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Sandals Resorts International chief executive officer Adam Stewart (right) receives the World Travel Award (WTA) for Caribbean's Rising Star from Graham Cooke, founder and president of the WTA, as Anastagia Pierre, co-host of the WTA, shares in the moment.

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Sandals Resorts International (SRI) CEO Adam Stewart (fourth right) poses alongside Sandals executives and Graham Cooke (fourth left), president of the World Travel Awards, following the awards ceremony which was hosted at Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages and Spa last Friday.

SRI snagged 15 awards — the most among nominees — at the glitzy ceremony, billed the 'Oscars of the travel industry' which recognises the finest in the industry in the Caribbean and The Americas.

Sandals, which won the illustrious award as the Caribbean's Leading Hotel Brand, also took top honours as the Caribbean's Leading All-Suite Resort for Sandals Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios, Jamaica; the Caribbean's Leading Honeymoon Resort for Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa; and the Caribbean's Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort for Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas.

Fifty awards were handed out at the awards ceremony, which was hosted by former Miss Bahamas Universe Anastagia Pierre and soap opera actor Walt Willey of All My Children fame.

(Photos: Joseph Wellington)