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2007 Tourism Gala and Awards - Top Class
Event
PRESS RELEASE from
the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association and Anguilla
Tourist Board: Posted December 4th, 2007
Zurra Restaurant, Temenos Golf Clubhouse, West End,
Anguilla: Tourism Professionals are recognized at
Anguilla’s most glittering event…..Stephane Zaharia, General
Manager of Cuisinart Resort and Spa is this years “Hotelier
of the Year”….
Described by one guest as ‘a landmark event in Anguilla’s
tourism history’ the Tourism Gala and Awards, held at Zurra
Restaurant on Friday 30th November was a top class event
featuring a televised ‘Oscar style’ awards ceremony,
wonderful food in a glorious setting, fine wines and the
biggest door prize draw ever seen in Anguilla.
The venue spectacularly dressed and lit by the staff of
Zurra and talented Black Orchid Florists hosted 180 tourism
professionals – all dressed to the nines - truly was a
reflection of Anguillas uniquely up market tourism product.
The guests were photographed and filmed as they arrived on
the Red Carpet. They enjoyed a cocktail reception courtesy
of headline sponsor National Bank of Anguilla before being
escorted to their seats by the ‘Diamond International
Girls’. Each table was named after a different Anguilla
Beach and graphics for the tables were produced by local
Artist, Joanne Mason. Once seated the guests were able to
watch video footage of their arrival on the red carpet
whilst enjoying their first courses. Denise and Rocklyn
Maynard of Professional Photographers produced the live
video footage of the arrivals and filmed the awards ceremony
which was shown on multiple screens around the venue
creating an ‘Oscar like’ feeling – a first for Anguilla.
Fine wines were provided by Robert Mondavi by their agent,
Les Grands Vins de France, Diamonds International provided a
gift box for each guest and Boss provided music before,
during and after the ceremony.
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The ceremony
commenced with an Invocation delivered by Chris Richardson,
followed by a speech of introduction from the Hon Donna
Banks, Special Advisor Tourism and then E Val Banks, CEO of
National Bank of Anguilla – the headline sponsor - welcomed
guests.
Amelia Vanterpool Kubisch, Director of Tourism Anguilla
Tourist Board and Trudy Nixon, Executive Director Anguilla
Hotel and Tourism then took over to host the actual awards
ceremony. The fast moving awards ceremony honored tourism
professionals across a number of categories and the
excitement of the crowd was palpable as most of the awardees
were unaware that they would be honored that night.
The 2007 Anguilla Tourism Awards were awarded as follows:
Pioneer Awards, sponsored by Caribbean Commercial Bank
• Sue and Robin Ricketts
• George Hodge
Ports Employees of the Year, sponsored by First Caribbean
International Bank
• Marie Harrigan, Seaport Employee of the Year
• Glen Boothe, Airport Employee of the Year
Allied Member of the Year, sponsored by Cap Juluca
• Anne and Peter Parles, Straw Hat Restaurant
Employee of the Year, sponsored by the National Bank of
Anguilla
Nominated: Travis Simpson, Golf Operations – Temenos and
Arnold Hunt, Ku
• Winner: Altagracia Ramirez, Cap Juluca
Supervisor of the Year, sponsored by the National Bank of
Anguilla
Nominated: Delbert Simpson, CuisinArt Resort and Spa and
Darlene Hodge, Rendezvous Bay Hotel
• Winner: Norwell Proctor, Cap Juluca
Special Commendation for Services to Tourism:
• Sylvene Petty
The Awards presentation culminated with a champagne toast as
Trudy Nixon read out the commendation for 2007 Hotelier of
the Year, sponsored by Scotia Bank Anguilla Ltd. The winner
was:
• Stephane Zaharia, CuisinArt Resort and Spa
“Stephane Zaharia is a new General Manager in Anguilla yet
he is already recognized for his community spirit and
involvement in the professional tourism arena. Cuisinart has
worked with the Anguilla Tourist Board and the AHTA on a
number of great marketing initiatives that have brought huge
expose to Anguilla generally”.
The announcement of Mr Zaharhia's success in receiving the
coveted trophy was greeted with a huge round of applause
from his colleagues in the tourism industry.
Also during the evening, Trudy Nixon and Gilda Gumbs Samuel,
Events Manager at the AHTA entertained the crowd with the
hugely enjoyable ‘Door Prize Draw’. Nearly 40 fantastic
gifts had been donated by members of the AHTA and other
businesses and the atmosphere was electric as lucky winners
came up to pick their prize. Prizes included hotel and villa
stays, restaurant vouchers, gift vouchers, flights, spa
treatments, golf lessons and the ‘star’ prize – a 3carat
diamond and gold tennis bracelet from Diamonds
International.
The evening drew to a close as Bob and Melinda Blanchard
introduced their ‘family’ of staff from Zurra and
Blanchard’s who had worked together to provide exemplary
service and delicious food for the Guests. Amelia Vanterpool
Kubisch then thanked all the sponsors, guests, organizers
and everyone who had been involved in the undoubted success
of the evening. The evening ended with guests dancing to
Boss and it was a wonderful end to an excellent event to see
“Teacher’ George Hodge, a Pioneer Award Winner, dancing
elegantly with his lovely wife.
The Tourism Gala is the final event of Tourism Week, which
takes place every year during the last week of November.
Tourism Week is organized by the Ministry of Tourism, The
Anguilla Tourist Board and the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism
Association.
