November 15, 2022
The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) has honoured the best-selling Saint Lucia travel agents in the world, following the hosting of the 2022 Global Piton Awards for the top-producing Saint Lucia Expert Travel Advisors from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Caribbean.
From VIP arrival services to custom experiences including the Luxe Lucian Lime, the Gros-Islet Street Party, and a cocktail reception at the Prime Minister’s official residence, the Advisors were celebrated with an immersive weekend from November 10 through 14.
The weekend culminated with an award ceremony at Sandals Grande St. Lucian, where the top 35 winners were honored for their contributions to Saint Lucia’s tourism in a regenerative period. The 2022 Global Piton Awards were bestowed upon travel advisors who booked the most room nights from July 1, 2019, through December 31, 2021, through the Saint Lucia Expert (SLEx) Program created in partnership with Recommend magazine.
15 winners are from the United States, 5 from Canada, and 10 from the United Kingdom and Ireland. For the first time, the Caribbean market joined the global mix honouring 5 Travel Professionals. They all received the exclusive “Mark insignia” of Saint Lucia along with a locally handcrafted trophy.
“At a time when the world looked to tourism as the main economic driver, our Travel Advisors and carriers placed special confidence in Saint Lucia. A major part of our success and global prominence is attributed to their continued selling of our island’s offerings. They undoubtedly remain the pulse of our industry and we are delighted to express our appreciation.” Remarked Lorine Charles St. Jules, Chief Executive Officer of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority.
Trish Hockin of Tropic Breeze received the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Sales for the top-selling Tour Operator in the UK & Europe. Receiving the Minister of Tourism Award for exceptional sales performance in the UK & Ireland is Independent Travel Agent Sheila Sparkes of Holidaysplease. The pinnacle of sales excellence was achieved by Nancy Finn of My Island Getaways who was bestowed with the Prime Minister’s Award for Exceptional Sales Performance in North America & the Caribbean.
U.S. WINNERS
| 1 | Andrea | Williams | Exquisite Vacations |
| 2 | Nancy | Finn | My Island Getaways |
| 3 | Lynn | Thomas | Alpha World Travel |
| 4 | Sally Jane | Smith | TravelSmiths |
| 5 | Mark | Hennigan | Dreamers Travel |
| 6 | Kerri | Logan | Escapes Unlimited AZ |
| 7 | Veronica | Kastukevich | Custom Travel |
| 8 | Steve | Simmons | Honeymoons inc. |
| 9 | Scott | Jones | EZ Travel Pad |
| 10 | Kim | Goldstein | Journeys Travel |
| 11 | Christen | Perry | Classic Travel Connection |
| 12 | Linda | Dancer | Honeymoons inc. |
| 13 | Mitch | Toren | Trip Guy |
| 14 | Heather | DiPietro | Travel Sales Group |
| 15 | Jennifer | Doncsecz | Vip Travel Inc. |
CANADIAN WINNERS
| 1 | Sharon | Boissonneault | House of Travel |
| 2 | Lois | Barbour | Travel Time- TPI |
| 3 | Alexandra | Maloney | Glenny Travel |
| 4 | Kim | Hartlen | Kim Hartlen Travel -TPI |
| 5 | Pauline Denise | Blacoe | Shine Travel |
U.K. WINNERS
| 1 | Trish | Hockin | Tropic Breeze |
| 2 | Lindsey | Hayes | BA Holidays |
| 3 | Darren | Liddle | BA Holidays |
| 4 | John | Longstaff | BA Holidays |
| 5 | Lucy | Case | BA Holidays |
| 6 | Sheila | Sparkes | Holidaysplease |
| 7 | Lisa | Drake | Hays Travel |
| 8 | Paul | Salisbury | Guru Travel Group |
| 9 | Gilly | Bachelor | Not Just Travel |
| 10 | Gaynor | Davies | Chester Travel Connection |
Caribbean Winners
| 1 | Andy | Hill | Lazzari & Sampson Ltd – TT |
| 2 | Laura | Baldeosingh | Amral’s Travel Service (2002) Limited -TT |
| 3 | Xiamara | Weir | The Indar Weir Travel Centre – Barbados |
| 4 | Stephanie | Nosibor | AVS VOYAGES – Martinique |
| 5 | Martine | Clerme | Sunny Voyages- Guadeloupe |
Air Antilles, Air Canada, American Airlines, British Airways, Capo Rosso, Caribbean Airlines, Delta, Inter Caribbean Airlines, JetBlue, L’Express des Iles, LIAT, Sunwing, TUI, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and WestJet were honoured for their support and commitment to the destination with the SLTA Partnership Awards.