TCI News
The Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board Welcomes New Team Members
#Providenciales, September 21, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – The Turks and Caicos Tourist Board recently welcomed five new team members 
namely Sharissa Lightbourne, Elisha Jennings, Yanike Lee and Jennifer Pardo (all based in Providenciales) and Shaleeya Richardson (based in Grand Turk).
Sharissa Lightbourne joins the team at the Tourist Board as the Statistical Officer. Ms. Lightbourne is a Grand Turk native and 2005 graduate of the Helena Jones Robinson High School. She continued her education at the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College where she earned an Associate Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management in 2007. Her educational pursuit continued at Barry University in Miami Shores, FL where she majored in Computer Information Sciences and earned a Bachelor Degree in 2010. Ms. Lightbourne has extensive community involvement and professional experience and most recently served as the administrative officer at The Office of the Complaints Commission.
Elisha Jennings has joined the team as the Senior Public Relations Officer. Ms. Jennings is a native of Providenciales and graduated from the Clement Howell High School in 2005. She completed tertiary education at Johnson and Wales University in North Miami, FL where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing in 2010. Upon returning to the Turks and Caicos Islands, she gained notable experience in the private sector in public relations, marketing, sales, revenue management and hospitality. In 2014 Ms. Jennings completed training to obtain the Certified Revenue Management Executive designation by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International. Ms. Jennings is also a Star Awards Manager of the Year nominee and was most recently employed as the Reservations Manager at the Windsong Resort. With a passion for mentoring and empowering young people, Ms. Jennings currently serves as the Youth Director at the Jericho Baptist Church.
The Tourist Board is also happy to welcome Yanike Lee to its team as Executive Assistant. Ms. Lee has an impressive professional record having held previous roles in the areas of accounting, office administration and customer service in the private sector. Ms. Lee graduated from the Clement Howell High School in 2005 and then continued her studies at the Turks & Caicos Islands Community College where she earned an Associate Degree in Hospitality Studies in 2008. She later attended the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies in 2012. Not only is Ms. Lee academically and professionally driven, she is also actively involved in community programs and has served as Treasurer for the TCI Volleyball Federation since 2016.
Jennifer Pardo, the Tourist Board’s new Marketing Executive, was born and raised in the island of Grand Turk. Ms. Pardo has a record of academic excellence and attended the Ona Glinton Primary School where she became the top performing GSAT student in the Turks and Caicos in 2006. She then went onto the Helena Jones Robinson High School where she became the top performing CXC student in 2011. In 2013 Ms. Pardo received an Associate degree in Business Administration with honors from The Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, Grand Turk campus and was the top performing Business Student in the College. In 2016 she received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with honors from King’s College London and in 2017 earned a Masters degree in Advertising and Marketing with honors from Leeds University. Ms. Pardo was most recently employed at Radio Turks and Caicos as the Sales and Marketing Officer and previously has completed several internships at Digicel, Fortis TCI and the TCI Government Statistics Department. Ms. Pardo is passionate about community service and is an active member of the Rotaract Club, living by the club motto “service before self”. She is also a Red Cross Volunteer and DDME volunteer, having recently become a certified Disaster Shelter Manager.
The newest addition to the Grand Turk team as Visitor Reception is Shaleeya Richardson. Ms. Richardson was raised in Grand Turk and graduated from the Helena Jones Robinson High School in 2014. She is currently a student at the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College pursuing an Associates degree in Business Studies. Thereafter, she will pursue a Bachelors degree in Tourism Management and plans to further her career in the tourism sector. Ms. Richardson has expressed her gratitude to be a part of the Tourist Board’s team and lending her skills to market our destination.
While she is not new to the team, we would like to take this opportunity to re-introduce Candesha L. Mills, Product Development Officer of the Turks and Caicos Island Tourist Board. Mrs. Mills is a native of Grand Turk and a graduate of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, having earned an Associates degree in Business Studies from the institution. She matriculated to Johnson & Wales University in North Miami, FL where she earned an Associate and Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. Mrs. Mills is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Global Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development. Her employment at the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board commenced in July 2007 as Statistical Coordinator and she was appointed as Product Marketing Officer in 2008. Her role was subsequently changed to Product Development Officer and she is tasked with the responsibility of assisting with the implementation of the strategic product development plans, formulation of a sustainable development plan, and exploring new product developments and visitor attractions. Mrs. Mills has expressed that her goal is to develop new and innovative ideas to ensure the longevity of the industry and discover new ways of expanding the Turks and Caicos Islands tourism offering such as the cruise ship industry.
Release: TCIG
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks & Caicos continues to lead the way in sustainability by cultivating a
culture of environmental stewardship across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through the introduction of biodegradable alternatives, agricultural education and community partnerships, the resort is setting a new standard for eco-conscious hospitality. As part of its ongoing sustainability mission, the resort has replaced single-use plastics and certain chemicals with compostable, biodegradable products derived from natural sources, to reduce pollution and minimize the resort’s carbon footprint.
“At Beaches Turks & Caicos, sustainability is woven into every part of the guest experience,” said Managing Director, James McAnally. “From the products we use to the relationships we nurture, our goal is to make responsible environmental choices that benefit our guests, team members and the wider Turks and Caicos community.”
The resort also practices on-site composting, recycling fruit and vegetable waste from its kitchens to enrich soil and sustain its lush
landscaping. This closed-loop system reduces waste and promotes biodiversity across the property.
Beyond the resort, Beaches collaborates with local partners including schools, government agencies and NGOs to extend green education into the wider community. Through the Sandals Foundation, the resort supports projects such as the installation of water filtration systems, tree-planting activities and biodegradable workshops. Schools like Enid Capron Primary have expanded their farming projects and integrated agricultural science into their curriculum thanks to this partnership. Beaches also leads regular coastal cleanups and reforestation drives which inspires residents and students to play an active role in protecting their environment. “The Earth Guardian volunteers take pride in giving back to our schools and the communities we serve,” noted Public Relations Manager, Orville Morgan. “These initiatives create a sense of shared responsibility that strengthens both our communities and our natural resources.”
With its commitment to biodegradable innovation, sustainable education and environmental action, Beaches Turks & Caicos continues to set the benchmark for biodiversity and sustainability in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Photo Captions
1st insert: Beaches Turks and Caicos and the Sandals Foundation celebrate with students at the Enid Capron Primary School in a Reading Road Trip experience where guests and students get to experience a cultural melting pot of activity.
2nd insert: Beaches Turks and Caicos resort Simone Woodfine from the Bar Department prepares to plant a tree at one of our schools to celebrate the mission of providing a healthier environment for the Turks and Caicos Islands
TCI News
Turks and Caicos Corporate Community Join Beaches Resort to Raise Funds for Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa Relief
Turks and Caicos Islands, December 17, 2025 – Corporate partners in and around Providenciales recently joined Beaches Turks and
Caicos Resort raising over US $54,000 to support Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa Relief effort. The fundraising dinner, aptly titled, ‘One Caribbean, One Family, One Love’ saw over eighteen companies gather on Friday, December 12 to support the recovery of families and the rebuilding of communities affected by the category 5 storm.
“When our Caribbean family calls, we will respond with love,” said Deryk Meany, General Manager of the Beaches Turks and Caicos resort. “Today it is Jamaica that is affected, but tomorrow, it could be the Turks and Caicos or another neighbouring island. We are committed to serving our brothers and sisters and are deeply grateful to everyone who have donated to the cause.”
Since the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica on October 28, the Sandals Foundation has been working around the clock with local
agencies and international partners to provide shelter essentials, food, and clean water, restore schools, and provide medical support to hospitals. Funds raised at the recent benefit dinner will help bolster the next phase of the philanthropic organisation’s support to rebuild schools and livelihoods in affected communities.
“As we continue to provide essential first-relief support, we have already begun our long-term recovery response,” says Patrice Gilpin, Public Relations Manager at Sandals Foundation. “Many schools, which are the cornerstone of stability, learning, and emotional support for our young ones, require urgent attention. This donation will go a far way in restoring a sense of normalcy in the lives of our youngest and most vulnerable.”
The One Caribbean, One Family, One Love fundraising dinner featured, amongst other things a silent auction of Sandals and Beaches
Resort stays, airline tickets, spa services, catamaran cruise, and private chef dinner. The night’s four course meal was also spearheaded by the TCI’s 2025 Taste of the Caribbean silver medalist culinary team- all of whom volunteered for the event.
Managing Director of the Northern Caribbean and Curaçao, James McAnally expressed delight at the outcome noting, “The success of this event is indicative of the power of partnerships to effect real change. We are grateful to the TCI business community, resort guests and our resort team for coming together and making this moment count.”
Photo Captions
1st insert: Sandals Foundation Public Relations Manager Patrice Gilpin (centre) accepts the cheque from Beaches Turks and Caicos resort General Manager Deryk Meany (left) and Managing Director of the Northern Caribbean and Curacao James McAnally
2nd insert: Members of the Beaches Turks and Caicos resort’s entertainment team were on hand to provide scintillating performances at the event
3rd insert: Beaches Turks and Caicos resort General Manager Deryk Meany (5th left) poses for the cameras with representatives of the Graceway Communities as he personally thanked those who were in attendance
TCI News
Experience Turks and Caicos Projects Month-on-Month Growth of Stayover Arrivals for Winter Season
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – (December 17th, 2025) – As the Turks and Caicos Islands welcomes visitors for the 2025/2026 winter season, forward bookings for the peak travel period from December to March are projected to surpass those of the same period last year. Experience Turks and Caicos is also forecasting steady month-on-month growth throughout the first half of 2026, with forward bookings already tracking ahead of 2025 levels.
“This is welcome news for our tourism sector, which experienced modest declines over the last two quarters,” said Mr. Paul Pennicook,
Interim CEO Consultant of Experience Turks and Caicos. “One of the key drivers of this positive outlook is increased airlift, including a 19 percent increase in capacity from Canada for the winter season and a six percent increase from the United States.” Mr. Pennicook also attributed the improved projections to targeted marketing and trade engagement efforts led by Experience Turks and Caicos, particularly ongoing training and education for travel advisors and tour operator call-centre agents across all key source markets.
“We have maintained a strong presence through product launches and travel trade events such as Delta Vacations University, while significantly increasing the destination’s visibility through co-op advertising with major tour operators in our three primary markets,” he added.
Public relations activity has also played a critical role, with several hosted media visits from journalists in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Latin America, alongside proactive pitching efforts that resulted in more than 100 placements in travel trade and consumer publications in 2025.
Analysis of current booking patterns also indicates a notable shift toward shorter booking windows. “One major U.S. tour operator reports
that over the past several weeks, approximately 90 percent of bookings have been for travel within the next 60 days,” Mr. Pennicook noted. “Hoteliers are reporting similar trends, suggesting the potential for further growth as we move into 2026.”
Despite the positive outlook, October and November recorded declines in stayover arrivals. Preliminary data shows 30,508 air arrivals in October, representing a seven percent decrease compared to October 2024, largely due to reduced airlift from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom as well as the impact of Hurricane Melissa on travel to the region. November recorded 52,547 stayover arrivals by air, a marginal one percent decrease year-on-year.
As the Turks and Caicos Islands welcomes visitors back to its shores this winter season, Experience Turks and Caicos would like to reassure that the island remains safe and welcoming. Statistics from the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force show that overall crime is down, with a 40 percent reduction in murders. Experience Turks and Caicos is working closely with the police force to ensure tourism areas are well monitored and patrolled to enhance visitor security.
