Saint Lucia honoured 35 travel advisors with Global Piton Awards 2024

Castries, Saint Lucia: The Tourism Authority of Saint Lucia hosted the Global Piton Awards 2024 and honoured the best-selling Saint Lucia travel advisors in the world, awarding 35 recipients.

The 2024 Global Piton Awards celebrate the travel advisors who booked the most room nights from 1^st January – 31^st December 2023 through the Saint Lucia Expert Program. This award is conducted in partnership with Recommend Magazine who recognizes the top producing expert travel advisors from US, Canada, UK, Ireland and the Caribbean.

Notably, 15 awards were claimed by the United States, 5 by Canada, 10 by UK and Ireland and 5 by the Caribbean region. All the winners from each respective nations were given a locally handcrafted trophy bearing the insignia of Saint Lucia.

Moreover, all the attendees were given VIP arrival services and custom experiences. Along with that, they also visited for the site inspections of Sandals Halcyon, Secrets St. Lucia Resort & Spa, and the Courtyard by Marriott which is currently under construction and to the Saint Lucia Mural.

The attendees of the event enjoyed various activities at Howelton Estate such as painting with saky, chocolate making, handbag crafting and painting, batik, cold press coconut oil making and a local lunch. The event was finally concluded at Sandals Grande St. Lucian where the 35 winners across different nations were acknowledged for their contributions to the tourism industry of Saint Lucia.

While extending gratitude to all their travel advisors, the Officer-in-Charge & Chief Financial Officer of Saint Lucia Tourism Authority stated that their advisors place special confidence in the island nation. He further noted that a major part of their success and global prominence is attributed to their continued selling of the offerings of the island nation.

He further asserted that the efforts of their travel advisors also support sustainable tourism initiatives which aim to preserve the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Saint Lucia for future generations.

The winners of the 2024 Global Piton Awards include,

USA

• Lynn Thomas Alpha World Travel
• Nancy Finn My Island Getaways
• Steve Simmons Honeymons Inc.
• Kerri Logan-Shirk Sunlover Travel
• Linda Dancer Honeymoons Inc.
• Mark Hennigan Dreamers Travel
• Mitch Toren Tripguy Travel
• Belvin Baldwin II Showtime Travel
• Christen Perry Classic Travel Connection
• Carlie Marie Finch Travel Anywhere
• Jennifer Doncsecz VIP Vacations Inc.
• Vicki Sneed Vicki’s Travel Designs
• Karen Cavadas Twinsburg Travel
• Tahryn Nicastro Shores to Sea Vacations
• Georgiann Jaworskyj Custom Travel Services

CARIBBEAN

• Ingrid Lynch Going places Travel
• Kevin Edwards A’s Travel Service
• Adriana Singh Delight Travel Service
• Godley Gonthier Nayaradou Voyages
• Clarisse Ramothe Navitour

UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND

• Kate Walker Tropic Breeze
• Trish Hockin Tropic Breeze
• Lai Yap Kenwood Travel
• Sheila Sparkes Travel Counsellors
• Jo Plummer Tropic Breeze
• Lindsey Hayes British Airways Holidays
• Adam Patchton Not Just Travel
• Lee Hawkins Zappi Travel Group LTD
• Lianne Peters Your Booking Holiday
• Paul Sailsbury Guru Travel

CANADA

• Nancy Miklian New Wave Travel
• Kim Hartlen Kim Hartlen Travel-TPI
• Lois Barbour Travel Time Agency
• Barbara Scrocco Travel Only
• Lori Riddell LUXE Destination Weddings

Along with that some special awards were also given as the C.E.O Award for exceptional Canadian Sales Performance was given to Kim Hartlen of Kim Hartlen Travel. The Prime Minister Award for Exceptional Sales performance by revenue for Global sales was given to Nancy Finn of Island Getaways.

The Minister of Tourism Award for exceptional UK & Ireland Sales Performance went to Lianne Peters of Luxury Holidays 4 U in the Travel Advisor category, and Jo Plummer of Tropic Breeze in the Tour Operator category. On the other hand, the Chairman’s Award for exceptional US Performance was given to Lynn Thomas of Alpha World Travel.