January 5, 2026

Happy New Year from Team MPE

From strategy sessions to final deliverables, 2025 marked a year of meaningful transformation for Marketplace Excellence. We deepened partnerships, sharpened ideas into action, and delivered work that helped brands and destinations tell their stories with clarity and purpose. We are grateful to every client and collaborator who trusted us with their vision and invited us to be part of their journey. As we look ahead, 2026 promises to be even more impactful. Happy New Year from the MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter!

FCCA Platinum Cruise Summit sets sail

Marie McKenzie, FCCA Operations Committee chair and Carnival Corporation & plc senior vice president, discusses cruise tourism during last January’s PAMAC Cruise Summit aboard MSC Divina

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Platinum Cruise Summit gets underway today, bringing together cruise executives and Platinum Members for a week of high-level engagement aboard Carnival Glory. 

Departing from Port Canaveral near Orlando, the voyage features curated networking, strategic meetings and industry discussions while calling at Celebration Key and Nassau, Bahamas.

Designed to foster direct dialogue and collaboration between destination partners and cruise leaders, the Platinum Cruise remains a cornerstone of FCCA’s efforts to strengthen relationships, advance shared priorities and support sustainable tourism growth across Caribbean and Latin American destinations.

Dance, discipline and distinction: CMEx honors Carole Alexis

Click fHERE or video

We continue our spotlight on the 2025 Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx)laureates, who were celebrated in Miami last month.

The event was an exceptional experience, shining a well-deserved light on the crème de la crème of Caribbean excellence.

Today, we present remarks from Carole Alexis of Martinique, an internationally acclaimed choreographer, director, pedagogue and Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (France).

At just 13 years old in her native Martinique, Alexis was commissioned to choreograph for the Festival de Fort-de-France, working with a company of professional dancers. In 2011, she founded Ballet des Amériques, a professional dance company and ballet conservatory whose work is regularly presented across the greater New York City area, as well as on national and international stages.

Having lived and trained in Martinique, Brittany, Senegal and Paris, Alexis has developed a distinctive choreographic écriture that explores themes of music, nature, history and human interaction.

St. Kitts and Nevis takes the helm of CARICOM

Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister, St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Kitts and Nevis has formally assumed the chairmanship of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), with Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew pledging calm leadership, deeper solidarity and renewed commitment to regional integration as the Caribbean enters a new year. In his address to the Community, Drew said he assumes the role “with optimism and a deep dedication to the ideals of our regional integration movement,” while acknowledging the “sterling leadership” of outgoing chairman Dr. Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, who guided the region through a period of significant turbulence. Emphasizing that regional integration is not optional but essential, Drew pointed to mounting global uncertainty and challenges facing Caribbean states, noting: “Recent international developments, including geopolitical tensions in our region and external policy decisions affecting Caribbean nationals, remind us of a fundamental truth: None will come to save us. We must save ourselves.”  He reaffirmed CARICOM’s founding purpose of collective strength, cooperation and shared destiny, while calling for stronger coordination, clearer purpose and deeper solidarity. Looking ahead, Drew announced that St. Kitts and Nevis will host the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government from February 24 to 27, 2026, inviting leaders to advance priority issues and the welfare of the region. Over the weekend, CARICOM was engaged in consultations following developments in Venezuela, calling for peaceful dialogue through diplomatic channels to support stability, good governance, democracy and prosperity for the people of Venezuela. The Bureau of Heads of Government said it is closely monitoring the evolving situation to ensure the safety and security of regional citizens and to assess potential implications for economic activity within the Community, particularly air travel.

Quotable Caribbean

“My mouth shall be the mouth of those calamities that have no mouth, my voice the freedom of those who collapse in the dungeon of despair.” — Aimé Césaire, Martinican poet, playwright and politician

Tink Bout It

“The stone which the builders refused has become the head stone of the corner.” — Psalm 118:22

Medical Moment

Understanding Chronic Constipation and Digestive Health

As the new year gets underway, it’s an opportune time to revisit the importance of Constipation Awareness Month, observed each December by the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD). The observance shone a light on chronic constipation, its impact on daily life and practical ways to manage it effectively.

Constipation is a common digestive condition often characterized by:

• Fewer than three bowel movements per week
• Hard, dry or lumpy stools
• Difficulty or pain when passing stool
• A feeling of incomplete evacuation

If left untreated, chronic constipation can lead to ongoing discomfort, pain and other complications. Beyond the physical effects, it may also contribute to emotional distress, anxiety and a reduced quality of life.

The good news is that simple lifestyle changes — such as staying well hydrated, eating a fiber-rich diet and exercising regularly — can significantly improve digestive health and overall well-being.

Here’s to a healthier year ahead, supported by awareness, prevention and better digestive well-being.

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

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