The Tribune

Sandals Emerald Bay has clinched the Caribbean’s top spot at the TravelAge West WAVE Awards.

While Sandals Resorts International took the top spots in two other categories, Sandals Emerald Bay was selected as ‘Best All-Inclusive Resort in the Caribbean’.

Sandals Grande Riviera Beach & Villa Golf Resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. grabbed ‘Best New Property or Major Renovation in the Caribbean’, and Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa took home ‘Best Resort for Families in the Caribbean’.

The TravelAge West WAVE (Western agents’ Votes of Excellence) Awards are a celebration of excellence in travel products, services and destinations.

Jeremy Mutton, Sandals Emerald Bay’s general manager, said that while the property’s physical beauty is unsurpassed, it is the resort’s team members who deserve the credit for the award.

“If you don’t have the service levels and customer service, the best physical beauty does not mean much,” said Mr Mutton.

“It is really the team members who won the award, and it is good news not just for Sandals but for the whole island of Great Exuma and the Bahamas.”

He added that the accolades received by the resort from Brides Magazine recently, and its top spot as the ‘Caribbean’s Leading Luxury All-Inclusive resort’ in 2012, according to the World Travel Awards, are a testament to the effort Sandals’ team members put forward to deliver great service.

More than 4,500 travel agent professionals and readers of TravelAge West voted on the best-of-the-best from a list of Editor’s Pick award recipients, which were chosen after careful review by TravelAge West Editor-in-Chief, Kenneth Shapiro, and the editorial team of TravelAge West.

Review methods included product analysis, on-site visits, a survey of a select group of travel agents and online research.