ANTIGUA & BARBUDA HOTELS & TOURISM ASSOCIATION

The Antigua & Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA) is elated to announce its nomination as one of the top three finalists in the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) under the category People Development, hosted by the Caribbean Hotels and Tourism Association (CHTA).

The nomination recognizes the ABHTA's Unveiling Hospitality Series within the People Development category. Sharing the spotlight with esteemed counterparts Half Moon, Jamaica, and Mount Cinnamon Resort & Beach Club, Grenada, the ABHTA is honored to be acknowledged.

The CHIEF Awards celebrate and commend best practices and exemplary initiatives within the Caribbean hospitality industry. This year's forum, taking place in Miami from November 29 to December 1, will feature dynamic discussions spanning several days, focusing on topics crucial to the growth and advancement of the industry.

Executive Director of the ABHTA, Patrice Simon, has been invited to participate as a panelist in the discussion titled “Building the Future Workforce: Strategies for Attracting, Engaging, and Retaining Top-Tier Tourism Professionals.”

Craig Marshall, Chairman of the ABHTA, expressed pride in the Association's nomination, stating, “It is already an honor to be recognized as a finalist in this category. The work of the Association over the past four months, following our Annual General Meeting, has been squarely focused on people development and building awareness of the diverse roles within the industry. Tourism is the lifeblood of the twin-island state, and we want the people of Antigua and Barbuda to feel the vibrancy of the sector and get excited about all the possibilities available in Tourism and Hospitality.”

Marshall added, “We have a lot of work to do to reignite the fire in the sector, but we are here and committed to working with our partners to put the plans and programs in place to see it happen.”

Expressing gratitude for the nomination, Patrice Simon, Executive Director of the ABHTA, said, “Preparing this series to be featured every week was indeed a labor of love for the team. We've met so many exciting individuals with a depth of knowledge and love for the industry. It has been a delight to see them gain the much-needed recognition for their years of service, and we hope that continuing with this series will inspire the next generation of hospitality professionals.”

Simon also extended her gratitude to the media and hospitality partners, including The Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union, The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, The Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation, and Investment, the Hospitality Training Institute, and Global Ports Holding. She also recognized the contribution of partners on the project, Love Media and GProductions.

Winners of the CHIEF Awards will be announced on Friday, December 1.