The best of Saint Lucia’s tourism industry was honoured at the 2025 GIMIES Awards on April 11, 2026 at the Pavillion on Rodney Bay. Outstanding businesses and individuals were recognised for their contributions to service excellence, innovation, sustainability and industry development.
The prestigious annual awards ceremony highlighted the resilience and growth of the island’s tourism sector, celebrating top independent operators across accommodation, transportation, and special recognitions within the tourism industry.
A notable milestone recognition was made to Cox & Company for 100 years, recognising its longstanding contribution to the development of Saint Lucia’s tourism industry.
According to the Minister for Tourism, Commerce, Culture, Creative Industries and Heritage, Dr Ernest Hilaire, “This year’s awards placed strong emphasis on sustainability, innovation, and workforce development – critical pillars shaping the future of tourism on the island. The GIMIES continue to serve as a platform to recognise excellence, inspire high standards, and celebrate the people and organisations that make Saint Lucia a world-class destination.”
In this year’s celebration, the nominees and winners for the GIMIES2025/26 are:
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
ACCOMMODATION EMPLOYEE NOMINEES AND WINNERS
Winner Small Hotel Employee of the Year: Hermanly Fletcher of Anse Chastanet Resort
Other Nominees: Alain Felix of Anse Chastanet Resort & Dwight Jules of Jade Mountain Resort
Winner Medium Hotel Employee of the Year: Cyrus Elijah Jn. Baptiste of Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
Other Nominees:
Cameron-Jordon Eugene of The Harbor Club – Curio Collection by Hilton & Joshell Cherubin of the Landings St Lucia Resort & Spa
Winner Large Hotel Employee of the Year: Liam Hippolyte of Windjammer Landing Resort & Residences
Other Nominees:
Gillianna Jallim of Sandals Regency La Toc & Kenda Declary of Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort
TRANSPORTATION AND RECREATION EMPLOYEE NOMINEES AND WINNERS
Winner Land-Based Transportation Employee of the Year: IselmaPhillip of Hibiscus Tours Saint Lucia
Other Nominees:
Everett Deterville of Graceful Tours and Transfers & Peterson Hippolyte of Hibiscus Tours St Lucia
Winner Marine-Based Transportation Employee of the Year: Daniel Jn Baptiste of Sea Spray Cruises Ltd
Other Nominee: Mario Kember Jules of Sea Spray Cruises Ltd
Winner Sites and Adventure Employee of the Year: R’Montay Regis of Soufriere Regional Development Foundation
Other Nominee: Cheryl Mathurin of Soufriere Regional Development Foundation
Winner Tourism Transport Operator of the Year: Tyller Jules of TS Services SLU
Other Nominees: Olivia Dostalie of PHVTOURS & Sabina Etienne of Sabina Lady’s Cab
INDEPENDENT EMPLOYEE NOMINEES AND WINNERS
Tourism and Hospitality Student of the Year: Anice O’Neil of UWI Global Campus
Other Nominees: Emma Mofat and Solange Henry both of National Skills Development Centre
Independent Tour Guide of the Year: Aaron Joseph of Father Nature Adventures
Other Nominees: Erica Leacock of Fun Tours Inc/Adventure Tours St.Luciaand Arthur Anthony of Arthur’s Exceptional Tours
Independent Restaurant Employee of the Year: Laila Saige Dolort of Garmaii Enterprises (Garmaii Boutique and Diner)
Other Nominees: Tyrah President of Faye Gastronomie Caraibes and Curlisa Moise of Razmataz
Craft and Souvenir Retailer of the Year: Boniface Modeste of Ladera Resort
Other Nominees: Gilliano Louis of Chizel Arts and Elvis Benjamin of Craft World
Port Employee of the Year: Ivar James of Soufriere Regional Development Foundation
Other Nominees: Alma Moffat and Crista Joseph of Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority
SPECIAL AWARDS EMPLOYEE NOMINEES AND WINNERS
People’s Choice: Elver Descartes, Tour Guide, ATV Direct
Other Nominees: Akim Francis, Check, Bursting with Flavors AKA 5 Star and Shervon Charles, Stable Hand /Owner, Unique Stables
Youth in Tourism: Cheris Fitz of Fitzie
Other Nominees: Paris Roserie of Addventure ATV and Tamica Belony of Belle Orange
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Felix Finisterre
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Rosaline Impy Milner, Owner, Yacht Club
Isidore Brisefert, Taxi Driver, Southern Taxi
Rebecca Auguste, Owner, The Seagull Beach Bar & Grill
ORGANIZATIONAL AWARDS
ACCOMMODATION ORGANIZATIONAL NOMINEES AND WINNERS
Winner Small Hotel of the Year: Cap Maison Resort & Spa
Other Nominees: Hotel Chocolat and Caille Blanc Villa & Hotel
Winner Medium Hotel of the Year: StolenTime Saint Lucia
Other Nominees: The Harbor Club – Curio Collection by Hilton and Zoetry Marigot Ba
Winner Large Hotel of the Year: Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort
Other Nominees: Sandals Regency La Toc and Windjammer Landing Resort & Residences
Winner Collection de Pepites Property of the Year: Sunset Bliss Villa
Other Nominees:
Brise de Mer – Managed by Blue Sky Luxury Saint Lucia and Mount Kailash Rejuvenation Centre
TRANSPORTATION AND RECREATION ORGANIZATIONAL NOMINEES AND WINNERS
Winner Ground Excursion Business of the Year: Panoramic Excursions Ltd.
Other Nominees: Fun Tours Inc and Hibiscus Tours Saint Lucia
Winner Small Marine Based Transportation Operator of the Year: Sugar Boat Charters Inc.
Other Nominees: Joy Adventure and Coastal Cruise Company Ltdand Clear Water Tours
Winner Large Marine-Based Tourism Transportation Business of the Year: Sea Spray Cruises Ltd
Other Nominees: Feel Good Water Taxi & Tours and Mystic Man Tours
Winner Sites and Adventure Business of the Year: Soufriere Hotwire Rides, Inc.
Other Nominees: Eastern Exotic ATV Tours Limited and ATV Xperience
Winner Transport Company of the Year: Southern Taxi Association
Other Nominees: C&M Touring Services Inc and Nerv’s Taxi and Auto Rental Service Inc.
INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATIONAL NOMINEES AND WINNERS
Winner Wedding and Events Planner of the Year: Awesome Caribbean Weddings
Other Nominees: Thouzand Wordz Inc. and Style with Vee
Winner Independent Restaurant of the Year: Spinnakers Beach Bar and Grill
Other Nominees: Orlando’s Restaurant & Bar and Artisan Restaurant
Winner Destination Management Company: Barefoot Holidays St. Lucia
Other Nominees: Foster & Ince Cruise Services (St Lucia) Limited and Solar Tours and Travel
SPECIAL AWARDS ORGANIZATIONAL NOMINEES AND WINNERS
Winner Community-Based Tourism: Soufriere Regional Development Foundation
Winner Sustainable Tourism: Ladera Resort
Other Nominees: Anse Chastanet Resort and Hotel Chocolat
Winner Tourism Education and Training: National Skills Development Centre
Other Nominees: The Harbor Club – Curio Collection by Hilton and Sandals Regency La Toc
Winner Tourism Social Impact: Windjammer Landing Resort & Residences
Other Nominees: Sandals Grande St Lucian Spa & Beach Resort and Soufriere Regional Development Foundation
Winner Tourism Innovation: LUNAA Journeys
Other Nominees: Bon Vivant Chateau and Soufriere Regional Development Foundation
The GIMIES 2025/26 partners are as follows:
Presenting Partners: Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Investments, Creative Industries, Culture and Heritage, Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, Saint Lucia Hospitality & Tourism Association and the Tourism Enhancement Fund
Ultra Premium Partners: St Lucia Times, Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards, Courts Business Solutions, and Bank of Saint Lucia.
Premium Partners: Invest Saint Lucia, Digicel, Barbay Ltd, Hospitality Credit Union, Massy Stores (St Lucia) Ltd, 1st National Bank (St Lucia) Ltd, Piton Beer, LUCELEC, Barbat Ltd, The CELL & Republic Bank and FLOW.
Supporting Partners: SLASPA, The HUB, UWI Global Campus, 4 Circles & Subway
Our In-kind Industry Partners are Anse Chastanet, Bay Gardens Beach Hotel, Cap Maison, Calabash Cove, Ladera Resort, Hotel Chocolat, FAYE Gastronomie, Sandals Grande, Rotoplastics, Dive St Lucia, Windjammer and Bay Gardens Marina Haven.
Relive the moments on NTN (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywL0CEPbGZg) and The GIMIES social media platforms. For more information on The GIMIES, visit www.thegimies.org, Facebook/Instagram @The_GIMIES or email tourismawards@stlucia.org
