The Antigua & Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA) has announced its selection as an official finalist for the 2026 Social Responsibility Award at the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) Awards, a prestigious regional hospitality industry honor hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). The nomination recognizes the association’s flagship youth development program, the Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Academy, for its transformative work building career pipelines for local young people in the culinary and hospitality sectors.
Standing alongside ABHTA on the CHIEF Awards finalist roster is luxury local resort Jumby Bay Island, which earned its nomination in the People Development & Support Award category for its industry-leading Team Member Empowerment Initiative. The dual nominations mark a landmark moment of regional visibility for Antigua and Barbuda’s broader tourism ecosystem, highlighting the sector’s deep commitment to inclusive growth beyond traditional guest service operations.
For ABHTA, the Social Responsibility Award finalist spot carries special resonance, as it validates the multi-faceted impact of the Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Academy that extends far beyond basic culinary skills training. The program is intentionally designed to nurture confidence in young participants, provide structured professional development roadmaps, and create clear, accessible career pathways for local youth who want to build long-term careers in Antigua and Barbuda’s thriving hospitality industry. Association leadership emphasized that the milestone would not have been achievable without the consistent, collective dedication of program partners, participating local hotels, volunteer chef mentors, and all community supporters who have invested time and resources in lifting up the next generation of hospitality talent. ABHTA also extended formal public congratulations to its member property Jumby Bay Island for its separate nomination, noting the resort’s longstanding reputation as a leader in employee-centric operations across the Caribbean.
At Jumby Bay Island, team members are positioned as the core foundation of every operational and strategic decision the resort makes. Its award-nominated Team Member Empowerment Initiative wraps a suite of targeted support programs around staff needs, including comprehensive financial literacy workshops, dedicated mental health and wellness resources, and regular structured engagement activities that foster a tight-knit, supportive workplace culture. The program’s design underscores the resort’s sustained, long-term commitment to advancing both the personal and professional well-being of every member of its team, and the CHIEF Awards nomination validates that this approach sets a regional benchmark for hospitality human resources practices.
The 2026 CHIEF Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Monday, November 16, 2026, in Barbados, as the flagship centerpiece of the wider CHIEF 2026 industry forum running from November 16 to 18. ABHTA and Jumby Bay Island are inviting members of the general public, local community stakeholders, and global hospitality industry peers to follow official event channels for real-time updates leading up to the ceremony, to track the progress of both Antigua and Barbuda finalists as they represent the nation’s tourism sector on the regional stage.