World Travel Awards celebrates in Caribbean and Americas

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos – The leading travel brands from across the Caribbean and the Americas have shared top honors at a World Travel Awards ceremony hosted at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa on September 14, 2012.

A packed delegation of VIPs, senior tourism figures, and international media traveled from more than 30 nations to attend WTA’s Caribbean & The Americas Ceremony 2012, which was supported by Turks & Caicos Tourist Board and Scotiabank.

It was an evening of travel triumph for nations across the Caribbean. St. Lucia won the coveted title of “Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination,” Coco Reef Resort (Tobago) picked up “Caribbean’s Leading Hotel.” while Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island (British Virgin Islands) was voted “Caribbean Leading Private Island.”

Buccament Bay Spa & Resort (St. Vincent) nudged ahead of The Hotel Chocolat (St. Lucia), Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro (Dominican Republic), The Magdalena Grand Beach Resort (Tobago). and Cofresi Palm Beach & Spa Resort (Dominican Republic) to win “Caribbean’s Leading New Hotel.”

Jamaica’s continuing rise up the global tourism order was acknowledged after it was named “Caribbean’s Leading Destination.”

In North America, Las Vegas saw off competition from New York, Miami, San Francisco, Montreal, and Vancouver to win the coveted title of “North America’s Leading Destination.” New York won the “North America’s Leading City Break Destination” title, while American Airlines was voted “North America’s Leading Airline.”

Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) was voted “South America’s Leading Destination,” ahead of the likes of Easter Island (Chile), Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), and Machu Picchu (Peru).

Cancun (Mexico) came in ahead of Bay Islands (Honduras), San Jose (Costa Rica), Los Cabos (Mexico), and Granada (Nicaragua) to win the coveted title of “Mexico & Central America’s Leading Destination.” Copa Airlines was named “Mexico & Central America’s Leading Airline.”

The WTA awards program, hailed as the “Oscars of the travel industry” by the global media, highlights and rewards those travel brands that have made the greatest contribution to the industry over the past year.

Graham E. Cooke, President & Founder, WTA, underlined the depth and quality of the travel and tourism sector across the Caribbean and the Americas.

He says: “Our winners are also drawn from the breadth of the Caribbean and the Americas, reflecting the strength and depth of the travel and tourism sector in the regions. I am sure these organizations will fare strongly in our Grand Final, which takes place in New Delhi, India on December 12, 2012.”

“The ceremony has also served as a glittering spotlight for Turks & Caicos – a paradise nation that has welcomed a record number of tourist visitors over the past year. This is testament to its overwhelming natural attractions, its luxury hospitality facilities and its rich local heritage.”

Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, said: “We are honored to receive the highest number of awards in Sandals Resorts’ history. We always strive for excellence, and continue to invest in our product so that each year we can be proud to say we are the Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand.”

Ralph Higgs, Director of Tourism, Turks & Caicos Tourist Board, said: “The Turks & Caicos Islands Tourist Board congratulates the winners and the nominees for this year’s World Travel Awards. With another 30 nations represented at these awards, we hope that each of you will take a piece of our islands home with you, etched in your memory forever. Congratulations again and we do hope to see you here in the future as we celebrate and acknowledge the brightest and best in the global hospitality industry.”

Rising Caribbean star and the reigning Miss Bahamas, Anastagia Pierre, hosted the show with American actor and comedian, Walt Willey. Some of the Caribbean’s finest vocalists, including Shawn Campbell and Elroy Simmons, performed to the packed audience.

Other WTA Grand Tour 2012 regional heats include Dubai (UAE), Algarve (Portugal), and Singapore. The winners of these legs will go head-to-head in WTA’s Grand Final, which takes place at The Oberoi, Gurgaon on December 12, 2012.