Grenada Tourism Authority CEO Petra Roach was awarded the Director of Tourism Award 2024 by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) at the Women’s Leadership Breakfast during Caribbean Week in New York.
The ceremony celebrated exceptional women in Caribbean tourism leadership across 3 distinguished categories:
- The Director of Tourism Award 2024 recognises a female Director of Tourism who has demonstrated exceptional visionary leadership, driven destination growth and development, has shown unwavering commitment to regional tourism development and provided support and inspiration to other women in Caribbean leadership roles
- The Minister of Tourism Award 2024 honours a female Minister of Tourism demonstrating excellence and chosen by fellow ministers. This was awarded to Valérie Damaseau, Commissioner of Tourism and Culture, St Martin
- The Secretary-General’s Distinguished Service Award celebrates a female leader with over 30 years of service, with notable contributions to regional tourism and who provides inspirational support to other women in the industry, selected by the Secretary-General in consultation with the Chairmanship. This was awarded to Beverly Nicholson-Doty, CEO of Figment Design
In receiving this accolade, Roach expressed her heartfelt gratitude and reaffirmed her dedication to fostering growth and development within the Caribbean tourism sector. Stating, “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire team at the Grenada Tourism Authority. Our collective efforts have been instrumental in driving growth and elevating Grenada’s profile on the global stage. I am passionate about inspiring other women and future generations to dream big and take bold steps to advance our industry. Together, we can create a thriving, inclusive and sustainable tourism landscape that benefits all Caribbean nations for years to come.”
Minister of Tourism the Honourable Adrian Thomas showed his appreciation stating, “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Petra on this well-deserved accolade. This esteemed recognition is a testament to her unparalleled passion and innovation in promoting Grenada, and her dynamic leadership which has not only propelled Grenada’s tourism industry to new heights but has also set a benchmark for excellence and innovation across the Caribbean.”
Chairman of the GTA Randall Dolland added, “Under Petra’s stewardship, the Grenada Tourism Authority has seen remarkable advancements in sustainable tourism, strategic marketing initiatives and community engagement, all of which have cemented Grenada’s position as a premier travel destination.”
This prestigious award comes on the heels of CEO Roach receiving the Caribbean Tourism Director of the Year accolade in December of 2023 by Carib Journal’s Caribbean Travel Awards.
Caribbean Week, is a week-long event for travel industry professionals showcasing a dynamic lineup of events with the 2024 theme “Connecting the Globe, Celebrating Diversity.” Grenada has received significant recognition with Teen Vogue’s Entertainment News Editor Kaitlyn McNab also receiving a prestigious Caribbean Media Award for her viral feature “Grenada’s Spicemas Carnival Revolutionised the Way I Think About My Blackness and My Body.”
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