That next trip.
Maybe it’s for a holiday, maybe it’s for a family reunion, maybe it’s an annual tradition.
That next trip, that vacation to plan for, to dream about; it’s one of the greatest antidotes to creeping monotony in our lives.
Travel makes our lives interesting, it sustains us; it expands our horizons; it builds community; it deepens our souls.
And for a good portion of this year, all that was taken away. For many, it’s still the case.
This year was a reminder of just how important traveling is for all of us.
For the Caribbean, though, the travel industry isn’t just something to dream about — it’s the backbone of the entire economy — it is essential; it is indispensable.
That’s why in early June, the Caribbean, which had already mounted an admirable offensive against the pandemic, began reopening its borders for tourism.
It was not an easy decision, nor was it without risk. But the region largely had no choice.
And for nearly half the year, the vast majority of the Caribbean has been, in some form or another, open again for travel for those willing to do so.
And in six months, the Caribbean has largely set a global example for how to reopen in a careful, focused, safe manner — providing its signature sanctuary for travelers and an important injection of economic energy.
And that’s in large part, not because it’s the most beautiful place on earth — but because it’s the most resilient place on earth, thanks to a universe of people who prove time after time, year after year, storm after storm, that nothing can stop them.
So even in a year of impossibilities, the Caribbean is back, navigating its way through the challenges of the new age of travel, an essential task for the most tourism-dependent regional economy in the world.
But what that also means is that, now more than ever, we must continue to celebrate this region, celebrate its people and celebrate what remains the greatest travel destination on earth.
That’s why we’re happy to announce what is now the 7th annual edition of our Caribbean Travel Awards across 20 different categories.
— Alexander Britell, Editor-in-Chief
Destination of the Year: The US Virgin Islands
The US Virgin Islands was the first destination to reopen for tourism when it did so on June 1, in many ways helping to pave the way for the broader reopening of the entire Caribbean. Through the summer, a one-month shutdown, and a second reopening centered around a region-leading travel portal, the USVI has been a model for tourism reopenings around the region — highlighting what was, before the pandemic, an increasingly hot tri-island destination its own right, from the launch of a new tourism brand for St Croix early in the year to a rekindled hotel devleopment movement led by the territory’s impressive Tourism Commissioner, Joseph Boschulte.
Caribbean Hotel of the Year: The Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas
Long the leading resort in the US Virgin Islands, this luxury resort had just completed a sparkling, $100 million transformation a few months before the onset of the pandemic. When it reopened in June, the property quickly demonstrated that delivering a high-level luxury experience was possible amid the new realities of travel — and setting a new standard for health, safety and Caribbean hospitality in the process.
Small Hotel of the Year: Eden Rock – St Barths
The resort that began it all in St Barth, the Eden Rock entered the year with a major new look — and its fall relaunch has only solidifed its position as arguably the hottest small hotel in the region. While the property is almost completely new, what hasn’t changed is the magic — the breezy, glamorous spirit that defines what makes St Barth cool.
New Hotel of the Year: Eclipse at Half Moon, Jamaica
It’s hard to improve upon a legend. But Eclipse at Half Moon, a new resort set at the iconic Half Moon compound in Montego Bay, is a dazzling new addition to the Caribbean’s luxury sector; crisp and cool but true to its heritage as one of the region’s classic places to stay and a masterwork by the Steuart family and Salamander Hotels & Resorts.
Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Year: Charles Fernandez, Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda was one of the first destinations to reopen for tourism, a decision that was not taken lightly — and did not come without risk. But the calming hand of Minister Charles Fernandez helped steward the country toward what has been one of the region’s exemplary tourism relaunches, thanks in part to an exacting set of health and safety protocols for the island’s hotel sector. But Fernandez has also helped to continue to position the country as a surging hotel development destination.
Caribbean Tourism Director of the Year: May-Ling Chun, St Maarten
St Maarten isn’t just a beloved destination or a regional hub — it’s a trend-setter for much of the Caribbean; and the Dutch Caribbean destination has been a leader in its tourism reopening, with a phased approach that kicked off in the early summer and culminated with the welcoming back of American travelers in August. Much of the island’s success, both in reopening and attracting a growing number of returning visitors, is thanks to the expert management of May-Ling Chun, Director of Tourism at the St Maarten Tourist Bureau, one of the Caribbean’s most respected tourism executives.
Caribbean All-Inclusive of the Year: Curtain Bluff, Antigua
The definition of all-inclusive has been constantly changing — but Curtain Bluff has always transcended the label, with an elegant, glamorous, charming character that has made it one of the region’s most beloved beach resorts for nearly 50 years. And after several years of renovations and upgrades, it’s a historic property that’s harnessed of the design cues and hospitality innovations of the greatest luxury hotels.
New All-Inclusive of the Year: Dreams Macao Beach Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
There’s no more competitive all-inclusive market than Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, but AMResorts’ new Dreams Macao Beach Punta Cana, which first opened at the beginning of the year and reopened amid the pandemic, takes things to another level, with exquisite design (and simply beautiful guest rooms) and an impressive operation given the challenges posed to the sector.
Small All-Inclusive of the Year: Hammock Cove, Antigua
When Hammock Cove opened last year in Antigua, it was a standard-bearer for the hottest trends in the all-inclusive sector: private plunge pools, standalone accommodations, butler service. Now, all of these concepts don’t seem trendy — they seem prescient. What Elite Islands Resorts Chairman Rob Barrett has cultivated is the ultimate getaway for the age of social distancing — one that happens to also be a terrific all-inclusive resort.
Caribbean Hotelier of the Year: Gregor Nassief, Secret Bay, Dominica
We like to say that small hotels are an art form; they are the ultimate expressions of their owners’ personalities and sensibilities, their hospitality philosophies. And when you come to Dominica’s Secret Bay, you know you are at the home of an artist. Owner Gregor Nassief has taken a family passion project and turned it into a leading light for Dominica’s hospitality sector, a now world-renowned hotel and, most impressively, a growing footprint thanks to a residential-resort expansion. A native of Dominica, Nassief’s work represents the best of Caribbean hospitality — and a model for what a small hotel can be.
Innovative Destination of the Year: The Bahamas
No destination in the wider region is closer to the all-important US market than The Bahamas, and so the country’s tourism decisions have huge ramifications for the industry in the Caribbean. Thankfully, in this most challenging of years, The Bahamas has continued to rise to the challenge, from its initial opening to its late-summer shutdown to a fall tourism relaunch, constantly adapting its tourism industry and setting a standard for destination entry practices amid the pandemic.
Luxury Destination of the Year: Grenada
The island of Grenada has quietly seen a luxury boom in recent years, a trend that is continuing with the soon-to-debut Kimpton Kawana Bay and what will be the first-ever Six Senses resort in the Caribbean. Both properties will buoy a very strong offering on the island, from the boutique Calabash hotel to the eco-chic Laluna to Silversands, the latter one of the most beautiful new hotels in the region in years. And Grenada’s low-density, sustainable ambience is precisely what luxury travelers are seeking right now.
Yachting Destination of the Year: St Kitts and Nevis
St Kitts and Nevis is a relatively new player in the ultra-competitive Caribbean yachting sector, but the twin-island federation is showing its strength, centered around the spectacular marina at Christophe Harbour, one of the hottest superyacht stops in the Caribbean since the country’s reopening in the fall.
Caribbean Restaurant of the Year: Graycliff, Nassau, The Bahamas
Plainly, there is no more memorable dining experience in the Caribbean than this Nassau institution, which opened as the Caribbean’s first five star restaurant nearly half a century ago and remains a truly legendary place to eat — both for its exquisite food and its timeless ambience. And the resort’s legend grew amid the lockdown in The Bahamas earlier this year, when proprietor Enrico Garzaroli set up a weekly feeding program that provided more than 42,000 Bahamians in need. It was a reminder of the enduring legacy of this place, and a message of the role of great restaurants in our communities.
Caribbean Culinary Destination of the Year: St Barth
St Barth opened early in the summer with what remain the simplest travel protocols in the Caribbean – with a safe but broad reopening that has shined the spotlight on what was for some time a closely-guarded secret — just how fabulous the dining scene on the island. While the island is known for its luxury and its exclusivity, the food is just universally spectacular, whether you’re in a seaside French Caribbean eatery munching on accras or enjoying avant-garde Thai food at Black Ginger. In short, St Barth is home to some of the most creative and well-executed food in the region right now — and now’s the time to try it.
Caribbean Chef of the Year: Guy Ferdinand, Martinique
Renowned Chef Guy Ferdinand, the proprietor of Martinique’s Le Petibonum beach eatery, has always been a talented chef (you just have to spend an afternoon on the sand in Le Carbet to truly understand his genius. This year, Ferdinand has taken his talents to the next level, acting as a de facto ambassador for the island of Martinique and, with a versatile, adaptive restaurant business, showing every day that creativity will always triumph in the face of overwhelming challenges.
Caribbean Airport of the Year: Lynden Pindling International Airport, The Bahamas
When the “new” Lynden Pindling International Airport first launched its expansion in 2011, it largely began what has been a region-wide renaissance in the Caribbean airport sector. And today it’s still a Caribbean leader — well run, exceptionally clean and an important hub for exploring the myriad island destinations across The Bahamas.
Caribbean Airline of the Year: Tradewind Aviation
Yes, air travel can still be romantic. Tradewind Aviation, which has a Caribbean base in San Juan, has positioned itself as the leader in scheduled and charter service to the Caribbean’s top destinations, from St Barth to Anguilla to Nevis. The company’s fleet of pristine Pilatus aircraft is a throwback to the jet-set age, where the joy of your trip begins when you get on the plane — not just when you land.
Caribbean Bar of the Year: Quarter Kitchen & Cocktail Lab, St Barth
You can travel across the Caribbean and not find a more impressive bartending team than the one at this Gustavia institution, home to a several-hundred-bottle bourbon collection and some of the most creative mixology of any bar in the Americas. It doesn’t hurt that the world’s largest Caribbean rum bar is set in a speakeasy in the next room.
Caribbean Villa Company of the Year: WIMCO Villas
If you’re looking for a luxury villa in the Caribbean, there’s really just one word you need to know: WIMCO. The Newport-based villa company has turned villa vacations into an art form, with a breathtaking collection of villas across the region’s luxury destinations from its epicenter in St Barth to Turks and Caicos and Anguilla — and everywhere in between. In the ever-increasing world of villa rentals, WIMCO is a reminder that it’s intimacy, attention to detail and personalized service that turn a home into a villa vacation.