Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa capped off a transformative year of service excellence and team investment with its 2025 annual Prestige Awards, a celebratory ceremony dedicated to recognizing the hard work and outstanding contributions of its staff. Framed by the event’s compelling theme, “Made of the Caribbean: Hospitality Redefined,” the gathering centered the brand’s greatest asset: the people who turn every guest stay into an unforgettable luxury experience.
In his opening address to attendees, which included regional Sandals leadership, General Manager David Latchimy reflected on a 2025 marked by consistent growth, innovative service upgrades, and a deep, unwavering dedication to upholding the warm, authentic standards of Caribbean hospitality. He emphasized that the resort’s year-over-year success is rooted entirely in the daily passion, professional pride, and expertise that every team member brings to their roles.
“Our 2025 achievements are a direct reflection of the passion, pride and professionalism our team brings to work every single day,” Latchimy shared. “This year, we doubled down on our commitment to team members’ development because when we empower our people, we elevate every guest experience. They are truly ‘Made of the Caribbean,’ and they are redefining what world-class hospitality means.”
A core pillar of the resort’s 2025 investment in its workforce was the expansion of programming through Sandals Corporate University (SCU), the brand’s in-house training initiative. Latchimy highlighted that more than 10 current supervisors and managers completed the prestigious Diploma in Hospitality Leadership programme, a joint offering developed in partnership with Accelerating Leaders and Florida International University. He also spotlighted two SCU scholarship recipients who are advancing their formal hospitality education: Ariel Joseph, engineering and maintenance supervisor, who studies at Les Roches International School of Hotel Management, and Leon Norville, the resort’s public relations manager, who is pursuing a degree at MIU City University of Miami. Latchimy framed these educational milestones not just as individual wins, but as long-term investments in the future of the Sandals brand and Caribbean tourism as a whole.
Beyond internal recognition, 2025 brought widespread acclaim for Sandals Grande Antigua team members at the national and regional levels. Butler Karen Grenado-Wong, the resort’s 2024 Diamond Team Member of the Year, claimed Antigua’s National WOW Factor Award for Customer Service Excellence. Learning and Development Manager Carlene Spencer earned two National Women of Wadadli Awards in the Tourism and Education categories, in addition to the Posh Caribbean Icon Award for Education Innovation. Two rising young team members—Front Office Agent Masadie Issac and Chef Jerri-Ann Baltimore—were honored with National Youth Awards in Tourism and Hospitality from the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Youth Affairs. At the National Tourism Awards hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association, Loyalty and Travel Consultant Sandy Ramsaran took home the 2025 Customer Service Award, while Leon Norville was named Young Hotelier of the Year.
Veteran hospitality and communications professional Raynel Carroll delivered the evening’s keynote address, charging attendees to continue prioritizing service over personal gain, while working to elevate both guest experiences and the global reputation of Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism sector. The celebratory atmosphere was enriched by live performances from local and regional talent, including the Elite Dancers, the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra, recording artist Asher Otto, and his band Itchy Feet.
Deon Blair, the 2025 Diamond Team Member of the Year from the Engineering and Maintenance department, shared that he was humbled by the top honor, and urged his colleagues to lead by example, embrace continuous learning, and support one another in the pursuit of service excellence. Ashel Samuel, runner-up for Platinum Team Member of the Year from Butler Elite Services, encouraged peers to hold fast to their passion for hospitality, prioritize personal growth, and take pride in representing the best of Caribbean service to the world.
The ceremony was attended by senior regional Sandals leadership, including Eastern Caribbean Regional Managing Director Winston Anderson, Regional Public Relations Manager Sunil Ramdeen, and Regional Financial Controller Antonia Ferdinand-Amedee.
The annual Prestige Awards are a longstanding Sandals tradition designed to reinforce a workplace culture where team members can grow, innovate, and deliver the authentic Luxury Included® Caribbean experience that guests have come to trust and expect from the brand. The full list of 2025 internal award winners is as follows:
– Diamond Award – Team Member of the Year: Deon Blair, Engineering and Maintenance
– Platinum Award – Runner-Up Team Member of the Year: Ashel Samuel, Butler Elite Services
– Founder’s Circle Award: Sylvia Joseph, Food and Beverage
– A-Team – Department of the Year: Red Lane Spa
– MVP – Manager of the Year: Sherlann Barrow, Entertainment
– Pacesetter – General Manager’s Award: Adam Powell, Entertainment
– Heart of the House – Hotel Manager’s Award: Earl Kitt, Engineering and Maintenance
– All Rounder – Supervisor of the Year: Cassandra Matthias, Housekeeping
– Island Routes Ambassador: Treshawna Fergenson, Island Routes
– People’s Choice: Juleen Rose, Kitchen
– Sandals Foundation Sentinel: Natalee Henry, Housekeeping
– Legendary – Most Guest Mentioned: Kyannah Joy Corneilous, Food and Beverage
– Money Maker of the Year Award: Maura Henry, Resort Shop
– Standing Ovation Award: Kelman Bristol, Stores
– Sandals Earth Guardian Award: Kim Casey, Engineering and Maintenance
– Circle of Joy Smile Award: Omega Jeffery, EPIX
– Mover and Shaker Most Improved Award: Priscella George, Cost Control