CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa is expected to host the rearranged event

World Travel Awards has been forced to postpone its annual Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony until April 2015.

The event had been due to take place in Anguilla on October 24th.

However, the recent impact of Hurricane Gonzalo on the island has disrupted preparations and made the hosting of the event impossible.

World Travel Awards president Graham Cooke said: “It is with great sadness that we have been forced to postpone one of the most popular events on our annual Grand Tour.

“Despite being one of the most highly anticipated events in the regional tourism calendar, the damage caused by the recent Hurricane Gonzalo has made hosting the event impossible at this time.

“We, however, will persevere. Arrangements are currently being put in place to ensure World Travel Awards can successfully visit the island in 2015.

“We will release details as soon as they become available.”

World Travel Awards expects to reschedule the event for April 2015, with original host CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa in line to welcome the rearranged Gala Ceremony.

World Travel Awards winners in the Caribbean & North American region will, however, still be revealed on October 24th.

“Hurricane Gonzalo impacted Anguilla in a manner that was unexpected and hit us directly.

“It evolved from a Tropical Storm to a hurricane in a very short time and damaged our tourism, plants, including our vegetation, and electrical grid.

“We expect to have a full recovery by November 1st.

“Unfortunately, this will not be sufficient time to welcome the World Travel Awards,” said Haydn Hughes, parliamentary secretary and first nominated member with responsibility for tourism and sports.

The Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony was the final planned stop on the World Travel Awards Grand Tour 2014.

With the tour now complete, attention will turn to the World Travel Awards Grand Final, scheduled to take place in Marrakech, Morocco, on November 29th.