The Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourist Association (ABHTA) says it is
pleased about its nomination as one of the top three finalists in the Caribbean
Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), under the category People
Development, hosted by the Caribbean Hotels and Tourism Association (CHTA).
In a media statement, the ABHTA is honored to be acknowledged as the
nomination recognizes the ABHTA’s Unveiling Hospitality Series within the
People Development category. It shares the spotlight with esteemed counterparts
Half Moon, Jamaica, and Mount Cinnamon Resort Beach Club, Grenada.
The CHIEF Awards celebrate and commend best practices and exemplary
initiatives within the Caribbean hospitality industry. This year’s forum, taking
place in Miami from November 29 to December 1, will feature dynamic
discussions spanning several days, focusing on topics crucial to the growth and
advancement of the industry.
Executive Director of the ABHTA, Patrice Simon, has been invited to participate
as a panelist in the discussion titled “Building the Future Workforce: Strategies for
Attracting, Engaging, and Retaining Top-Tier Tourism Professionals.”
Craig Marshall, Chairman of the ABHTA, expressed pride in the Association’s
nomination, stating, “It is already an honor to be recognized as a finalist in this
category. The work of the Association over the past four months, following our
Annual General Meeting, has been squarely focused on people development and
building awareness of the diverse roles within the industry. Tourism is the
lifeblood of the twin-island state, and we want the people of Antigua and Barbuda
to feel the vibrancy of the sector and get excited about all the possibilities available
in Tourism and Hospitality.”
Marshall added, “We have a lot of work to do to reignite the fire in the sector, but
we are here and committed to working with our partners to put the plans and
programs in place to see it happen.”
Expressing gratitude for the nomination, Simon said, “Preparing this series to be
featured every week was indeed a labor of love for the team. We’ve met so many
exciting individuals with a depth of knowledge and love for the industry. It has
been a delight to see them gain the much-needed recognition for their years of
service, and we hope that continuing with this series will inspire the next
generation of hospitality professionals.”
Simon also extended her gratitude to the media and hospitality partners, including
The Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union, The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism
Authority, The Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation, and
Investment, the Hospitality Training Institute, and Global Ports Holding. She also
recognized the contribution of partners on the project, Love Media and
GProductions.
Winners of the CHIEF Awards will be announced on Friday, December 1.
