For Erica Doras-Pemberton, a belief in her own luck turned a simple competition entry into the dream trip she had long envisioned. Entering the “Win a Trip to Barbados” giveaway with unwavering confidence that her name would be drawn, the 32-year-old Nevisian resident and her husband Winston emerged as the lucky winners, selected from thousands of entries submitted across the entire Caribbean region.
The all-expenses-paid prize, a five-night, six-day island escape, was sponsored through a collaborative regional partnership between TEMPO Networks, interCaribbean Airways, and Divi Southwinds Beach Resort. For Erica, the trip carried extra meaning: it marked her return to Barbados after a single prior visit, and gave Winston, a security officer by profession, his very first chance to explore the island. It also aligned perfectly with the couple’s first wedding anniversary, which they celebrated on June 29 during their stay that wrapped up on Wednesday, July 8.
From the moment they arrived, the couple embraced every moment of their getaway, balancing lazy, quiet days at the oceanfront Divi Southwinds Beach Resort with action-packed island tours and scenic stops across the country. Two of the most talked-about highlights for Erica, a self-described Rihanna fan, were stops at the global pop icon’s childhood home in Bridgetown and her private residence on Barbados’ exclusive Platinum Coast. As an avid nature lover, she also counted the experience of standing at the geographic point where the clear blue Caribbean Sea converges with the Atlantic Ocean among her most memorable moments. Watching the currents mix and the landscape shift at this junction left a lasting impression on her, while deep dives into Barbados’ rich cultural history only strengthened her newfound appreciation for the island.
Erica noted that while Barbados and her home island of Nevis share many deep cultural ties, it was the small, unique differences that made the experience feel special. She highlighted the famously warm hospitality of Barbadian locals, the gentle charm of their common phrase “yes please”, and unexpected local traditions such as the year-round enjoyment of Christmas ham – a custom she found delightfully distinctive.
Beyond sightseeing and cultural exploration, the trip offered the couple something equally valuable: uninterrupted, quality time together away from the busy demands of their everyday work and family lives. Erica, who works as a junior clerk, explained that the getaway gave them the chance to unwind at their own pace, whether they were relaxing on the resort’s beach or wandering the popular dining and entertainment district of St Lawrence Gap.
When asked to sum up her experience in three words, Erica described Barbados as “unforgettable”, “beautiful” and “welcoming”. As the couple prepared to return home to their children, who had followed along via the photos and videos Erica documented throughout the trip, she extended her gratitude to the competition organizers and already plans to return to the island – next time, bringing her whole family along.
Gercine Simmons-Layne, Sales and Marketing Manager at Divi Southwinds Beach Resort, emphasized that the competition campaign demonstrates the unique value of regional partnerships in growing Barbados’ tourism sector by introducing first-time visitors to the island. “Hosting the winner of this giveaway reminded us why we love what we do,” she said. “As a friendly, accessible resort steps from the beach and close to nearly every major attraction on the island, Divi Southwinds All Suite Resort is the perfect base for a first trip to Barbados. TEMPO Networks has such a strong, trusted connection to Caribbean audiences, and it was so exciting to welcome Erica and Winston to our island. We hope this is just the first of many return trips for them.”