Joseph B. Boschulte, president and chief executive officer of The West Indian Company Limited, has received a PATWA Gold Award for Best New CEO – Ports at the 2026 PATWA International Travel Awards, held during the recent ITB Berlin conference.

The honor recognizes leadership in the global travel and tourism industry. Boschulte accepted the award from PATWA Secretary General Yatan Ahluwalia and Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett during the ceremony in Berlin.

The awards are presented annually by the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA), an international travel media organization affiliated with UN Tourism.

Recognition for WICO Dock in St. Thomas

Boschulte was recognized for his leadership of WICO, the company that owns and operates the WICO Dock in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, a key gateway for cruise tourism in the territory.

During the same ceremony, the WICO Dock also received a PATWA Award for Best Port – Cruise Liners (Caribbean), highlighting its role in supporting cruise operations in the region.

WICO’s facilities handle a significant share of cruise arrivals to St. Thomas, one of the busiest cruise destinations in the Caribbean.

Strengthening the USVI Cruise Sector

Boschulte said the recognition reflects the work of the entire WICO team and its partners in strengthening the territory’s cruise infrastructure.

“I am truly honored to receive this recognition from PATWA and to be recognized among so many respected leaders in the global tourism and maritime community,” Boschulte said. “This award reflects the dedication and hard work of the entire WICO team, whose commitment, along with the support of our partners, continues to strengthen our position as a premier cruise destination in the Caribbean.”

WICO continues to play a central role in supporting cruise tourism in the U.S. Virgin Islands, helping facilitate millions of cruise passenger visits to the territory each year.

Presented at ITB Berlin

The PATWA International Travel Awards recognize destinations, governments, organizations and tourism leaders that have made significant contributions to the travel sector.

The 2026 ceremony took place March 4 at CityCube Berlin during ITB Berlin, one of the world’s largest travel industry gatherings, bringing together tourism officials, travel companies and media from around the globe.