Past, present and future stars of the tourism industry were honoured at the 2026 Stingray Tourism Awards held at the Grand Cayman Marriott Resort on 9 May.
The event, hosted by the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, celebrated individuals who made standout contributions to the industry, with 49 nominees and 11 award winners, including a lifetime achievement and long service awards.
Cayman hospitality
CITA president Sharlene Brenkus opened the event by emphasising the contributions made by each person working in the industry.
“Caymanian hospitality is something truly special,” she said. “It is important to recognise that Caymanian hospitality is not defined by any one organisation or individual, but by every person working collectively across our tourism sectors.”
She added that Cayman’s tourism product has “been shaped over generations by visionary leaders who have developed outstanding hotels, restaurants, attractions and hospitality services across our islands. Their vision has been powered by the very best people, an extraordinary combination of local talent and internationally-recognised hospitality professionals who have brought global expertise to our shores while embracing and enhancing the authentic spirit of Caymanian hospitality.”
Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister Gary Rutty told the audience that tourism happened because of people “far beyond the spotlight, who create experiences that our visitors remember the most”, listing the likes of tour guides, taxi drivers, hotel staff, bartenders and maintenance teams “as just some of the heroes of our tourism industry whose collective efforts contribute to the achievement of extraordinary results at a national level”.
The annual awards celebration recognised exceptional managers, employees and emerging professionals in tourism. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman swept the board in the restaurant category, while the accommodation honours were shared by the Grand Cayman Marriott Resort and Little Cayman Beach Resort. Red Sail took both watersports honours and event planners Celebrations picked up both awards in the Allied category, which recognises tourism-supporting businesses.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Wendy Moore in recognition of her decades of exceptional contributions to the Cayman Islands tourism industry and wider community. A passionate ambassador for the Cayman Islands throughout her distinguished career, CITA said that Moore has played a “significant role in tourism promotion, hospitality leadership, environmental stewardship and community development for more than four decades”.
The evening also recognised Lawrence Haughton with the Long Service in Tourism Award, honoring more than 50 years of exceptional service to Cayman’s hospitality industry. From his early years at Beach Club Colony to leadership roles at the Hyatt Regency, Royal Palms and The Reef Beach Resort, CITA said that Haughton’s career “exemplified dedication, professionalism, and authentic Caymanian hospitality”.
Nominees and award winners
RESTAURANTS
Manager of the Year
Marcus Cumber – Lobster Pot Restaurant & Wine Bar
Miralda Dzaghgouni – The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Prakash Lourdusamy – Grand Cayman Marriott Resort
WINNER: Miralda Dzaghgouni – The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Employee of the Year
Patrenesia Dorman-Brown – The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman
Rosalyn Ramsay – The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Marie Luise Rieckh – The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Mirna Scott – Grand Cayman Marriott Resort
Alessandro Usini – Gyro Hut Ltd t/a The Hive
WINNER: Marie Luise Rieckh – The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
ACCOMMODATION
Manager of the Year
Doris Dixon – The Reef Beach Resort
Adam Gardner – Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa / Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman
Macmillan ‘Big Mac’ Ndipnu – Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman
Latoya McLeod – Grand Cayman Marriott Resort
Jim Wrigley – Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa
Michael Ann Boyer – Little Cayman Beach Resort
WINNER: Latoya McLeod – Grand Cayman Marriott Resort
Employee of the Year
Pamela Bell – The Reef Beach Resort
Tularam Dilchand – Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman
Kavita Subba – Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa
Roshan Ebanks – Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa
Nataly Zuniga – Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa
Grant Andre – Grand Cayman Marriott Resort
Jorge Castellanos – Little Cayman Beach Resort
Puspa Rumba Tamang – Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa
Fern Powell – Island Club
WINNER: Jorge Castellanos – Little Cayman Beach Resort
WATERSPORTS
Manager of the Year
CJ Moore – Cayman Islands Boat Rentals
CJ Moore – Moore Marine Group of Companies
Mark Elliott – Red Sail Group
Harvey Smith – Red Sail Group
Decel Remotin – Red Sail Group
Tanya Smith – Red Sail Group
Fernando Soler – Rum Point Club / Red Sail Group
WINNER: Decel Remotin – Red Sail Group
Employee of the Year
Pablo Novoa – Red Sail Sports
Pepe Rackwell – Red Sail Group
David Clark – Rum Point Club
Ajantha Pradeep – Rum Point Club
WINNER: Pepe Rackwell – Red Sail Group
ALLIED (tourism-supporting industries)
Manager of the Year
Mary Ann Mehigan – Celebrations Group Ltd
WINNER: Mary Ann Mehigan – Celebrations Group Ltd
Employee of the Year
Naomi Obando – Celebrations Group Ltd
WINNER: Naomi Obando – Celebrations Group Ltd
RISING STAR AWARD (ALL SECTORS)
Noah Hill – SeaLand Adventure Tours Ltd
Jahzarah Bush – Red Sail Group
Alex Elliott – Red Sail Group
Danielle Russell – Rum Point Club
Nazaria Forbes – The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Milan Gurung – Grand Cayman Marriott Resort
Allen Barnes – Gyro Hut Ltd t/a The Hive
Tina Barrett – Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa
Jazmin Sanchez – The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Kristofer Mason – Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa
Tye Joseph Heiss – Grand Cayman Marriott Resort
Jaydon Raymundo Robinson – Grand Cayman Marriott Resort
Daniel Dixon – Hampton by Hilton Grand Cayman
Sherlyn Pascual-Bodden – Celebrations Group Ltd
WINNER: Tina Barrett –Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa
Lifetime Achievement Award – Wendy Moore
Long Service in Tourism Award – Lawrence Haughton
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