Tourism industry honoured at awards ceremony

(CNS Local Life): The Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) hosted the 14th annual Cayman Stingray Tourism Awards on 20 June 2017, with longtime dive operator Peter Milburn taking home the Lifetime Achievement Award. Held to recognise and honour people working in the hospitality and tourism industries in the Cayman Islands, the event acknowledged a selection of individuals from all sectors of Cayman’s tourism – accommodations, allied, attractions and transportation, restaurants and watersports.

Members of the government attending the ceremony included Minister for Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure Joey Hew; Councillor for Tourism David Wight; and Director of Tourism Rosa Harris.

Co-hosting the event were Gaetan Babin of the Wyndham Reef Resort, and former Miss Cayman Islands Monyque Brooks, who is a marketing officer with the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism.

Babin, who is also a CITA executive board director, noted that many attendees called the event the “Oscars of the Cayman Islands” and added, “Watching each nominee walk up on the stage, receive their certificate in front of all the tourism industry leaders and government officials, with all the cheers and clapping, made all of our efforts worthwhile.”

Hew presented divemaster Milburn with his lifetime award. Milburn has worked more than 52 years in the tourism industry; a short video on his accomplishments was also screened.

Keith Sahm, general manager of Sunset House/Sunset Divers, who took home the Diamond Award, said he was “totally shocked” when his name was called. “It was just an honour to be standing next to these longstanding tourism folks that have given up to 30 years of their lives.”

With the highest number of nominees in the history of this initiative, almost 65 people were given certificates celebrating their nomination, with winners presented with a glass stingray.

India Narcisse-Elliot, chief marketing officer at the Cayman Turtle Centre, who earned the Rising Star Award, said, “Cayman’s tourism industry is at a pivotal point across the globe and to be recognised as a contributor to that, to me is an award in itself. This award is a symbol to young Caymanians starting out that no matter what industry job or level you are at, give it your all, your actions count.”

Below are the other winners of the 2017 Cayman Stingray Tourism Awards:

Accommodations
Manager: Jennifer Mills, Southern Cross Club
Employee: Vergene Senior, Sunshine Suites

Allied
Manager: Geddes Hislop, Cayman Turtle Centre
Employee: Jagdeo Narayan, Qualscape

Restaurants
Manager: Steve Griffon, Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort (Anchor & Den)
Employee: Amba Lamb, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman (Seven)

Watersports
Manager: Penny Williams, Red Sail Sports
Employee: Orland Thomas, Red Sail Sports

Tags: Cayman Islands Tourism Association, Cayman Stingray Tourism Awards, Featured

Category: Tourism