Countdown to WTA Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony

It's the final countdown! World Travel Awards Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony is almost here.

Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa will welcome hospitality leaders from across the region on Saturday 16th September, as they gather to see who among them has been voted the pinnacle of the travel industry.

This will be the fifth time World Travel Awards has visited Turks & Caicos, following dazzling ceremonies at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa back in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2012.

The highly anticipated WTA Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony will kick off with a cocktail reception at 7pm while the gala ceremony and dinner commences at 8pm and will, this year, be compered by Anastagia Pierre.

An international model, actress and television host, Anastagia has graced the pages of esteemed publications such as Sports Illustrated and GQ and walked the catwalk for designers including Chloe, Roberto Cavalli and Herve Leger. Her television credits include co-hosting The Morning Show for NBC Miami, in addition to featuring on major television networks such as HBO, MTV and TLC.

Delegates attending World Travel Awards Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony 2017 will also be dazzled by a collection of island entertainment including the “We Funk” Junkanoo Group  delivering a traditional parade of masks, costumes and instruments led by Kitchener Penn - and a live sampling of  Beaches Turks and Caicos’ new cinematic entertainment series, Voilà, which will showcase excerpts from its Dolce Vita and Treasure Island.

Looking ahead to the glittering event, World Travel Awards President and Founder Graham Cooke, said: "It will be an absolute pleasure for us to return to Turks & Caicos for our annual Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony."

"We have had a long and fruitful relationship with Sandals Resorts International and I can think of no better partner for this event. I can't wait to welcome all of our nominees to Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa in just a couple of weeks."

Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, Gordon "Butch" Stewart, said: "We are delighted to once again play host to the World Travel Awards Caribbean & North American Gala and to welcome the region's hospitality stars to Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa."

Stewart continued: "It is an honour and privilege, especially during Beaches' 20th anniversary year, to celebrate this industry which brings joy to our guests and is so critical to the success and well-being of the Caribbean and its people."

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Each year, World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective success within each key geographical region.

World Travel Awards Gala Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media.

Notes to Editors

About World Travel Awards

World Travel Awards celebrates its 24th anniversary this year and is acknowledged across the globe as the ultimate travel accolade.

Attended by senior executives from major travel companies, operators, destinations, WTA events are universally respected as providing established, top level networking opportunities, regionally and globally.

The brand aims to celebrate those organisations who push the boundaries of industry excellence.