More than 30 influential travel agents who excelled in promoting the destination, were this week, honoured by the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) as it hosted the 5th Global Piton Awards at Sandals Grande.
This annual event celebrates travel advisors and tour operators who achieved the prestigious distinction of top-producing room nights for the 2024 calendar year.
In partnership with Recommend Magazine and as part of the Saint Lucia Expert (SLEx) Programme, this year’s Global Piton Awards welcomed leading sellers from the United States (15), Canada (5), the United Kingdom (10), and the Caribbean (5).
On Tuesday, the event showcased notable figures from the hospitality sector, elegantly dressed in casual evening attire, with some embracing extravagant costumes.
Louis Lewis, SLTA’s Executive Director, emphasized that the top-performing agents reached significant milestones, enhancing their efforts to attract visitors to the island.
An SLTA spokesperson stated, “This event powerfully highlighted the island’s dynamic creative scene, with rising talents clearly ready to shine on a global platform.”
Local talent entertained guests with vibrant performances, including a steel pan player and a young dancer, setting the stage for a dynamic evening.
The ballroom at Sandals Grande buzzed with energy and cultural pride as guest performers showcased local artistry, featuring steelpan musicians, vocalists, dancers, and an enthusiastic deejay.
Guests enjoyed a memorable night that put Saint Lucian creativity front and center. The melodic voices of local singers melded beautifully with the precise rhythms of the steelpan, while captivating dance routines kept the audience engaged.
The deejay maintained high energy throughout the night, mixing in popular local songs that got everyone dancing.
During their stay from June 15 to 19, these ‘distinguished achievers’ fully engaged with the sights and sounds of Saint Lucia, experiencing firsthand what sets the island apart as a premier destination.
The top-performing partners were celebrated amidst lively local entertainment featuring reigning Carnival Queen Shen Lucien and soca artist Ezra D’Fun Machine.
The prestigious awards presented included:
– The Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence
– The Minister of Tourism’s Award for Excellence
– The SLTA’s Chairman Award for Excellence
Earlier this week, the 35 award-winning agents and their guests embarked on an exhilarating adventure dubbed “The Amazing Road Trip.”
They explored diverse communities and landmarks across the island, including a thrilling road race segment featuring Team Derek Walcott, Team Julien Alfred, and Team Daren Sammy, culminating in Team Daren Sammy being crowned the winners during Wednesday night’s festivities.
The journey was packed with excitement, from uncovering clues in Gros Islet to visiting schools in the northern region and Castries. They engaged with local life by utilizing public transportation and enjoying open-back jeep safaris. A culinary stop at Lucian Country Life allowed them to savor authentic Saint Lucian cuisine.
The day concluded with a scenic double-decker bus ride, offering breathtaking 360-degree views stretching from Pointe Seraphine to Pigeon Island.
A list of the award winners , were as follows:
All recipients received the following: an original Piton-inspired art piece courtesy of talented visual artist Garry St. Brice, based in Soufriere and a proud representative of Saint Lucia’s Creative Industries.
-The C.E.O Award recognizes exceptional sales performance by room nights, for the year 2024 in Canada
CEO Award – Kim Hartlen of Kim Hartlen Travel – Trevello
– The Chairman’s Award recognizes exceptional sales performance by room nights, for the year 2024 in the US
Chairman’s Award: Nancy Finn of Island Getaways
– earning the distinction for the most room nights sold from the US for 2024.
– Nancy Loves Saint Lucia so much. She returns frequently and mentions it constantly on television – She even named one of her dogs “Lucia .
– The Minister of Tourism Award for exceptional sales performance for The U.K & Ireland.
Due to the nature of this market, there are two categories- Retail for recognizing the top travel advisor and wholesale for Tour Operators.
Minister of Tourism Award
– Travel Advisor : Lianne Peters of Luxury Deals 4 U
For exceptional U.K & Ireland sales performance for 2024
– Tour Operator : Lai yap of Kenwood Travel
For exceptional U.K & Ireland sales performance for 2024
– Award of Merit for Excellence in Saint Lucia’s Social Media engagement in 2024 :
Linda Dancer of Honeymoons Inc.
Carlie Finch of 2 Travel Anywhere, LLC
– Prime Minister’s award for exceptional sales performance by revenue for Global sales
Georgiann Jaworskyj of Custom Travel Services Inc.
