powerful tools we have in developing people. This programme creates the space for growth, exposure, and connection, and it is an opportunity for these young professionals to take ownership of their development and their future within the industry.”
The induction ceremony also featured remarks from the Honourable Jamell Robinson, Deputy Premier and Minister of Immigration and Border Services, who served as Guest Speaker and underscored the importance of fostering the next generation of senior leadership in the country’s tourism industry as an integral part of national development.
Honourable Robinson charged the inductees to recognize that the next level of tourism development in the Turks and Caicos Islands will require their bold ideas, sound decision-making, and willingness to rise to the occasion.
The group was individually recognised and pinned by members of the original Young Leaders Forum cohort, along with Ms. Stacey-Ann Wharton, TCHTA Vice President and Chair of the People Development Committee, symbolizing the continuation and strengthening of the program.
Following the ceremony, the new cohort participated in a special edition of ‘Staysee’s Corner’, an informal roundtable session hosted by TCHTA CEO Stacy Cox alongside Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Zhavargo Jolly, where participants engaged in open dialogue, asking questions and gaining insight into industry growth, leadership, and the evolving tourism landscape.
Participants will undergo individual professional assessments to define their development pathways and inform mentorship pairings. They will also engage in national initiatives such as tourism clubs and youth-focused programmes, allowing them to both receive guidance and contribute to the development of future talent.
With its relaunch, the TCHTA Young Leaders Forum aims to strengthen the leadership pipeline within the Turks and Caicos Islands and reinforce the industry’s long-term resilience through investment in its people.
ENDS
About the Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA)
The Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association represents a wide range of members from resorts and villas to insurance companies and financial service providers, watersports operators, catering outlets, taxi drivers, artisans, and sundry tourism service providers. The Association aims to assist organisations through networking opportunities, training, promotional activities, and representation at all levels of decision-making in the Turks and Caicos Islands and the region. Through involvement and cooperation with our tourism partners, the TCHTA is dedicated to the achievement of sustainable growth in tourism for the benefit of its members and the wider community, while protecting and enhancing the unique character and environment of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
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