With coral reefs across the Caribbean increasingly threatened by climate change, overfishing, and coastal development, the region’s tourism industry is stepping up its environmental leadership. The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), through its Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) and in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, hosted a special webinar to honor the winners of the inaugural Caribbean Coral Reef Tourism Stewardship Awards and officially launch the Best Practices Brief for reef-focused tourism.

During the virtual event, award-winning organizations presented their conservation models and shared best practices featured in the Brief—an actionable guide for tourism stakeholders to engage in meaningful coral reef protection.

A Toolkit for Sustainable Tourism Operators

The Best Practices Brief showcases three distinct and successful reef stewardship initiatives led by tourism businesses. It provides guidance for hotels, dive centers, and tour operators to work collaboratively with communities, NGOs, and public agencies to preserve marine ecosystems.

Examples include coral gardening, habitat mapping, local fisher engagement, and guest-centered conservation experiences—all demonstrating that environmental protection can also drive social and economic value.

Honoring Leaders in Coral Conservation

The 2025 winners of the Caribbean Coral Reef Tourism Stewardship Awards are:

First Place: Aquanauts Grenada
This SSI dive center has turned the invasive lionfish problem into a force for good through Lionfish Bites & Beats, mixing entertainment, culinary events, and environmental education. Their youth scholarship program trains local divers and promotes marine awareness.

Second Place: Jamaica Inn Foundation, Ocho Rios
Co-creator of the White River Fish Sanctuary, a 370-acre protected marine zone, the Foundation has fostered community-driven reef restoration, increasing fish biomass fivefold and supporting scientific research and education.

Third Place: Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Jamaica
The Reef Garden Initiative applies coral propagation techniques, involves fishers as reef stewards, and integrates conservation into the guest experience, demonstrating how luxury tourism can align with sustainability.

Sustainability as a Shared Commitment

“This is about more than preserving coral,” said Karolin Troubetzkoy, Acting Chair of CAST. “It’s about protecting our heritage, our investments, and our communities. These winners prove what’s possible when sustainability becomes a collective effort.”