Melissa Noel to host SOTIC 2026 in Guyana

Melissa Noel will host the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s 2026 State of the Tourism Industry Conference in Guyana from Oct. 5-9, marking the first time the country has staged the event. The conference will spotlight tourism’s future, with a focus on sustainability, innovation and inclusive growth.

Why it matters: - Guyana will host SOTIC for the first time, putting the country at the center of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s top industry forum. - The conference is designed to shape regional tourism policy and strategy around sustainability, competitiveness and the next generation of tourism leaders. - Melissa Noel’s role adds a high-profile media figure with Guyanese heritage to a major Caribbean tourism event.

What happened: - Guyanese-American journalist, producer and media executive Melissa Noel will host SOTIC 2026 in Guyana from Oct. 5-9. - Noel will guide delegates through five days of programming under the theme “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive.” - The Caribbean Tourism Organization said Noel will help create an experience that is informative, dynamic and rooted in the culture of the host destination.

The details: - Noel is the founder and chief content officer of Mel&N Media Group, a culture-driven media and production company. - Her company works with cultural institutions, travel brands and international organizations on narrative strategy, live experiences and platforms connecting culture and commerce. - Noel has more than 15 years of experience across news, media and entertainment. - Her career includes on-air correspondent roles with One Caribbean Television and CBS Puerto Rico, plus reporting and production work with NBC News and ABC News. - Noel most recently served as senior news and travel editor at ESSENCE, where she led coverage of race, culture, identity and travel for a global Black audience. - Noel was named CTO Diaspora Journalist of the Year in 2024 and 2025. - Noel is also a Pulitzer Center grantee and an Ethel Payne International Reporting Fellow. - Noel is a summa cum laude graduate of Howard University with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and a master’s degree in journalism from the City University of New York. - CTO said SOTIC is its principal forum for tourism ministers, commissioners and directors, private-sector executives, regional and international partners, academics, media, young people and other stakeholders. - The 2026 program will emphasize data, tourism intelligence, innovation, emerging technology, climate resilience, regenerative tourism, destination competitiveness, inclusive growth and young tourism leaders. - CTO business meetings will run Oct. 5-6. - The main SOTIC conference will take place Oct. 7-8, with the Regional Tourism Youth Congress on Oct. 8. - Destination Media Briefings will close the week on Oct. 9. - SOTIC 2026 is supported by official conference partners Amadeus and the Inter-American Development Bank, plus sponsor groups including ASM Global Route Development, the Association of Value Airlines, Carnival Corporation and interCaribbean Airways. - More information and registration are available at SOTIC 2026.

Between the lines: - Noel’s selection pairs the conference’s tourism policy focus with a host who has deep experience covering culture, identity and travel. - The agenda points to a Caribbean tourism sector trying to balance growth with climate risk, technology shifts and broader participation. - Guyana’s first time hosting SOTIC signals the country’s rising profile in regional tourism discussions.

What's next: - Delegates will gather in Guyana in early October 2026 for business meetings, the main conference and youth programming. - CTO will use the event to advance regional conversations on sustainable tourism and destination development. - Guyana will showcase its culture, communities and visitor experiences to regional and international stakeholders.