ANTIGUA & BARBUDA HOTELS & TOURISM ASSOCIATION

The Antigua & Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association proudly announces That Winsia West, Food & Beverage Supervisor, at Blue Waters Resort & Spa, has been selected to represent Antigua and Barbuda in the prestigious Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Young Leaders Forum (YLF), Class of 2026. Winsia joins an elite group of 27 candidates from across the Caribbean, including representatives from Barbados, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, The Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos.

The selection committee, comprised of esteemed industry professionals such as Sanovnik Destang, CHTA’s President-Elect and Executive Director of Bay Gardens Resorts; Paul Collymore, CEO of The Landings Resort and Spa; Laudra Maurille-Willie, Assistant Human Resource Manager at The Landings Resort and Spa; Anice O’Neil, Commercial Director at Bay Gardens Resorts; and Vanessa Ledesma, CHTA’s Acting CEO and Director General, rigorously evaluated each candidate to ensure the highest standards of excellence.

Upon being notified of her selection, Winsia West expressed her gratitude and pride: “I am greatly honoured. I was not really expecting this, but the honest truth is that I am honoured. I am grateful and proud. The only Antiguan – that’s a big thing. And I will say that without my team and the great leaders here who I look up to, I know I will be able to do this. It is an honour.”

About the Young Leaders Forum (YLF)

The YLF program aims to equip emerging leaders with the skills and knowledge to excel in the rapidly evolving hospitality and tourism industry. The curriculum covers key areas including Emotional Intelligence, Leading a Merging Workforce, Employee Experience Enhancement, Hospitality Forward (integrating technology within the industry), AI and Leadership, Process Optimization and Digitization, and strategies for developing team proficiency in digital tools and technologies.

A structured mentorship program pairs participants with iconic industry leaders, providing invaluable insights, guidance, and support. This initiative fosters a culture of continuous learning and development, preparing young leaders for the dynamic nature of the hospitality industry.

Class of 2026

The distinguished Class of 2026 includes:

• Winsia West, Food & Beverage Supervisor, Blue Waters Resort & Spa, Antigua
• Ketrina Abraham, Account Executive, Barefoot Holidays, St. Lucia
• Stacey-Ann Albert, Human Resource and Operations Manager, Sailrock South Caicos, Turks and Caicos
• Matthew Barnett, Rooms Care Manager, Sea Breeze Beach House, Barbados
• Joy Bernard, Learning and Development Manager, Sandals Ochi, Jamaica
• Ashley Boxill-Rivers, Corporate Services & Marketing Manager, Barefoot Holidays, St. Lucia
• Layvern Daniel, Reservations Manager, Sailrock South Caicos, Turks and Caicos
• Pauline Francis, Marketing Manager, Bay Gardens Resorts, St. Lucia
• Rhea-Michelle Isaac, Social Media and Sales Specialist, Sea Spray Cruises, St. Lucia
• Knishnal James, Reservations Manager, Bay Gardens Resorts, St. Lucia
• Jewell Johnson, Reservations & Operations Manager, Caribbean World, Jamaica
• Erin Joseph, Rooms Division Manager, Bay Gardens Hotel & Inn, St. Lucia
• Emeka Le Riche, Learning & Development Manager, Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort & Spa, St. Lucia
• Juliette Laurore, Customer Service Supervisor, WINAIR, St. Maarten
• Deneka Linton, Reservations/Operations Supervisor, Caribbean World, Jamaica
• Tessalee Moore, Special Projects Manager, Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, Barbados
• Aisha Murrell, Duty Manager, Bay Gardens Hotel, St. Lucia
• Lydia Padmore, Senior Rooms Care Supervisor, The Rockley/ Ocean Hotels, Barbados
• Tanisha Rahming, Human Resources Manager, Comfort Suites Paradise Island, The Bahamas
• Chad Rowe, Food and Beverage Manager, O2 Beach Club & Spa, Barbados
• Tamar Severin, Restaurant and Bar Manager, The Landings Resort and Spa, St. Lucia
• Kerishma St. Remy, Residences Manager/Executive Assistant to the CEO, The Landings Resort and Spa, St. Lucia
• Eugenia Thomas, Guest Services Officer, The Landings Resort and Spa, St. Lucia
• Jason Todd, Bar Supervisor, Jamaica Inn, Jamaica
• Nikita Warrington, Sales & Marketing Coordinator, Ocean Hotels Group, Barbados
• Shani Watson-Holder, Facilities Manager, Mango Bay Group, Barbados
• Yanika Yarde, Spa Concierge Specialist/Supervisor, The Landings Resort & Spa, St. Lucia

For more information about the Young Leaders Forum and CHTA’s initiatives, visit www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.