fp Turks and Caicos

The Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association has announced the nominees for its annual Star Awards that will take place Feb. 23 at the Veranda.

The Star Awards recognize and reward those who go above and beyond the call of duty in the hospitality industry in the TCI. Over the past couple of weeks, members of the TCHTA have been carefully selecting and nominating their employees and colleagues who they feel have earned the need for this special recognition.

“We are fortunate to have many incredibly talented individuals working in the hospitality industry here in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and this ceremony recognizes those persons and organizations that put extra heart and soul into their day-to-day jobs,” said Karen Whitt, president of the TCHTA.

“Rewarding those top performers who excel at what they do is important not only to the hospitality industry, but also key for continued improvement and growth for the tourism industry as a whole.”

The 2011 TCHTA Star Awards nominees are:

The Heart of Hospitality: Mario Campbell (Beaches); Augustine Pierre (Grace Bay Club); Charles Saintilma (Point Grace); Vanderlean Fulford (Meridian Club); Marilou Fernando (Regent Grand); Desta Lawrence (Regent Palms); Theodore Steplin (The Sands); Arnalda Beukenboom (Veranda); Pierre Jacques Jean (Windsong)

Employee of the Year: Evan Williams (Grace Bay Club); Rochelle Glinton (Ocean Club); Elanor Finfin Krzanowski (Beaches); Ducardo Delancy (Parrot Cay); Calvin Mariano (Regent Grand); Eulon Stubbs (Regent Palms); Tiersa Smith (The Sands); Madeline Rojas (Veranda); Celo Lightbourne (Villa Renaissance)

Ambassador of the Year: Alicia Barnett (Windsong); Lynco Williams (Villa Del Mar); Roselaure Forbes (The Sands); Alvin Glinton (Regent Palms); Synara Black (Regent Grand); Isheka Thomas (Point Grace); Shereen Williams (Villa Renaissance); Jackson Williams (Ocean Club); Koma Carter (Hemingway’s); Rochelle Johnson (Grace Bay Club); Carlton Salmon (Beaches)

Taxi Driver of the Year: Sherman Taylor, Nevile Clarke, Sam Dean, Ricky Lightbourne, Sanford “Nicky” Handfield, Ossie Virgil Sr.

Supervisor of the Year: TJ Francis Mesina (Regent Grand); Kevin Hinds (Point Grace); Vivienne Parker (Ocean Club); Ashlin Davis (Grace Bay Club); Craig Allen (Beaches); Richard Cameron (Regent Palms); Duval Phedre (The Sands); Kizzy Adderley (Veranda); Patrina Hamilton (Villa Del Mar)

Housekeeper of the Year: Audria Weir (Villa Renaissance); Sandra Eze (Villa Del Mar); Attamae Ewing (Veranda); Marie Lizette Severe (Tuscany); Martine Losis (The Sands); Julieta Ablaza (Regent Palms); Gil Barres (Regent Grand); Esther Delancy (Meridian Club); Hazlin Grimmond (Royal West Indies); Sharon Fagan (Beaches); Alexandra Andrege (Grace Bay Club)

TCHTA’s Shining Star Award: Pierre Beswick (Hartling Group); Dr. Carlton Mills (Veranda); Jason Scott (Beaches); Koma Carter (Hemingway’s); Terry Drummey (Hemingway’s); Paul Slattery (HAB Investments); Charles Lerenard (Windsong)

Manager of the Year: Angella Tyson (Grace Bay Club); Koma Carter (Hemingway’s); Surrinder “Lucy” Khalon (Beaches); Clover Harvey (Ocean Club); Lisa Hall (Parrot Cay); Rosemary Jolly (Royal West Indies); Eric Vernice (Regent Palms); Raymond Yip (The Sands); Deleria Simms (Veranda); Tendra Musgrove (Villa Del Mar); Lester Junior Carter (Villa Renaissance)

Bartender of the Year: Andrew Rodney (Beaches); Garth Brown (Grace Bay Club); Lewis Missick (Meridian Club); David Williams (Regent Grand); David Campbell (Regent Palms); Bentley Garland (Villa Renaissance); Alicia Barnott (Windsong)

Chef of the Year: Eric Vernice (Regent Palms); Alix Siampha (Hemingway’s); Rose Barton (Grace Bay Club); Colin Watson (Beaches); George Walker (Veranda); Stuart Gray (Coco Bistro)

Entertainer of the Year: Julien Garland, David Bowen, Barbara Johnson, Quinton Dean
Allied Member of the Year: Providenciales Chamber of Commerce, Gilleys Enterprises, Christine Morden (Paradise Photography), Meryl Cooper (Spa Tropique), Val Kallechiaran (Wired Island/T&C Reservations)

Hotelier of the Year: Karen Whitt (Regent Palms); Beverly Williams (Point Grace); Tom Lewis (Ocean Club); Donald Dagenais (Beaches); Pierre Beswick (Hartling Group); Thierry Grandsire (Grace Bay Club); Lester Junior Carter (Villa Renaissance)

Hotel of the Year: The Veranda; Villa Del Mar, Grace Bay Club, Regent Palms, Villa Renaissance, The Meridian Club, Royal West Indies; Beaches

Restaurant of the Year: Anacaona (Grace Bay Club), Parallel23 (Regent Palms), Sky Lounge (Veranda), Le Petite Chateau (Beaches)

For more information about this event, or for the purchase of tickets, contact the TCHTA at 941-5787 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .