CHTA Awards Praise the Very Best of the Caribbean Tourism

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Awards were presented today at the 40th edition of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace, currently being held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

On this occasion, the awards were divided into 3 categories: the CHIEFS Awards, which recognize quality and development in the Caribbean tourism sector (there were 45 nominations from 18 different countries), the Caribbean Hotelier of the Year, which recognizes the best hotel entrepreneur of the year in the Caribbean, and the Caribbean Destination Resilience Award, aimed at rewarding initiatives to keep tourism projects alive. 

Within these CHIEFS Awards, in the sales and marketing subcategory, the award went to the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort in Aruba, in recognition of its work in relation to its social networks and to maintaining its staff despite financial difficulties. The award in the business operations subcategory went to Landings Resorts & Spa, in St. Lucia, who retained their 80 workers despite being out of business and have been able to redesign their menus to combat food shortages. 

Half Moon Hotel's sustainable initiatives were recognized in the environmental sustainability category, thanks mainly to projects related to promoting farm-to-table agriculture and a major recycling campaign at the resort. Finally, the Human Resources subcategory awarded Grace Bay Car Rentals, who maintained 50% of their employees' salaries during the loss stages, and retained all their staff after the pandemic. 

This Caribbean Destination award was organized in two subcategories: small destinations and large destinations. The former went to the island of Grenada. The second went to Aruba. 

The last of the awards was the Caribbean Hotelier of the Year, presented to Kevin Hendrickson, in recognition of his work over the years at the helm of The Courtleigh Hotel Group.