Antigua and Barbuda celebrated the success of a record-breaking year in Tourism by hosting the inaugural annual Black Pineapple Awards Ceremony in New York on Wednesday, December 4th. The Black Pineapple Awards – eponymous to the Black Pineapple that is only found in Antigua – were created solely to honor the partners, tour operators, resorts, travel agents and media, who have diligently and tirelessly worked to promote Antigua and Barbuda. The Black Pineapple Awards, held at Sarabeth’s Park Avenue South, was hosted by the US Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) led by Director of Tourism, Dean Fenton and special guest, ABTA CEO, Colin C. James. The evening celebrated 40 partners who played a key role in helping the twin-island nation reach record-breaking numbers of visitors in 2019.
ABTA CEO, Colin C. James shared the importance of the awards, “I am incredibly proud of the record-breaking tourism arrivals Antigua and Barbuda have seen this past year – none of which would be possible without our incredible partners across the industry. We have been lucky enough to see consecutive years of tourism growth, and our vision is continue this growth and become the premiere destination not just in the Caribbean but in the world. We know we will only achieve this with the help of our partners and friends. The Black Pineapple Awards offer us a unique opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to everyone and celebrate our wins together.”
With over 150 attendees at the invite-only Awards, guests were treated to celebratory cocktails and dinner, with live music and dancing as entertainment. In addition, guests were provided hand massages and private consultations from Aveda Spa sponsored by Antigua’s Sugar Ridge Resort, which features the only Aveda Spa in the Caribbean. Guests left with gift bags carrying Aveda products, Antigua and Barbuda branded gifts, and the opportunity to be awarded a $1,000 social media campaign prize from ABTA’s business partner: Sugar Mill Estate. Every guest left talking about Antigua and Barbuda, armed with further information of why the twin islands are the hottest destination of the Caribbean.
Dean Fenton, ABTA US Director of Tourism, explained why the team launched the annual awards, saying “The tremendous achievements Antigua and Barbuda has seen would not be possible without the support of our partners who represent the highest standard of excellence in the travel industry. The bonds between our islands and travel partners empowers us to grow stronger – both in the US market and abroad. The Black Pineapple Awards allow us to express how grateful we are to awardees and guests for their tireless dedication and work in positively promoting our twin-island nation. We are excited about ending the year on a strong note and look forward to beginning the new decade on an even higher one.”
Ndị mmeri: Lynn Miller – AAA, Iris Citron – Alice Travel, Linda Clark – Alice Travel, Mary Delello – All About Travel, Amy Hiles – All Inclusive Outlet, Lynn Minard – Altour, Roberta Diaz – Apple Leisure Group, Tom Nero & Team – Avenue Travel, Dawn Anderson – Beaches And Beyond Travel, Anna Wells – Blue Waters, Gary Randall – Blue Waters, Robert Papkin – Bob’s Ultimate Travel, Mandy Cameron – Carlisle Bay, Carolyn Waffle – Carolyn Waffle Certified Travel, Feona Bailey – Catamaran Resort & Spa, Verna Hartlove – Charm City Travel, Kandi Edelstein – CI Travel American Express, Lilliana Musmanno – Classic Vacations, Andrew Michellin – Cocos Hotel, Patricia Cooney – Concierge Travel, Robert Sherman – Curtain Bluff, Wendy Eardley – Curtain Bluff, Brianna Kastukevich – Custom Travel, Michelle Thurston – Destinations Weddings Travel, Mark Hennigan – Dreamers Travel, Rod Hinds – Elite Island Resorts, Sherrie Ault – Elite Island Resorts, Susan Hammond – Endless Travel, Kerri Brewster – Escapes Unlimited, Ted Friedli & Team – Excel Travel, Susan Jeske – Finding Paradise With Sue & Travel Wize, Lindsey Taylor – Flight Centre Travel Group, Carol Rice – Frosch Mann Travels, Lian Alston – Generation Al Travel, Heather Travis – Globe Getaways, Natalie Faggianelli – Gramatan Travel, Donna Borrelli – Hamden Travel, Andy Thesen – Hermitage Bay, Karen Bull – Hermitage Bay, Andrea Wolter – Intoxicating Travel Group, Jodi Lubin – Island Destinations, Kim Sheer-Goldstein – Journey’s Inc., Beth Mollo – Largay Travel, Bill Lynch – Largay Travel, Molly Sumption – Molly’s Caribbean, Jill Smith – Moonlight Travel, Ian Fraser – Nonsuch Bay Resort & Spa, Jim Marino – Oyster Bay Travel, Annie Davis – Palm Beach Travel/Altour, Alison Turner – Powell Travel And Tours, Vivian Gringer – Power Travel, Katherine Schweiger – Prestige Travel Group, Kimberly Jacoby – Romantics Travel, Ruby Stanfield & Team – Rubys Travel, Elisabeth “Lili” Richter – Saddle River Travel Service, Alice Mccalla – Sandals, Gen Edwards – Sharp Travel Int’l, Janet Haber – Simplicity Travel, Debbie Ryan – Springhouse Travel, Roseann Freeman – Spring House Travel, Vernon Jeffers – Sugar Ridge Resort & Spa, Susan Peavey – Susan Peavey Travel, Rufus Gobat – Tamarind Hills Resort & Spa, Heather Coyle – The Journey Group, Sally Jane – Smith & Team- The Travel Smiths, Susan Coulton – Travel Dreams Unlimited, Cookie Carney – Travel Experts, Heather Howard DiPietro – Travel Sales Group, Paula McCarty- Travel Smart With Paula, Marianna Darie – Traveling With Marianna, Leslie Kepplinger – Trips Ahoy, Karen Cavadas – Twinsburg Travel & Cruise, Howard Kaplin – Tzell Travel, Marilyn Pires – Tzell Travel, Barry Posner – Ultimate Vacations & Honeymoons, Lila Nicholas – Uniglobe Travel, Jennifer Doncsecz & Team – Vacations By VIP, Jacqueline Cort-Thomas – Villas At Sunset Lane, Brenda Oneale – With This Ring Destination, Devin Joseph – Yacht Club.
Antigua (pronounced An-tee’ga) and Barbuda (Bar-byew’da) is located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. Voted the World Travel Awards 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 Ebe kacha amasị Caribbean, Paradaịs ejima-agwaetiti ahụ na-enye ndị ọbịa ahụmahụ abụọ pụrụ iche pụrụ iche, okpomọkụ dị mma n'afọ niile, akụkọ ihe mere eme bara ụba, ọdịbendị na-adọrọ adọrọ, njem nlegharị anya na-akpali akpali, ebe ntụrụndụ na-emeri, nri ọnụ na 365 ọmarịcha osimiri pink na ọcha na-acha ọcha - otu maka ụbọchị ọ bụla nke afọ. Nke kasị ukwuu na agwaetiti Leeward, Antigua nwere 108-square kilomita nwere akụkọ ihe mere eme bara ụba na ọdịdị ọdịdị dị egwu nke na-enye ohere nlegharị anya dị iche iche. Nelson's Dockyard, naanị ihe atụ fọdụrụ nke ebe mgbake Georgian nke saịtị UNESCO World Heritage depụtara, bụ ikekwe akara ala ama ama. Kalenda mmemme njem nlegharị anya nke Antigua gụnyere izu Antigua Sailing a ma ama, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, na Ememme Antigua Carnival kwa afọ; mara dị ka Caribbean's Greatest Summer Festival. Barbuda, agwaetiti nta nke Antigua, bụ ebe nzuzo kacha ewu ewu. Agwaetiti ahụ dị kilomita 27 n'ebe ugwu-ọwụwa anyanwụ nke Antigua ma ọ bụ naanị ụgbọ elu nkeji iri na ise ga-apụ. A maara Barbuda maka obosara ya dị kilomita 15 a na-emetughị aka nke osimiri aja pink yana ebe obibi nke ebe nsọ nnụnụ Frigate kasị ukwuu na Western Hemisphere. Chọta ozi na Antigua & Barbuda na: www.visitantiguabarbuda.com ma ọ bụ soro anyị na Twitter. http://twitter.com/antiguabarbuda Facebook www.facebook.com/antiguabarbuda; Instagram: www.instagram.com/AntiguaandBarbuda
ABTA Director of Tourism, Dean Fenton, Anna Wells from Antigua’s Blue Waters Resort & Spa and ABTA CEO, Colin C. James
The Black Pineapple Awards
Guests at Antigua & Barbuda’s inaugural Black Pineapple Awards
Antigua & Barbuda branding at the Black Pineapple Awards
IHE Ị GA-Ewepụ na edemede a:
- The Black Pineapple Awards – eponymous to the Black Pineapple that is only found in Antigua – were created solely to honor the partners, tour operators, resorts, travel agents and media, who have diligently and tirelessly worked to promote Antigua and Barbuda.
- Dean Fenton, ABTA US Director of Tourism, explained why the team launched the annual awards, saying “The tremendous achievements Antigua and Barbuda has seen would not be possible without the support of our partners who represent the highest standard of excellence in the travel industry.
- We are excited about ending the year on a strong note and look forward to beginning the new decade on an even higher one.
