Tourism’s finest lauded

by GERCINE CARTEROutgoing president of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), Wayne  Capaldi, was hailed as “a person who is very, very passionate about tourism . . . is passionate about Barbados, and the development of Barbados”.Such were the accolades heaped on Capaldi when he presided over his final President’s Awards Gala ceremony at the Concorde Experience on  Saturday night.Executive director of the BHTA, Sue Springer, said Capaldi, himself a hotelier, had been “truly dedicated to every single day of his presidency”.“He is not frightened about dealing with any issue and standing up sometimes against the odds and making his voice heard on behalf  of the association,”  Springer told  the large gathering drawn from throughout the tourism sector.Delivering the welcome address, Capaldi said the annual event  was important, “as it gives us the opportunity to pay tribute to the individuals and the businesses that set the benchmarks which lead and innovate in an industry  that I understand is vulnerable  to rapid change and development”.Fourteen awards were presented in 13 categories, with each recipient carrying off a one-of-a-kind piece  of artwork created by Medford Mahogany Creations.Dover Beach Hotel was the winner in the Hotel Of The Year:  B Class and Apartments; Crane Resort was selected Hotel Of The Year: A Class, and Little Arches Hotel won Hotel Of The Year, Luxury Class.Also in winners’ row were Mangos by the Sea, Restaurant Of The Year; Debra Jackman of the Mango Bay Hotel, who was given the Special Commendation Award; Turtle Beach Resort Beach ambassador Maradona Scantlebury, Outstanding Industry Employee of the Year; and publishers Keith and Sally Miller, recipients of the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.On a night when the tourism industry rewarded its own, there was sumptuous cocktail style dining, captivating performances by  Kareen Clarke and Willie Kerr,  and dancing to the music of a  DJ way into the night.