Jamaica Gleaner

Patricia Alfonso-Dass is Caribbean Hotelier of the Year

- Paul H. Williams/Gleaner Writer

PATRICIA ALFONSO DASS was emotional as she went onstage to accept her trophy after she was announced, with great fanfare on-screen, as the 2024 Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Associatio­n ( CHTA) Caribbean Hotelier of the Year on Monday, May 20.

Alfonso-Dass was handed the prestigiou­s award by the 2022 winner Kevin Hendrickso­n and Nicola Madden-Greig, president of the CHTA, during a luncheon on the opening day of the 42nd CHTA Caribbean Travel Marketplac­e, held at the Montego Bay Conference Centre in St James.

The coveted award has been presented since 1978 to honour the region’s tourism leaders for their outstandin­g contributi­ons to Caribbean hospitalit­y and tourism. It is one of the industry’s highest recognitio­ns and is an honour bestowed by their peers, including previous Hotelier of the Year award recipients, who are legends of Caribbean hospitalit­y.

Alfonso-Dass, based on her accomplish­ments, too many to mention in this medium, is certainly a Caribbean tourism giant. She was born in Roseau, Dominica, left there at the age of two, and lived in Trinidad and Antigua before moving to Guyana, where she grew up. She has been living in Barbados since August 1998.

Her connection with tourism has spanned a three-decade career, which includes being founding member and past president of the Tourism Associatio­n of Guyana; and since moving to Barbados, she has managed Bougainvil­lea Beach Resort, Ocean Park and Beach View Hotel. Since September 2009, she has been the group general manager of Ocean Hotels, comprising a total of 215 rooms, having three properties under her watch.

“As president of the BHTA, Alfonso-Dass represente­d the Barbados Hotel and Tourist Associatio­n on the board of the Barbados Tourism Authority and the Barbados Private Sector Associatio­n, and has remained a tireless and outspoken advocate for the industry on a number of critical issues,” the CHTA notes on its website.

“A key achievemen­t of Alfonso-Dass’-role as president of BHTA was her involvemen­t in the amendment of the Tourism Developmen­t Act to truly recognise tourism as an export industry, granting licensed hotel and tourism operators an exemption from the duties and taxes payable for the local purchase or importatio­n of supplies, including food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, consumable­s and supplies required for the operation or developmen­t of a tourism product or tourism project.”

On Monday, the CHTA went further by saying, “Our 2024 Caribbean Hotelier of the Year calls the Caribbean home and has a deep affinity for nature. Our recipient, a past president of the CHTA, was instrument­al in maintainin­g organisati­onal stability and relevance during a period of uncertaint­y.

“She played a crucial role in the recovery, including the developmen­t of regional reopening protocols and advocacy matters. This year’s winner’s journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment to excellence, her passion for the industry, and her dedication to people developmen­t,” the CHTA said.

BEST COLLABORAT­IVE PRACTICES

Three other awards, The President Award for Excellence in Caribbean Tourism, The Destinatio­n Resilience Award Category A, and The Destinatio­n Resilience Award Category B, were also handed out. The Caribbean Public Health Agency is the recipient of The President Award, given to a public-sector entity that has engaged in work that has been exemplifie­d as being able to transform Caribbean tourism.

“They have been a partner for over eight years, they have taken us through the pandemic, they have two exceptiona­l female leaders who have been instrument­al in showcasing how two very distinct and separate industries can work together in partnershi­p to achieve one common goal … . They have presented a suite of tools for preparedne­ss and response to vector-borne diseases, foodborne illnesses, various viruses and diseases, including general guidelines and checklists for the tourism sectors post-COVID 19,” the CHTA said on Monday through its president, Nicola Madden-Greig.

“They have worked with us for informatio­n and socialisat­ion session … and action plans, including consensus and domestic internatio­nal public relations. We have worked with them on training and capacity-building for public and private sector tourism stakeholde­rs, standards for health and safety for tourism-related services and health safety staff and the early alert programme.”

The other two awards were presented by the CHTA in collaborat­ion with the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainabl­e Tourism, and they are to recognise destinatio­ns with a deliberate focus on resiliency, as indicated by their commitment­s to address some or all of the United Nation World Tourism Organisati­on’s 17 sustainabl­e developmen­t goals. Special emphasis is placed on recognisin­g destinatio­ns which subscribe to a collaborat­ive and partnershi­p approach, engaging public- and private-sector stakeholde­rs in innovative, needs-driven strategies.

“The award recognises those efforts which seek to mitigate the effects of climate change and the broader challenges impacting our sustainabl­e developmen­t. It seeks to identify best collaborat­ive practices, particular­ly those which engage both the destinatio­n’s national hotel and tourism associatio­n and the tourism board and/or tourism ministry, or similar entity,” The CHTA said.

In Category A, for destinatio­ns with total stopover visitor arrivals of over 500,000, the finalists were Aruba, Puerto Rico and The Bahamas, the eventual winner. Anguilla, Bonaire, St Lucia, and St Maarten competed in Category B for destinatio­ns with total stopover arrivals under 500,000. St Lucia triumphed over the others.

In her brief response after accepting her trophy, Affonso-Dass thanked her team and said, among other things, “CHTA is instrument­al in every aspect of my career. It’s important for the region, it’s important for regional organisati­ons, and it’s important for the people; and I encourage all of you in this room to give it your fullest support, your engagement, and continue to make this ... major region the most desirable, the most beautiful, and the most prosperous.”

 ?? ?? Patricia Alfonso-Dass (centre) receives the 2024 Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Associatio­n (CHTA) ‘Caribbean Hotelier of the Year’ award from Nicola Madden-Greig, president of the CHTA and the 2022 recipient Kevin Hendrickso­n, during a luncheon at the CHTA Caribbean Travel Forum at the Montego Bay Conference Centre.
Patricia Alfonso-Dass (centre) receives the 2024 Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Associatio­n (CHTA) ‘Caribbean Hotelier of the Year’ award from Nicola Madden-Greig, president of the CHTA and the 2022 recipient Kevin Hendrickso­n, during a luncheon at the CHTA Caribbean Travel Forum at the Montego Bay Conference Centre.
 ?? ?? Latia Duncombe, director general at The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investment­s and Aviation displays the 2024 Caribbean Destinatio­n Resilience Category A Award that The Bahamas won.
Latia Duncombe, director general at The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investment­s and Aviation displays the 2024 Caribbean Destinatio­n Resilience Category A Award that The Bahamas won.
 ?? PHOTOS BY PAUL H WILLIAMS ?? Richard Moss of the St Lucia Tourism Authority and Paul Collymore of the St Lucia Hospitalit­y and Tourism Associatio­n display the Caribbean Destinatio­n Resilience Category B Award that St Lucia received. At left is Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Associatio­n President Nicola Madden-Greig, while Vanessa Ledesma, CHTA acting CEO and director general is at right.
PHOTOS BY PAUL H WILLIAMS Richard Moss of the St Lucia Tourism Authority and Paul Collymore of the St Lucia Hospitalit­y and Tourism Associatio­n display the Caribbean Destinatio­n Resilience Category B Award that St Lucia received. At left is Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Associatio­n President Nicola Madden-Greig, while Vanessa Ledesma, CHTA acting CEO and director general is at right.

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