Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2007

12 December 2007 – Turks & Caicos

Grand Final

Show

Between the supremely clear aquamarine expanse of sea and the six luscious pools, you will have absolutely no problem cooling off after hours basking in the golden sunshine. And, in the midst of all this natural splendor, the elegant pleasures of the Old World await you in the form of the French Village. Stroll through manicured lawns and formal gardens reminiscent of Versailles. Stop into an authentic bistro for a taste of Paris you won't soon forget. Or simply marvel at the wrought iron embellishments and spectacular lines of buildings you could swear have been transported miraculously from another continent entirely. Dive into the pure essence of the isles. Explore the mysterious allure of the Gallic spirit. At Beaches Turks & Caicos, these two influences mingle together to produce a heady and intoxicating experience.

The French Village

The 2007 World Travel Awards Gala Ceremony will be taking place in the glorious surroundings of the French Village located inside Beaches Resort.

Beaches Turks & Caicos pairs the best of two opposite worlds as the sun warmed spirit of the tropics, with the sophisticated style of Paris. The outcome is an elaborate fantasy where elegant formal gardens lead past charming sidewalk bistros, and a magnificent pool invites you to immerse yourself within it. Only at Beaches Turks & Caicos partners such perfect opposites to achieve a one-of-a-kind reverie. C'est tra magnifique!

www.beaches.com

We are pleased to be working with the following artists and presenters to make this a dazzing evening of entertainment:

Todd Newton

Host

Todd Newton

Todd Newton is best known to television audiences around the world for bringing viewers to star-studded events with his work on E! Entertainment Television. For more than a decade, Todd provided an all-access pass to red-carpet events, movie premieres, behind-the-scenes of television shows and celebrity interviews.

Ashford & Simpson

Special Musical Guest Stars

Ashford Simpson

The duo essentially had two careers: one as a successful writing and producing team and the other as singers and performers themselves. They started their career in the 1960s, writing for artists such as Ray Charles ("Let's Go Get Stoned" and "'I Don't Need No Doctor"),1966 The Fifth Dimension ("California Soul") and Aretha Franklin ("Cry Like A Baby"). Joining the Motown staff in 1967, they wrote and/or produced all but one of the late 1960s singles Marvin Gaye recorded with Tammi Terrell, including hits such as the original version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Your Precious Love", and "You're All I Need to Get By". Other Motown artists that Ashford & Simpson worked with included Diana Ross ("Reach Out & Touch (Somebody's Hand)," "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Remember Me," "Surrender" LP, "The Boss" and "It's My House"); Gladys Knight & The Pips ("Didn't You Know You'd Have To Cry Sometime, "The Landlord", "Bourgie, Bourgie," "Taste Of Bitter Love"); Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, ("Who's Gonna Take The Blame"); The Marvelettes ("Destination:Anywhere") and The Dynamic Superiors ("Shoe, Shoe Shine"). Other artists they had hits with include Teddy Pendergrass ("Is It Still Good To You") Brothers Johnson ("Ride-O-Rocket") and Chaka Khan, both on her own ("I'm Every Woman" and "Clouds," ) and with Rufus ("Keep It Comin" and "Ain't Nothin' But A Maybe" ). In 1980, they were featured as vocalists, along with Chaka Khan on the huge hit "Stuff Like That" from Quincy Jones' album of the same title and contributed to the writing of the soundtrack to The Wiz. In 1995, Method Man and Mary J. Blige had a hit with a medley of "I'll Be There For You" and "You're All I Need To Get By."

Jennifer Finnegan

Jennifer Finnegan

Jennifer Finnigan has starred on many primetime television shows including NBC'S CROSSING JORDAN and COMMITTED as well as the daytime drama THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, for which she won 3 consecutive Emmy awards. She most recently starred in the popular and highly rated Jerry Bruckheimer legal drama CLOSE TO HOME on CBS. She hails from Montreal, Canada.

Jonathan Silverman

Jonathan Silverman

Jonathan Silverman has appeared in over 40 films, 3 Broadway plays and has starred in several primetime television series. His film credits include the cult comedy hit WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S as well as BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, BROADWAY BOUND, STEALING HOME, THE INSPECTORS, DEACONS FOR DEFENSE and the recently released LAURA SMILES and COFFEE DATE. He had his own top ten television series THE SINGLE GUY on NBC and last season starred on the ABC sitcom IN CASE OF EMERGENCY alongside David Arquette. Jonathan is newly and very happily married to the beautiful and talented Jennifer Finnigan.

Adrienne Janic

Adrienne Janic

Adrienne Janic, was born and raised in Whittier , CA. To ethnically diverse parents. Her mother is from Mexico and her father is from Serbia. That made for some fantastic family dinners! After graduating high school, Adrienne attented Rio Hondo Community College in Whittier, CA, attaining a degree in communications and theater. During that time Adrienne competed in the Ford Supermodel of the World contest. She made it to the semi-finals in the local division and was also signed to the FORD modeling agency in Los Angeles. She has worked on several movies and TV commercials. She also has numerous TV credits including roles in Vegas, HOUSE, Kitchen Confidential, Complete Savages, Oliver Beene, The Jaime Kennedy Experiment, and Angel. Before joining Overhaulin', Adrienne hosted several shows on E! Entertainment and landed the role as host of a pilot called The Music Café. She also works as a spokes-person for the Coca-Cola company representing Fanta soda. After pranking unsuspecting victims on season 3 of Overhaulin?, Adrienne was asked to join the team as Co-host. Adrienne currently lives in Los Angeles and is excited to be part of the Overhaulin' team.

Eva La Rue

Eva La Rue

Eva La Rue is one of the stars of the number one most watched TV show in the world CSI: MIAMI. She stars as Natalia Boa Vista, a DNA Lab Specialist turned CSI with a knack for grant writing. TV Guide says, "Natalia Boa Vista may be the sexiest federal grant writer television has ever had." Watch for La Rue in the upcoming film, LAKEVIEW TERRACE opposite Samuel L. Jackson. Currently La Rue is the new national spokeswoman for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition's "Break the Silence" campaign to encourage women to start talking about ovarian cancer with their families, friends and doctors. Recently La Rue was a Co-Host for E! Style Network's MODERN GIRLS GUIDE TO LIFE and this past year she starred in the Lifetime movie CRIES IN THE DARK. This movie had the highest ratings for a pre-sold movie in the Network's history. In 2004-2005, this busy actress had a recurring role as George's sister on ABC's THE GEORGE LOPEZ SHOW and she served as a Correspondent and part time weekend Anchor for TV's EXTRA!. In 2005, La Rue was awarded an esteemed Gracie Allen Award by the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television. She was also nominated for a 2004 Daytime Emmy (her 2nd nomination) for Best Original Song for her, "Dance Again With You". Her previous portrayal of Dr. Maria Santos on the ABC daytime drama ALL MY CHILDREN, earned her a first Emmy and NAACP Nomination and won her two ALMAs for Outstanding Actress in a daytime drama. Her most recent ALMA was received in 2006. La Rue has won the hearts of both prime-time and daytime audiences with her natural charisma and animated personality. TV Guide referred to La Rue as "...a movie queen ripe for the picking...Beneath her exotic,erotic exterior is a deeply touching star-spangled wholesomeness." La Rue's other television credits include a previous recurring guest starring role on NBC'S THIRD WATCH. La Rue also recurred on Showtime's hit series SOUL FOOD and she dazzled us in her leading role as Carmen in the UPN sitcom, HEAD OVER HEALS. La Rue also starred in Danielle Steel's REMEMBRANCE an NBC movie of the week. She then went on to play Annette Funicello in the highly rated ABC movie of the week, A DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES: THE ANNETTE FUNICELLO STORY. She also guest starred on the situation comedy, HOPE & FAITH. On the New York stage, La Rue starred in a production of WOMEN OF 9. She gained a great deal of recognition as the host of the NEW CANDID CAMERA with Dom DeLuise which lead her to host THE MISS AMERICA PAGEANT and the Lifetime special, WEDDINGS OF A LIFETIME. La Rue currently enjoys spending time with her daughter, Kaya. She enjoys gardening and decorating and basically anything that Kaya wants to try. Of all the success La Rue has had in Hollywood, Kaya is the production in which Eva La Rue is most proud!

Melora Hardin

Melora Hardin

Melora Hardin was a working actress for 30 years before her recurring role as Jan on NBC's cult hit, 'The Office' (2004- ) finally cemented her name and face for posterity. Hardin was born in Houston, TX and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Throughout the nineties, she maintained an impressive schedule as a working actress - steady appearances on shows like 'Quantum Leap' (NBC, 1989-1993) and 'Caroline in the City' (NBC, 1995-99) and several juicy, memorable character moments like getting Ross to talk dirty on 'Friends' (NBC, 1994-2004). With her intelligence and easy sophistication starting to play more of a factor in what was offered to her, Hardin seemed to evolve into different types of roles when she hit her thirties. In 2000, she began appearing on the gritty USA drama, 'Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family' (USA, 2000-01). Several other smart, adult women characters followed on 'Boston Legal' (ABC, 2004- ) and 'Judging Amy' (CBS, 1999-2005) and in 1997 Clint Eastwood cast her in the pivotal role of Christy Sullivan opposite Gene Hackman in 'Absolute Power'. In 2004, she began to be seen on the critical fave 'Monk', playing wife to investigator (Tony Shaloub) however a pilot she had filmed earlier called 'The Office' based on the famed British series of the same name plucked her away from that with it's sudden and highly touted success. For the first time, audiences were able to appreciate the depth of her versatility on a weekly basis. Her portrayal of no-nonsense boss and occasional sex object, Jan Levinson, was an enormous hit with viewers - many who debated on fan message boards whether she and her subordinate manager, Michael Scott (Steve Carell) should 'hook up'. In fact that coupling became so beloved they were voted favorite 'Office' twosome. And most dysfunctional. Being part of an award-winning cast opened new doors for Hardin, who appeared in the Golden Globe winning film 'Thank You for Smoking' (2006) and made her first feature film entiltled 'You' which is a harrowing tale of love and loss, filled with heart; funny and life-affirming. Part of the genuineness of the movie comes from the fact that it is truly a family affair. Her father, established character actor Jerry Hardin ('The Firm', 'Reds', 'The Milagro Beanfield War'.) and her mother, originally an actress turned child acting coach behind young stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Hilary Swank, Kellie Martin, and River Phoenix, were persuaded by her daughter to return to acting to play a role in 'You'. Also, her husband, Gildart Jackson, wrote and acts in it and both her daughters, Rory and Piper, play pivotal small roles. It is set to play at film festivals in 2008 for a theatrical release later in that year. At the end of what has been a huge year for her, 2007 and the beginning of 2008 Hardin will star in a one-woman singing event of her own at the Cinegrill in Los Angeles. 'At the Water Cooler' will be directed by Richard Jay Alexander, a goliath in the world of musical theater who himself recently directed one of Melora's heroes, Barbara Streisand, in her latest European tour.

Jervon Laporte

Jervon Laporte

Jervon, a native of the Turks & Caicos Islands, developed a keen interest in music during his high school years. In 2004 he founded a one man band 'Sounds of Sax' and began performing on a professional level. His music is predominantly jazz, but also offers a variety of other flavors such as R&B, Soul, Reggae, Classical, and Calypso. He has provided musical entertainment for locally hosted events such as: The World Travel Awards, Ernst & Young cocktail party, Crime Stoppers Banquet and the 'Making Waves' reception hosted by the Turks & Caicos Government at the Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan, New York. His most recent performance was at the 2007 Turks & Caicos Music & Cultural Festival where he opened the stage for the legendary Air Supply. Jervon attributes his success firstly to God, secondly to his parents for allowing him the opportunity to pursue music as an extra curricular activity and finally his wife and daughter for being a constant source of strength and inspiration.

Rodney Laney

Rodney Laney

Born and raised in Paterson New Jersey, Rodney has always been a comedian. Even as a toddler, he would entertain at family gatherings, most of the time against his will. Years of therapy have helped him recover from these traumatic times. Thanks to Rodney's school years, school administrators decided corporal punishment was no longer necessary in the school system; they now want capital punishment! Laney's comedy career started capriciously in 1988. While in the Air Force, stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton Ohio, he accompanied a fellow airman, an amateur comic, to a comedy club. His friend bombed, but Rod took the stage and received thunderous applause. It was instant addiction; for Rodney it was the stage, for his friend it was crack cocaine. For the next decade, he performed at open mikes, private parties, and wherever he got the chance. His professional career began in 1997. He commenced performing in clubs and colleges from New York to California. He was featured at Chris Tucker's Comedy Club in Atlanta, during the Urban Comedy Festival "Laffapalooza" and Judy Carter's comedy showcase in Big Bear California. He mostly appears in NYC, at the Gotham Comedy Club, Broadway Comedy Club, Caroline's and Dangerfield's. Most recently, Rodney has completed pilots for Comedy Central, MTV, A&E and has been seen on P.Diddy's "Bad Boys of Comedy" on HBO, Fox News Channel's "Red Eye," "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," CBS, Comedy Central's "Premium Blend," and in London on the BBC's "The World Stand's Up." He has also appeared at the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. Determination may be Rodney Laney's biggest asset; according to his credit report, his only asset. He is ambitious, professional, and determined. I could go on and on about me, I mean him, but I have reached the end of the page.

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