TCI News
TCI: Turks & Caicos Islands Receives World Travel Awards 2020 Nominations
#Providenciales, December 13, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The World Travel Awards officially announced the Caribbean nominations for the 27th annual World Travel Awards and the Turks and Caicos Islands has secured eight (8) coveted nominations in the following categories:
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination 2020
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2020
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Destination 2020
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Dive Destination 2020
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination 2020
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Luxury Island Destination 2020
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board 2020
Ø Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination 2020
The Turks & Caicos Islands, as a destination, has won the World Travel Award for Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination every year since 2015. From 2012 to 2014 the award for Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination was won by Grace Bay Beach specifically. The Turks and Caicos Islands also won the award for Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination in 2019 for the first time. Additionally, the following nominations were received by Turks and Caicos Islands companies, resorts and hotels:
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Airline 2020 – interCaribbean Airways
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Airline Brand 2020 – interCaribbean Airways
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Airport Lounge 2020 – VIP Flyers Club at Providenciales International Airport
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Port 2020 – Grand Turk Cruise Center
Ø Caribbean’s Leading All Suite Hotel 2020 – Point Grace and The Palms
Ø Caribbean’s Leading All Inclusive Family Resort 2020 – Beaches Turks & Caicos
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Beach Resort 2020 – Amanyara Villas
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2020 – Point Grace
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Boutique Resort 2020 – Beach House
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Hotel 2020 – The Palms
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Residences 2020 – The Estate at Grace Bay Club
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Suite 2020 – Grace Bay Penthouse Suite at Grace Bay Club
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa 2020 – Private Villa at Windsong Resort
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Luxury Resort 2020 – Amanyara Villas, COMO Parrot Cay and Seven Stars Resort
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Private Island Resort 2020 – The Meridian Club
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Resort 2020 – Seven Stars Resort
Ø Caribbean’s Most Romantic Resort 2020 – Seven Stars Resort
Ø Caribbean’s Leading Destination Management Company 2020 – Olympia Destination Management Company
Minister of Tourism Hon. Ralph Higgs stated, “We are thrilled to be nominated in these distinguished categories by the World Travel Awards. To be nominated in eight categories among other exceptional fellow nominees is a testament to our commitment of continual success in the industry. My Ministry, my tourism team and partners in the industry are a dedicated team of professionals, who through an integrated approach to promote the strength of brand Turks and Caicos have once again shine through. We are grateful to our team, partners and all persons in the industry for the various roles they play in making our country a dream destination”.
Chairman of the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board Mrs. Adelphine Higgs-Pitter commented, “On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board, we are elated that our Beautiful by Nature destination has once again captured nominations in eight categories. The additional eighteen nominations received by our local industry partners also affirms the destination’s standing among the best of the best regionally. The Turks and Caicos Tourist Board will continue to do our part to maintain the consistency and high standard of brand Turks and Caicos and will work to continuously upgrade our destination’s tourism product and offerings to remain a competitive tourism destination”.
Acting Director of Tourism Ms. Mary Lightbourne responded to news of the World Travel Award nominations by stating, “We are proud of the nominations the Turks and Caicos Islands has received for the 2020 World Travel Awards. Over the years, we have amassed numerous nominations, awards and accolades from some of the world’s most renowned travel and tourism organizations and the World Travel Awards is no exception. Our 2020 World Travel Awards nominations cover a number of our niche markets including dive, romance and cruise and demonstrates the diligence of the Tourist Board and our industry partners’ efforts in marketing and positioning our destination as the premiere luxury destination in the Caribbean and indeed the world”.
Voting for the Caribbean awards is now open and closes at midnight on 10th January 2020. The general public can visit https://www.worldtravelawards.com/vote to cast votes for the Turks and Caicos Islands in all of the above categories and assist the destination in winning additional accolades in travel excellence.
The 27th annual World Travel Awards Caribbean Gala Ceremony will take place on January 20, 2020 at Sandals Royal Bahamian, Nassau, Bahamas.
Release: TCI Tourist Board
TCIG knew from April that fuel factor could surge almost 80%; Minister says $500 cost-of-living payment was part of Government’s response
PROVIDENCIALES — The Turks and Caicos Government knew months before July’s shocking electricity bills that consumers faced a potentially massive increase in the fuel factor.
Minister of Information Technology and Energy E. Jay Saunders revealed Friday that Pelican Energy warned his Ministry in April that generation fuel costs were projected to rise from $3.09 per gallon in May to $4.79 in June and July.
That translated into a projected fuel factor jump from about 17.5 cents to 31 cents per kilowatt-hour — an increase of almost 80%.
Saunders said he personally advised Cabinet of the projected increase and presented options for cushioning the impact.
He characterised Government’s $500 cost-of-living payment as its “initial response” to rising fuel costs, before a separate fuel-factor subsidy was approved.
Cabinet records show Government agreed on June 24 to provide funding to mitigate the fuel-factor impact, with the relief programme approved July 8.
Eligible residential customers — those averaging less than $1,500 monthly over the previous three bills — are capped at 22 cents per kWh from July through October.
Pelican confirmed Friday that Government’s contribution was already applied to July bills, meaning the bills now triggering widespread public outrage would have been even higher without the subsidy.
Saunders did not disclose the programme’s total cost.
His admission that Government knew since April, however, raises another question amid the backlash: why were consumers not directly warned by Government about the scale of the approaching increase?
PROVIDENCIALES — New commercial Crown Land applications are facing a six-month pause as the Turks and Caicos Islands Government takes inventory of its holdings.
During Cabinet meetings held July 15 and 16, an immediate six-month moratorium was approved on the acceptance, processing
and approval of new applications for commercial Crown Land grants, leases and allocations.
The pause will remain in place pending completion of the Crown Land Inventory Review. Cabinet’s summary did not state what prompted the review or indicate whether availability of commercial Crown Land is a concern.
The two-day meeting also advanced major consumer legislation. Cabinet approved the National Fair Competition Policy 2026 and drafting instructions for a Fair Competition Ordinance, moving TCI toward stronger consumer protection and fair competition rules.
In Grand Turk, Cabinet approved rezoning land in the North West Suburbs from low-density to medium-density residential use to facilitate a new apartment development.
Cabinet also advanced fisheries reforms, water legislation allowing private and public-private investment, minerals legislation and appointments across tourism, health and finance.
Progress toward establishing a TCI Credit Union was also noted.
PROVIDENCIALES — Major development projects outside Providenciales received Cabinet attention on July 8, with Government approving agreements connected to the redevelopment of Dellis Cay and a resort development in North Caicos.
Cabinet approved a Development Agreement between the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, Desarrollos Hotelco DC Ltd. and
Desarrollos Hotelco Astoria Ltd. for the redevelopment of Dellis Cay.
The long-discussed private island development sits between Providenciales and North Caicos and its return to Cabinet signals another step toward redevelopment.
Cabinet also approved amendments to an agreement involving SPR LND Ltd. (Royal Reef) and TCIG Development Agreement for a resort/hotel development in North Caicos.
Other decisions included approval of the First Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026 for onward transmission and the appointment of Cindy Ewing as Chair of the Invest TCI Board, effective August 1 for three years.
Cabinet also noted consultation outcomes concerning changes to business licensing, approved professional membership expenses for qualifying Telecommunications Commission staff and approved advice relating to the Interim Clinical and Estates Services PPP.
The July 8 meeting was chaired by Acting Governor Anya Williams.
Photo Credit: Royal Reef (Keith)
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