Amid flourishing tourism and a growing reputation as one of the world’s premier island destinations, Anguilla has been selected to host the World Travel Awards Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony 2014 on October 25th.

For the first time in its rich history, the Anguilla Tourist Board and the luxurious CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa will host the distinguished Gala Ceremony, hailed as the ‘Oscars of the travel industry’ which celebrates the year’s top tier performers in travel, tourism and hospitality and those who continue to innovate and drive the industry forward.

Joining those receiving the highest honour in travel will be hundreds of dignitaries, luminaries, international media, government, industry leaders, and legends in the industry that have continued to set the standard for excellence in travel.

World Travel Awards President Graham Cooke said: “It will be an honour for the World Travel Awards to visit Anguilla for the first time and I can think of no better place for us to celebrate the best of regional tourism than CusineArt.

“The Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony will offer our voters a chance to select the leading airlines, hotels, tour operators and attractions across the regions, and these industry leaders will be celebrated on what promises to be a wonderful evening.”

Guests will be entertained by a star-studded line up of local and globally renowned hosts, presenters and performers along with a culinary exposition and the bestowing of the travel industry’s highest honours throughout the awards gala, anticipated to be the region’s most successful to date, with record numbers of industry heavyweights expected to descend upon the peerless island.

“This is a very exciting milestone for Anguilla,” said Hon. Haydn Hughes, Parliamentary Secretary and First Nominated Member with Responsibility for Tourism and Sports.

“Tourism is a vital part of our economy, and we have been working closely with local and international businesses to implement a number of groundbreaking initiatives over the last two years to generate tourism growth.

“I am pleased to say that our hard work is bearing fruit with a solid increase in the number of tourists visiting Anguilla over this period.

“To welcome the World Travel Awards cements our commitment and further provides us with reason to celebrate.”

The annual ceremony recognises the region’s exceptional achievements in the travel industry and has evolved into the most comprehensive awards program established to acknowledge, reward, and honour excellence across the tourism sector.

World Travel Awards winners leverage their triumph to spearhead their marketing and press campaigns for the promising year ahead.

Winning a World Travel Award has a proven track record of raising the brand’s profile while directly escalating profitability and recognition.

Anguilla Tourist Board chairman, Bonnie Bloom stated: “With an influx in tourism over the past couple of years, the event could not be timelier.

“The partnership with such a distinguished travel brand further affirms our desire to highlight Anguilla to the global community.

”We have worked harder than ever to deliver a premium and enriching experience for all of our visitors and are thrilled to showcase our prized tourism assets.”

The multi-award winning CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa harbours an exceptional setting for the World Travel Awards Gala Ceremony.

Situated in the crescent curve of Rendezvous Bay, CuisinArt offers luxurious suites and villas, an exceptional range of fine dining experiences, the highly revered Venus Spa, and the thrilling challenge for golf aficionados at the resort’s stunning 18-hole Greg Norman Signature Design Championship Course.

Providing an impeccable backdrop of beachfront sophistication and unobstructed views of the Caribbean Sea, CuisinArt blends an extraordinary setting and incomparable services, making it an ideal location for a range of momentous events.

CuisinArt general manager Stephane Zaharia said the resort will be working around the clock to showcase the prestigious event.

“Recognition by the World Travel Awards is rightly seen as the highest accolade in the tourism sector, and it is an honour for CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa to provide our luxury accommodations and world-class service as host of this esteemed industry event.

“We look forward to extending our rich tradition of hospitality to the attending North American and Caribbean travel specialists and invite each of them to experience our renown culinary, wine and golf offerings in this unparalleled setting,” explained Zaharia.

World Travel Awards, which is now in its 21st year, began its annual Grand Tour with the Middle East Gala Ceremony at the JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates in May this year.

Events have followed in Athens, Greece, and Quito, Ecuador, while World Travel Awards will visit The Oberoi, New Delhi, for the Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony on October 10th.

The Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony in Anguilla will be the final regional ceremony, before Morocco welcomes the World Travel Awards Grand Final 2014 to Marrakech.