ANTIGUA & BARBUDA HOTELS & TOURISM ASSOCIATION

L - R - Refica Atwood Vernon A. Jeffers Sr Leon Edwards and Balynda A. Barnes

Thursday September 5, 2019, St. John’s Antigua and Barbuda: The AHTA is excited to announce the winners of its annual scholarships.  Three successful applicants – Balynda Barnes, Leon Edwards and Refica Attwood, have all been awarded EC$7,200 to complete their Associates Degree at the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute (ABHTI).

Balynda Barnes was elated to have been selected from the dozens of applicants and remarked that “she is committed to excellence and believes that customer service is an individual’s sure way to achieve a competitive advantage.”  Balynda’s counterpart Leon Edwards currently works in the Hospitality Industry with an unbroken twelve years at Sandals Grande Antigua.  He stated that “I am very passionate about achieving a better version of myself and I am also seeking to remain on the path to learn something new.” Refica Attwood is already very accomplished and passionate about Antigua and developing her community.  She noted that “As a small business owner, I have for many years focused on logging, hiking and have been a strong community activist in the John Hughes Community.”

Mr. Vernon A. Jeffers Sr, Chairman of the AHTA is proud to welcome Balynda, Leon and Refica to the prestigious list of AHTA Scholarship recipients.  He remarked that “this is our 10th batch of awardees and we are pleased every year to see the quality of the applicants and the passion they all hold for the industry. It is safe to say, the future of the Hospitality Industry is in good hands”.

The AHTA awards scholarships to the ABHTI are awarded annually.  Persons interested in being considered for 2020 are asked to contact the AHTA office at ahta@candw.ag or 462-0374/4928.