Caribbean travel industry celebrates at World Travel Awards in Bahamas

The red carpet evening, hosted at Sandals® Royal Bahamian, marked the opening leg of the WTA Grand Tour 2020 – an annual search for the finest travel and tourism organisations in the world.

Winners on the night included the paradise island of St. Lucia, which fended off stiff competition to emerge as ‘Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination’, whilst Turks & Caicos was voted ‘Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination’. Jamaica emerged a multiple winner, picking up trophies for ‘Caribbean’s Leading Destination’, ‘Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination’ and ‘Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board’.

Guests at the gala event enjoyed entertainment from acclaimed Bahamian artists including Alia Coley and Partice Murrell. The evening took place on the eve of the 38th edition of Caribbean Travel Marketplace.

Graham Cooke, Founder, WTA, said: “What an incredible evening it has been here at the magnificent Sandals Royal Bahamian to mark the opening of our 27th annual Grand Tour. We have had the privilege of recognising the Caribbean’s leading destinations, hotels, resorts, airlines and travel providers and my congratulations to each of our winners.”

In the hospitality sector, winners included Jamaica’s Round Hill Hotel & Villas (‘Caribbean’s Leading Villa Resort’); Beaches Turks & Caicos (‘Caribbean’s Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort’); Coco Reef Resort & Spa, Tobago (‘Caribbean’s Leading Hotel’); and GoldenEye (‘Caribbean’s Leading Boutique Resort’). The relentless drive to innovate helped Sandals to lift the title of ‘Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand’. The secluded sanctuary Amanera in Dominican Republic was heralded ‘Caribbean’s Leading Beach Resort’.

Bahamian winners included Atlantis, Paradise Island, which claimed the title of ‘Caribbean’s Leading Casino Resort’ and The Bahamas was named ‘Caribbean’s Leading Luxury Island Destination’.

Newcomers included the hideaway retreat of Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski Dominica (‘Caribbean’s Leading New Resort’) and AC Hotel Kingston, Jamaica (‘Caribbean’s Leading New Hotel’).

In the aviation sector, Bahamasair was named ‘Caribbean’s Leading Airline’, whilst Sangster International Airport, Jamaica walked away with ‘Caribbean’s Leading Airport’. Events on the WTA Grand Tour 2020 include Antalya (Turkey), Seoul (South Korea), Nairobi (Kenya), Thompson Okanagan, British Columbia (Canada) and Dubai (UAE), with the winners progressing to the Grand Final in Moscow (Russia) on 27th November.