ZURRA GOLF CLUBHOUSE FOR TOURISM GALA NBA First Ever Headline Sponsor

This year, the Annual Tourism Gala, an integral part of Tourism Week, and described as “a glittering event in the island’s social calendar,” will be held at Zurra, Bob and Melinda’s new restaurant, at the Temenos St. Regis Golf Clubhouse, a showpiece of Anguilla’s 18-hole championship golf course. The National Bank of Anguilla, which has contributed US$5,000 towards sponsorship of the event, is the first ever headline sponsor of this function which will be held on Friday, December 1, commencing at 7 pm.

A release from Executive Director of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association, Trudy Nixon, says the gala event features the greatly respected Tourism Awards. “It celebrates the stars and pioneers of our tourism community through its prestigious awards and exciting location,” the release went on. “This is the first time the Gala has attracted a headline sponsor. The organising committee is extremely grateful to NBA for its contribution which will make the event better and more high profile than ever.”

At a presentation ceremony at NBA’s Board Room Wednesday this week, the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, E. Valentine Banks, referred to the theme of Tourism Week which is Empowering Anguillians for Service and Ownership. “This bank regards itself as a great example of empowerment having grown from the idea 21 or so years ago to give its shareholders the opportunity to invest in and thereby own a bank. NBA has since become one of the most powerful institutions in the OECS,” he said.

“Today, in Anguilla, right before our eyes, we have three major institutions the presence, stature and importance of which can only be missed by one who is deaf and blind. ANGLEC, the Caribbean Commercial Bank and the National Bank of Anguilla make the strongest case possible for empowerment for and ownership by people.

“I have made the assumption that the theme of the Tourism Gala speaks to a need for the people of this country to make themselves an integral part of everything that happens in the industry…We at NBA applaud the authors of the theme.”

Tourism Advisor, Donna Banks, said in part: “Today is another testimony of NBA’s commitment to the spirit of partnership in the tourism industry and an expression of the concept of empowerment, enabling others to achieve their goals.

“The Annual Tourism Gala has been envisioned by us in the tourism sector as becoming the premier social activity in the island’s calendar. We believe it will be an opportunity for primary stakeholders and other beneficiaries of the tourism sector to celebrate our past successes, forge deeper relationships and anticipate the coming tourism season.

“We have not always achieved our objectives for the gala but our vision has never died. I believe that today is a turning point in the life of our tourism gala. I believe today heralds a break through in true partnership and represents the beginning of sustained support for this event.”
Meanwhile, the organising committee has also expressed thanks to individual sponsors, who supported the awards faithfully for many years, as follows: Hotelier of the Year sponsored by Scotia Bank; Employee and Supervisor of the Year sponsored by National Bank of Anguilla; Allied Member of the Year sponsored by Cap Juluca; Sea Port and Airport Employee of the Year sponsored by FirstCaribbean International Bank and Pioneers of the Year sponsored by Caribbean Commercial Bank. A new sponsor has been welcomed this year – Cheateau Domaine Ste. Michelle Les Grands Vins de France Ltd, providers of all the wine and champagne for the event.

Tourism Week begins on Sunday, November 26, with a Service of Thanksgiving at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, East End. The other activities include talks in the schools, a forum at the Anguilla Tourist Board’s Conference Room, the Tourism Gala and on Saturday, December 2. The concluding event will be a fun walk from the Jeremiah Gumbs Highway to Callaloo Beach Club at Cul de Sac.