The Week at SLHTA, June 22nd, 2012

 

Pictured (left to right): Alec Sanguinetti, director general and CEO, CHTA; Peter C. Yesawich, vice chairman, MMGY Global; Caribbean Hotelier of the Year Karolin Troubetzkoy, owner, Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resort; and Richard Doumeng, president, CHTA.

 

St. Lucia luminary and hospitality veteran Karolin Troubetzkoy, owner, Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resort, has been recognized as the 2011 Caribbean Hotelier of the Year.  Troubetzkoy accepted the honor before an international audience of hospitality and tourism industry leaders assembled for the Golden Jubilee Gala celebrating CHTA’s 50th anniversary, hosted at the Montego Bay Convention Center in Jamaica.The award recognizes excellence in all areas of operations, as well as a commitment to the training and development of staff, contributions to the community, and a demonstrated commitment to sound environmental practices.  The award also acknowledges each recipient’s active role in both national and regional issues affecting Caribbean tourism. Troubetzkoy is the 33rd recipient of this coveted award, widely considered the most prestigious in the region.

Troubetzkoy’s passion for guest service, natural leadership and marketing savvy have played an instrumental role throughout her impressive career spanning more than two decades in St. Lucia.  As owner and executive director of marketing and operations for the award-winning Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain, she currently oversees all aspects of operations while continuing to develop the property’s facilities and services. Both properties are widely celebrated as two of the Caribbean’s top resorts, consistently recognized among the world’s best by Conde Nast Traveler andTravel + Leisure magazines.

A patron of St. Lucia’s cultural arts community, Troubetzkoy has curated Anse Chastanet’s eclectic art collection of indigenous woodcarvings and acrylic paintings, collaborating with local and international artists in a creative residency exchange program.  Her passion for promoting healthy and sustainable lifestyles inspired her vision for the resort spa, Kai Belte.  She conceptualized two new culinary experiences based on fresh, locally sourced cuisine — one entirely vegan, and another that fuses innovative East Indian and Saint Lucian flavors. Troubetzkoy’s local charity work ranges from youth education and care efforts for senior citizens to an “adopt a farmer” program.  She established Anse Chastanet’s charitable guest account in 1989, and assists with the purchase of books and stipends for children of resort staff.

The current president of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association, Troubetzkoy also serves as chairperson of the Marketing Committee of the St. Lucia Tourist Board.  She received the Crystal Award from the St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association in 2002, and was named recipient of the St. Lucia Hotelier of the Year award in 2006. Appointed Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2009, Troubetzkoy holds a degree in business administration with majors in both tourism marketing and hotel and restaurant management from the University of Applied Sciences in Munich. She is fluent in German, French, English and Italian.

The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) voted in a new slate of officers at its Annual General Meeting (AGM), held on June 14, 2012 at the Half Moon Hotel, A Rock Resort, in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  The officers will be led by Richard J. Doumeng, Managing Director of Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, who was sworn in as president of CHTA during the AGM.  Doumeng and the officers will serve the membership of CHTA for the 2012-14 biennium.The five Vice Presidents and Treasurer to serve under Doumeng are as follows:

• 1^st Vice President – Emil Lee, President, St. Maarten Hotel & Trade Association and General Manager of Princess Heights Hotel, St. Maarten

• 2^nd Vice President – Alberto Abreu, Director of Hospitality, Punta Cana Resort & Club, Dominican Republic

• 3^rd Vice President – Karolin Troubetzkoy, President, St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association and Owner and Executive director of Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resort, St. Lucia

• 4^th Vice President – Evelyn Smith, President of the Jamaica Hotel & Tourism Association and General Manager, Tensing Pen, Jamaica

• 5^th Vice President – Willem Jonckheer, CEO of Jonckheer Advertising and Marketing, Curacao

• Treasurer – James Hepple, President and CEO, Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012 the Saint Lucia Culinary Team departed for Miami to participate in the Taste of the Caribbean Competition 2012. A group of seven talented chefs were selected on the Saint Lucia Culinary Team 2012, after a successful Cook-Off was hosted at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian, Spa and Beach Resort, on February 07, 2012.

The team is excited about the opportunity to compete in the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s Taste of the Caribbean, hosted at the Hyatt Regency, Miami, June 20-24, 2012, against ten other teams, namely; Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, BVI, Curacao, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago and USVI. In addition to the usual prestigious prizes such as Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Junior Chef of the Year, Bartender of the Year and Team of the Year; the team will also be contending in various competitions such as, Best Seafood Dish, Best Beef Dish and Authentic Island Cuisine (Taste of the Nations).

The CHTA’s Taste of the Caribbean Competition is described by many, as the one Caribbean food and beverage event and competition not to be missed by any association (and island). The annual event provides the perfect opportunity to network, polish professional skills and cheer on colleagues in competition, before a large audience of industry peers and consumer culinary enthusiasts. Taste of the Caribbean provides education and inspiration through seminars, workshops, tastings and demonstrations, created to enhance performance, style and profitability in food and beverage operations.

The Saint Lucia Culinary Team, will be returning home to Saint Lucia on Monday, June 25, 2012 at 6:15pm via the George F.L. Charles Airport. We bid them the warmest Saint Lucian wishes and look forward to them bringing home the GOLD.

The B.I.D, Business Initiative Directions, Arch of Europe Award presents awards to companies from 48 countries around the world for achievement, quality and excellence. 

Viking Traders Ltd St. Lucia received the international Arch of Europe in Platinum Category on April 30^th 2012 in Frankfurt, Germany for recognition of its commitment to quality, leadership, technology and innovation. They recently received their award in June 2012. Viking Traders Ltd represents success for St.Lucia in the business world.

 

Over the years the company has strengthened its supply chain by ensuring a steady supply of fresh raw materials, i.e. hot peppers, bananas, honey, coconuts, etc. Contracts for specific quantities of raw materials have been given to selected farmers.

 

Since 1979 the Tradition of Quality products continues…

The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) in collaboration with the “Institut de cooperation Franco Cariabe” is conducting an employee exchange program, where employees within the Hotel and Tourism Sector will be undergoing a French Tourism Course.  The employee will be receiving intense training in French, especially Tourism Related French and will also be visiting different hotels in Guadeloupe to get a feel of the environment.

The participating employees are, Wendy Jn Baptiste and Krystal Sealy –Sandals Grande St Lucian Spa and Beach Resort, Wincia Calixte – The Landings St Lucia, Kishnal James – Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Spa and Cycandra Enna Paul – Cap Maison Resort and Spa.

The participants left St. Lucia at via L’Express Des Iles on Thursday 14^thJune, upon arrival they were welcomed by Ms. Patricia Terriere and escorted to the School of Hotel and Tourism where they will be staying for two weeks and return to Saint Lucia on Sunday 1^st July 2012.