Distinguished Jamaican hotelier and businessman Kevin Hendrickson has been declared Caribbean Hotelier of the Year by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). The award was presented during CHTA’s Caribbean Travel Forum preceding the official opening of the 40th Caribbean Travel Marketplace in San Juan, Puerto Rico, last week – an event attended by Travel Industry Today.
Hendrickson, Courtleigh Hospitality Group’s Managing Director, is known for his support of many tourism-related organizations, including the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), the Jamaica Tourist Board, and the Tourism Linkages Council. He owns and operates The Jamaica Pegasus, The Courtleigh Hotel & Suites and Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston, and Holiday Inn Resort in Montego Bay.
The Caribbean Hotelier of the Year Award is one of the highest honours bestowed by CHTA, recognizing excellence in Caribbean hotel operations by demonstrating superior achievement in Resort Operations, Food & Beverage, Marketing and Sales, Resort Maintenance, Staff Training and Motivation, Innovative Management, Environmental Practices, Community Affairs, and Involvement with National and Regional lodging industry associations.
Among his many accolades and awards, Hendrickson is the recipient of JHTA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Hospitality Jamaica Hotel Personality of the Year, the Jamaican Order of Distinction with the rank of Commander, and the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies Award for Excellence in Business Leadership. He also received a proclamation from the United States House of Representatives for his community leadership.
Hendrickson’s love of tourism and his homeland is evidenced not only in his professional hospitality endeavors, but also in the investments he has made in Jamaica’s local economy through businesses such as Yummy Bakery and its subsidiaries. He also sits on the board of trustees for his alma mater, Saint Leo University.
Among those sharing congratulatory messages to the hotelier were Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett and Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who hailed Hendrickson’s many successes and his multiple contributions to the advancement of tourism in Jamaica and the region
“I want to add my voice of congratulations on winning the Caribbean Hotelier of the Year Award, quite a significant and prestigious award to add to your already prestigious Courtleigh brand. Congratulations!” stated Prime Minister Holness.
Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2022, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is the Caribbean’s leading association representing the interests of national hotel and tourism associations and the region’s private sector. It includes some 1,000 hotel and allied members, and 33 National Hotel Associations in the region.