Bush collects world travel gongs for Cayman in TCI
(CNS): The Cayman islands won three gongs earlier this month at the regional round of this year’s world travel awards held in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Cayman scooped the ‘Caribbean’s Leading Dive Destination’, while the Grand Cayman Beach Suites won ‘Cayman’s leading Hotel’ and the Ritz Carlton the ‘Caribbean’s leading Hotel Residences’. Premier McKeeva Bush was there in person, along with Shomari Scott, the director of tourism, to collect the trophies at the ceremony. “In these austere times the tourism industry has had to make tough decisions, rethink the way we do business and work harder and smarter to ensure we provide our visitors with exceptional value,” Bush stated at the glitzy event.
“Receiving awards such as these positively validates those efforts, underscoring that our collective vision and strategy is on the right track. I wholeheartedly commend and applaud our tourism industry partners for their accomplishments on behalf of their organisations and the Cayman Islands tourism product.”
Echoing the premier’s sentiments, Scott said he was delighted to have attended the WTA and proud that Cayman was on display as a winner.
The WTA awards programme, 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.
Across the region 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”.
WTA president Graham Cooke underlined the depth and quality of the traveland tourism sector across the Caribbean region. “Our winners are also drawn from the breadth of the Caribbean & the Americans and reflecting the strength and depth of the region’s travel and tourism sector. “I am sure these organisations will fare strongly in our Grand Final, which takes place in New Delhi, India on December 12.”
Category: Local News
The only gong Mac should get is from Chuck Barris.
A little off topic but I was just reading that President Obama earns US$400,000.00 per year while our "precious" premier (salary & pension) is almost equivalent to what the president of over 318 million ppl earns monthly? This is so damn ludicrous for OBAMA who is a Harvard graduate verses our premier who didn't finish high school to earn almost the same $$$.
Yes and to add insult to injury – our Premier doesn't have an education nor common sense so we got stuck with a double whammy!
"The Cayman islands won three gongs earlier this month……"
But one of them apparently for best Cayman hotel? Kind of a banker, that one.
It's a shame that idiot goes to collect them in person. It's immature in the extreme to want to bask in the glory of something that clearly has nothing whatsoever to do with you or anything you have done.
I must say a big thank you to all those folks in the tourism industry that toil day in and day out to make these islands what they are today a place that folks want to revisit year after year.Having said all this its a crying shame that behind the scenes more of our delicate environment is being destroyed daily but one never even hears of any good things being said at these so called glamour functions that will give us any hope that a new Conservation law is on the horizon.Mr Bush we can only go to the well so many times before it dries up so tread carefully and do something to protect what is not YOURS to destroy.I have dedicated my whole life (in Cayman)to supporting conservation AND developement but hand in hand only not destroy one for the sake of the other and I will close this out by asking you "on a scale of 1-10 how important is our environment to our Tourism product"??!!!
It is no surprise that "Bush collects world travel gongs" because of the amount of travelling he has done. The massive amount of travelling he has completed since becoming premier is astounding (no wonder our country is broke). This amount of travelling "deserves gongs" because it has to be some kind of record (however, a record not to be proud of).
I thought he was getting a gong for the most airmiles accumulated in a term in office!!
He deserves one!!
Look out Richard Branson!!!! Soon West Bay will be the "Caribbean Leading Private Island"!!!!
My advance apology to those respectable citizens of West Bay. My family roots are from that district which is just unfortunate unough to share origin with those of Mc Shredder!!!
This is part of the problem. He thinks he is receiving these awards. That's why he goes to collect them in person. He believes that the Cayman Islands is his business.
'Bush collects' a huge paycheck and two pensions that he doesn't earn as well.
Nothing screams “hick out of his depth” than wearing a winged collar to a black tie event. It looks suspiciously like an attached winged collar at that. Heaven help us, but I also think he was wearing a ready tied bowtie. Such errors are acceptable on prom night in rural Nebraska, but they are not acceptable when representing nation at an international event.
Which is why I insist on office parties being black tie. My view is if a new recruit turns up with a winged collar you can mark them as “Not For Promotion” without ever having to think about it again.
As a "Mc" why wasn't he wearing a kilt?
Please don't insult Scots. I need a mind bleach now 🙂
Don't give this guy any new ideas. Before you know it, he will have a stylist on his staff too!
Well while he's gadding about, It would be a good idea. Perhaps a stylist could also drag Elio out of the 1980's, and get Julianna out of those housedresses.
I'm surprised that a stylst isn't already on the Government's payroll – everything else seems to be!
I always assumed Elio was moonlighting in a Cameo tribute band as that was the only possible reason for the haircut.
If someone looks like a hIck, talks like a hick, dresses like a hick, then the chances are . . .
Come on – even we don't make that mistake in rural Nebraska. It looks silly, and the sows don't like it.
Isn't there a protocal officer in constant attendance?
Notice the detailing on the velvet shawl collar. Ghastly, but reminiscent of Liberace.
That Vegas look is part of his swag. Go figure.
Just like Lberace…this Buffoon is also laughing…all the wayto the bank.
You could not look more nouveau if you tried.
Over half the LA sport a pubescent moustache: that look is >30 years out of date.
With that look it is like they are all waiting for auditions for Tales Of The City.
When I see headline I think bush be gettin gongs for the world traveling he be doing.
Is there a category for premiers with the most travels?