Photos by Noel Thompson
LEFT: Louis Grant (left), general manager of Sandals Dunn's River, talks with colleague Merrick Fray, managing director of Sandals Resorts International, as they attended the Agents Choice Awards Ceremony, held at Sandals Island, Montego Bay, on Monday. Sandals Resorts International was voted Favourite Hotel Chain and Favourite All-Inclusive Hotel worldwide in the Baxter Travel Media survey of more than 400 Canadian travel agents.
RIGHT: Past president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Horace Peterkin (left) and David Sheilds, deputy director of sales and marketing at the Jamaica Tourist Board, are in a laughing mood while attending the Agents Choice Awards ceremony.

Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The tiny Sandals island, located off the shore of the Sandals Royal Caribbean Hotel in Montego Bay, was transformed into an evening of serenity, on Monday.

About 200 guests and staff were on board the 'Wayang Doll' that sailed to the island for the Canadian based Baxter Media Agents Choice Awards ceremony for the 6:00 p.m. function.

These awards are presented to organisations that meet a high standard of performance and quality guest service in the hospitality sector. Winners are selected from a survey carried out among over 4,000 Canadian travel agents.

As night fell, a kaleidoscope of colourful lights formed a silhouette on the venue. Liqueurs, other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and food were in abundance.

Favourite All-Inclusive

As the evening progressed, Baxter Travel Media announced that the Canadian travel agents had voted the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) the world's best, while the Gordon 'Butch' Stewart-led Sandals chain was voted Favourite All-Inclusive and Favourite Hotel Chain worldwide.

The revelation was met with much satisfaction. Stewart, who collected the two awards on behalf ofhis hotel, said the JTB represented the best in Jamaica, adding that the awards were won based solely on performance. He praised his over 10,000 staff of the chain across the Caribbean for contributing significantly to Sandals' continuous achievements.