Stingray awards honour tourism industry
Lifetime Achievement Award winner Nancy Easterbrook at the ceremony
(CNS Local Life): The Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) held its 15th annual Stingray Tourism Awards on 17 July, recognising Nancy Easterbrook with a lifetime achievement honour for her contributions to the local dive industry. Other awards presented on the night included rising star, as well as manager and employee of the year in various tourism categories.
In a video presentation at the awards, Easterbrook said, “I was blessed to be a part of a Cayman family and a worldwide family of divers. I met so many people who are just incredible, who shared knowledge, adventures and guided and supported me over the years. It is them, my amazing staff and my incredible loving family that I must thank for this honour. I would not be here being it not for all of them.”
Andrew Ebanks, of Islandlife Watersports, received the Rising Star Award for Excellence which is given to a younger entrant to the industry. “Winning such a prestigious award…gives me such a sense of accomplishment and I have to admit that the best and rewarding part about it is just being a nominee … with all the people cheering and supporting me along the way,” Ebanks said.
William Chisholm from Cayman Turtle Centre, received the Employee of the Year award for the allied/attractions category. He thanked his coworkers and added his goal was to educate people about conservation so they could change something in their day-to-day lives, such as “something as simple as switching to reusable bags when they go shopping”.
Crystal Marshall of Seven at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman won Restaurant Manager of the Year Award. “I’m very lucky to be surrounded by an amazing team of outstanding individuals and to be able to what I do every day on the platform that the Ritz-Carlton provides,” she said.
CITA also recognised individuals outside of the standard award categories. The association has recently committed to partnering with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service to help member businesses learn to protect property and ensure personal safety. Officer Jonathan Kern was acknowledged for his work on this initiative. Officer Fabian Connor was also recognised for “bringing smiles to visitors” while promoting safety for people in the George Town/waterfront area.
The winners of the 2018 Cayman Stingray Tourism Awards:
Accommodations
Manager – Trudy Veers – Cayman Brac Beach Resort
Employee – Adriana Airinei – The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Allied/Attractions
Manager – Ned Jerris Miller – Cayman Turtle Centre
Employee – William Chisholm – Cayman Turtle Centre
Restaurant
Manager – Crystal Marshall – The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Employee – Denise Solomon – Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort
Watersports
Manager – Sharon Maher – Reef Divers Ltd
Employee – Daniel Dixon – Go Pro & Seasports Diving
Diamond Award: Garfield Ebanks –Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort
Rising Star: Andrew Ebanks – Islandlife Watersports
Lifetime Achievement Award: Nancy Easterbrook – Divetech
Category: Tourism
