News
TCI: Travel Agents Shine Bright at Sandals Resorts Annual S.T.A.R Awards
#TurksandCaicos, February 07, 2018 – Providenciales – Sandals Resorts International (SRI) celebrated the 16th Annual Sandals Travel Agency Recognition (S.T.A.R.) Awards to honor the top travel agents in the SRI network, on January 26, 2018 at beautiful Beaches Turks & Caicos. A total of 300 travel agents and companions from North America, Canada and Latin America attended the conference in Providenciales to be recognized for their hard work and dedication to the Sandals brand. Many notable figures from the Turks and Caicos community attended the awards ceremony, including the Governor of Turks and Caicos Islands, His Excellency Dr. John Freeman; Deputy Governor, Her Excellency Anya Williams; The Premier of Turks & Caicos Islands, Hon. Sharlene Cartwight-Robinson and Minister of Tourism, Hon. Ralph Higgs.
Many travel agents displayed their stellar work with top award wins, including the Chairman’s Award for Eileen Nason of Discenerning Journeys; the CEO Award of Excellence for Tracy Mcgaughey of A-Aarons All Inclusive Travel and Flemming Friisdahl of Travel Agent Next Door; and Wedding Vibe as the top USA Sandals travel agency. Below is a full breakdown of all S.T.A.R. Awards winners.
Sandals Resorts created the S.T.A.R. Awards in 2002 as a way to recognize top travel agents and their agencies as well as showcase the latest resort products and on-island attractions. In addition to top product, regional and national categories, the S.T.A.R. Awards announced the Worldwide Top Ten Travel Agencies, Chairman and CEO Awards and the Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Among the impressive awards taken home this year, the distinguished group of winners included the following:
- Lifetime Achievement Awards:
o Kim Cook, Love To Travel
o Wanda Keefer, All-Seasons Vacations
o Mary Fowler, Riverside Tours And Travel
o Marcia Perkins, Destination Wedding.Com
o Georgiann Jowarskji, Custom Travel Services
o Bonnie Rygg-Haley – Bon Voyage Travel
o Lisa Hoppe, Lisa Hoppe Consulting
o Robert Rizzo, Travel Only
o Barbara Scrocco, Travel Only
o Lisa Tetzlaff, Valente Travel
- Outstanding Achievement- Social Media:
o Katie May, Classic Travel Connections
- CEO’s Award of Excellence:
o Tracy Mcgaughey, A-Aarons All Inclusive Travel
o Flemming Friisdahl, Travel Agent Next Door
- Chairman’s Award:
o Eileen Nason, Discerning Journeys
- Outstanding Sales Achievement-Weddings:
o Marcia Perkins, Destination Weddings.Com
o Lynn Thomas, Alpha World Travel
o Wanda Keefer, All-Seasons Vacations
o Denise Kerkhoff, Wedding Vibe
o Terri Flood, Escapes Unlimited, Az
- Worldwide Top Sandals Travel Agency:
o For Usa – Wedding Vibe
o For Canada – Tripcentral.Ca, Bedford
- Worldwide Contribution to the Sandals Foundation:
o Wanda Keefer owner of Allseasonsvacations.com
- Worldwide Top Ten Travel Agencies:
- Wedding Vibe, Bristol
- Enchanted Honeymoons, Omaha
- Twinsburg Travel Cruise Inc.
- Royal Travel, Maryville
- Island Getaways, Brookfield
- Discerning Journeys
- V.I.P. Vacations Inc.
- Loyalty One Travel Services, Canada
- Escapes Unlimited, Az, Llc
- Classic Travel Connections
- Top Retail Travel Agency Chain Worldwide:
o Liberty Travel
- Top Producing Agency in Latin America:
o Honeymoons SAC/Travel shop, Peru
Release: Sandals Resorts