25 Canadian agents honoured at Black Pineapple Awards in Antigua

Antigua and Barbuda hosted the inaugural Black Pineapple Awards on Saturday (Dec. 7).  

This prestigious event hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and the Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Tourism, honoured travel professionals from key source markets for their  contributions to the growth of the destination’s tourism sector. 

As of October 2024, arrivals to the destination from Canada are up 13 percent over the previous year, demonstrating a strong recovery in the post-pandemic years, and the growing appeal of the destination.

Named after the iconic Antigua Black Pineapple, a symbol of hospitality and excellence, the awards serve as a celebration of the outstanding achievements of travel professionals in promoting Antigua and Barbuda. 

The 2024 awardees have been selected from Antigua and Barbuda’s key source markets: Canada, UK & Europe, USA, the Caribbean and Latin America.

“It is an honour and privilege to celebrate travel advisors, who form the backbone of the tourism industry. Their expertise enhances travel experiences and also plays a pivotal role in attracting first-time visitors to Antigua and Barbuda. The advisors that we are honouring have demonstrated excellence in promoting our twin-islands, and the Black Pineapple Awards reflect our appreciation for their dedication and commitment,” said Charles Fernandez, Minister of Tourism for Antigua and Barbuda, in a press release. 

Colin C. James, CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority added,

“Our travel advisors are ambassadors for Antigua and Barbuda.  They are an important point of contact with our visitors and potential visitors. Their passion and ability to share their knowledge of Antigua and Barbuda’s unique charm, and to create memorable experiences for those who are planning a vacation and exploring options, is a key component to our success. We are proud to honour them for their role in our continued tourism growth.”

25 Canadian agents honoured

From the 100 top travel professionals that were recognised and celebrated, over sixty had travelled to Antigua and Barbuda along with Antigua and Barbuda Directors of Tourism and Business Development Managers from each market, for the black-tie gala at the Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa. 

Twenty-five Canadian agents were awarded.

During the ceremony, special awards were presented in the following categories:

Director’s Award: presented to the honourees who exemplified outstanding achievement in room night sales.

CEO’s Award: Recognizing individuals from each source market who exemplified exceptional achievement in driving bookings.

Minister’s Award: Celebrating agents who have shown true dedication to selling Antigua and Barbuda, and generating revenue contributing to the growth and success of the destination.

Prime Minister’s Global Award: The highest award, this prestigious honour recognizes one top agent across all the markets who has achieved exceptional results and is the top revenue earner for the year.

In addition to the gala, awardees enjoyed a curated itinerary designed to showcase the best of Antigua and Barbuda’s offerings, with hotel stays at Sandals, Royalton, St. James’s Club, The Verandah Resort and Tamarind Hills. Activities include a welcome reception at The Verandah Resort and Spa, a luxury island tour, swimming with the turtles, chocolate-making and a visit to the picturesque Shirley Heights, which forms part of Antigua and Barbuda’s UNESCO World Heritage site.

Here’s the list of the winners from Canada: