An attractively-decorated DaVida Restaurant, and a scene of red attire worn by guests, provided an excellent setting for the 2016 awards ceremony held jointly by the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association and the Anguilla Tourist Board.
The gala event, on Friday, December 2, was the climax of Tourism Week which had as its theme: “Transforming our Tourism Industry for Success Through Partnership and Community Engagement”. It was a time when a number of persons involved or associated with tourism were awarded for outstanding performance during the year.
The main awards were as follows:
• Hotelier of the Year: Mr. Carl Irish who has been Manager at Altamer Resort for the past sixteen years.
• Supervisor of the Year: Ms. Ethel Duncan of CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa. (The other two nominees, Mr. Glen Poole and Mr. Glendon Carty, were presented with a gift certificate to attend short training courses at the UWI Open Campus or the Anguilla Community College).
• Employee of the Year: Mr. Terrence Rogers of Cap Juluca (while Ms. Davia Hodge of CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa received The Rising Star Award).
• Airport Employee of the Year: Mr. Curtis Gumbs.
• Seaport Employee of the Year: Ashim Brooks.
• Allied Member of the Year: Grands Vin de France.
• Business Solution Award: Malliouhana Hotel and Spa.
• Restaurant of the Year: Tokyo Bay at CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa.
• AHTA Tourism and Community Excellence Award: Mrs. Janine Edwards.
• Villa Management of the Year: Leviticus Lifestyle and Travel (Mr. Kenroy Herbert).
• Entertainer of the Year: Michael “Dumpa” Martin.
• Pioneers of the Year: Sir Emile Gumbs and the late Mrs. Mildred Hodge.
• Media Award of the Year: the late Waldama “Ras B” Brooks and the late Iwandai Gumbs.
Minister of Tourism, Mr. Victor Banks, commended all the workers in the hospitality industry, particularly those who won awards. He made special mention of former Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism, Sir Emile Gumbs, under whose visionary leadership – in the middle 1970s – tourism gained momentum in Anguilla resulting in the development of the industry today.
“It is important that we recognise quality service and professionalism of persons who have done well and distinguished Anguilla as a destination of great service and will continue to support our mission to making Anguilla a premier destination,” Mr. Banks stated. “I want to thank all those workers in the tourism industry, over the years, for maintaining that service whether it is in the top luxury resorts or in the other facilities on the island – restaurants, guesthouses and villas. We are here to celebrate this great occasion, and I am amazed at the transformation that has taken place in the quality of the adornment that accentuates this venue as well as the patrons in their splendid red.”
Vice President of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association, Mrs. Janine Edwards, said “in order to achieve continued growth in the tourism industry, there was a need to be open-minded in exploring our competitors’ best practices; pursue an intentional course of action; regroup our weak links; and then navigate the current marketplace.” She stated that this could be achieved by leveraging the tools and the value of partnership and community involvement.
She added: “Let’s make Anguilla a blue zone for a thriving tourism industry marked by health, strength and sustainability through embracing partnership and community.”
Chairperson of the Anguilla Tourist Board, Ms. Donna Banks, said the Board had recently started “a more aggressive community outreach programme to include the wider community, academics and governmental agencies as tourism is everybody’s business and no life is truly untouched by the industry.”
She continued: “I take this opportunity to thank you, our partners, who continue to support our efforts, and I make a commitment to a more efficient and effective Tourist Board with a staff and budget to better serve the industry. On behalf of the Board I encourage you to help us to help you.”
The award ceremony was well-attended by representatives of the various tourism properties and related services in Anguilla. They were all very appreciative of the work of the awardees who, in addition to their main presentations, were also the recipients of various monetary gifts, trips, and special treats by the sponsors.
Courtesy of Kieroy Browne & Deandre Richardson of additional photos
