KINGSTOWN, SAINT VINCENT — Canadian travel agents and agencies were among those honoured at last week’s Sandals STAR Awards, held this year at the brand new Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Now in its 19th year, the STAR (Sandals Travel Agency Recognition) Awards welcomed close to 500 top-producing travel advisors from Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Latin America for a week of informative sessions and optional tours with Island Routes that highlighted the beauty of the island destination. The week culminated in the highly-anticipated STAR Awards Ceremony on May 16.
Sandals Resorts International Executive Chairman Adam Stewart and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Carlos James at the 2024 Sandals STAR Awards
Travelweek was there throughout the week alongside the Canadian contingent, which was the only group to stay for a full seven nights in order to access Air Canada’s direct flight from Toronto.
Categories at this year’s awards ceremony spanned Best of the Best, Million Dollar Club, Rising STARs, Chairman’s Royal Club, Top Sandals Travel Agency, Top Beaches Travel Agency, Top Club Sandals, Top Butler Elite, Top Weddings Travel Advisors, Worldwide Contribution to the Sandals Foundation, Top Island Routes Travel Advisor, Outstanding Achievement in Social Media, and more. Among the presenters was Susan Dougan, Governor General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Main Pool
Canada took home several awards, including:
- Top Sandals Travel Agency – Canada: Travel Time by Trevello
- Top Beaches Travel Agency – Canada: The Travel Agent Next Door
- Top Host Travel Agency – Canada; Trevello Travel Group
- Rising Stars – Canada: Tourcan Vacations, Inc (Toronto, ON); Voyages le Village Hudson (Hudson, QC); Laurier Du Vallon (Ste-Foy, QC); Verona Travel (Bradford, ON)
“We have always recognized that travel advisors are the heartbeat of our industry. We not only
Sandals Resorts Executive Chairman Adam Stewart
express our sincerest gratitude for their unwavering commitment today, but every day,” said Gary Sadler, Executive Vice President of Sales and Industry Relations for Unique Vacations Inc. “We are here to prove to the industry that we are serious about our relationship with the travel advisor community, and there is no other hotel company throughout the Caribbean that has such a brilliant and true commitment to you like Sandals Resorts International.”
Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, also thanked valued partners for highlighting the company’s portfolio, including its newest home in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
“This is the tourism product of the future that we’re going to make it happen together as a team. We can’t thank our airline partners enough for making all tides rise in the Caribbean and more planes fly across the region. From American Airlines, Air Canada, Caribbean Airlines, Delta Air Lines, InterCaribbean Airlines, Jet Blue, United Airlines, WestJet, Air Transat, Bahamas Air, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Copa. This week will forever change the tourism landscape of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as the best of the best in the last of the true exotics. From each and every one of us across this archipelago, we sincerely thank you.”
Throughout the week, travel advisors participated in a comprehensive program designed to enhance their professional growth. This included a ‘Social Media Marketing & Destination Wedding Forum’ that highlighted new strategies and tools to enhance online presence, and a ‘Sandals and Beaches Business Review Session,’ during which Stewart delved into the company’s longstanding relationship with the travel advisor community. Advisors also learned about the Sandals Foundation’s partnership with Hand2Earth, and enjoyed lively oceanfront parties under the stars including a wedding showcase cocktail hour and ‘dine-arounds.’
In a wide-ranging welcome speech, Stewart also laid out future plans for Sandals Resorts International, which includes new developments in Port Antonio and Blue Lagoon in Jamaica. To read Travelweek’s coverage, click here.
