Caribbean and The Americas World Travel Awards set for Turks and Caicos

LONDON, England – The Caribbean’s most successful travel brands are set to be acknowledged at a red-carpet ceremony hosted by World Travel Awards (WTA) at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa on Friday, September 14, 2012.
Key categories to watch for at WTA’s Caribbean & The Americas Ceremony include “Caribbean’s Leading Hotel,” with Eden Rock (St Barts), Jumby Bay (Antigua), Half Moon (Jamaica), Parrot Cay (Turks & Caicos), and Sandy Lane (Barbados) among the hot contenders.

Jamaica will be hoping to follow the 2012 Olympics success of its incredible athletes as it goes head-to-head with the likes of the Bahamas, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Barts, and British Virgin Islands for the coveted title of “Caribbean’s Leading Destination.”

Hundreds of senior travel decision-makers from across the Caribbean and Americas are scheduled to attend the gala evening, which will include a gourmet dinner, top entertainment, as well as the presentation of the prestigious awards.
The evening will serve as a glittering spotlight for Turks & Caicos. The paradise nation is entering an exciting new chapter in its history, with tourism poised to play an even greater role in its economic evolution.

The WTA awards program, hailed as the “Oscars of the travel industry” by the global media, highlights and rewards those travel brands that have made the greatest contribution to the industry over the past year.

After a fierce round of voting featuring more than 1,000 organizations, the nominees have been whittled down to the elite few.

Graham E. Cooke, President and Founder, WTA, said: “Travel and tourism is the lifeblood of the Caribbean economy, and the sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience, given the challenges faced by the key source markets of Europe and North America. Our nominees represent those organizations that have made the greatest contribution to the performance of the Caribbean in the face of adversity, and I look forward to finding out which ones will make it on to the winner’s podium on September 14.”

Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Chairman of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts, is pleased to host this year’s World Travel Awards Caribbean and Americas Gala ceremony at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa.

“Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts strive to offer the best product and experience for our customers, and we are delighted to be in the company of those in the travel industry who share these values,” Stewart said, “We are thrilled to be in the Turks & Caicos islands showcasing our first-class services and amenities, which are key in creating luxury vacations.”

Ralph Higgs, Director of Tourism, Turks & Caicos Tourist Board, said: “The Turks and Caicos islands is an economy driven by tourism, and as the host country of these prestigious awards, we are delighted that our country, our people, and our culture will be on display for the world to see and enjoy. Our tourism product is one that is constantly evolving, and we are cognizant of our place in the market, which only makes us capable to soar to higher success. World Travel Awards honors excellence in the tourism industry around the world, but what it also highlights is new, emerging markets for investment opportunities, and the Turks and Caicos with its growing economy, welcomes all of the nominees from around the world.”

The Caribbean & The Americas Ceremony 2012 marks the second leg of WTA’s Grand Tour, a global search for the world’s leading travel brands, which also includes regional heats in Dubai, Singapore, and The Algarve. The winners of these legs will then go head-to-head at WTA’s Grand Final, which takes place at The Oberoi, Gurgaon, New Delhi, India, on December 12, 2012.