General Manager at Half Moon Aram Zerunian was named Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Hotelier of the Year at the association’s 2014 Awards of Excellence function at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel last Saturday.

Copping the award for “Hotel Manager/ Supervisor of the Year” was Dawn Smith manager at Sandals Montego Bay while another Sandals employee Strickland Smith, gardener at Sandals Grand Riviera, won the ” Hotel Employee of the Year” award.

Tricia Hagley, supervisor at VIP Attractions received the award for “Tourism Employee of the Year”.

Zerunian, the JHTA said, is “the incomparable general manger” who leads a team of over 800 men and women who earn the admiration and loyalty of their guests, the approval of critics, the commitment of partners and the respect of the industry.”

Smith was applauded for her “managerial work” which has been recognised at Sandals with many awards including Manager of the Year.

Strickland Smith was described as “one of the stars in the constellation of Sandals”, finding favour with both staff and guests and having a passion for his job and the tourism industry in general.

Hagley, was described as “a motivator who gets the best from her shift and a naturally caring person who takes the time to mentor new employees .”

The JHTA also named J Wray and Nephew, “Purveyor of the Year”; Dolphin Cove Jamaica “Attraction of the Year”; Jamaica Tours Ltd, “Local Transportation Provider of the Year” and JetBlue Airways, “International Airline of the Year”. Kingston’s Terra Nova Hotel copped the Jamaica Public Service award for “the best use of energy”.

The Abe Issa Award was awarded to Jamaican songstress Tessane Chin who won the NBC’s “The Voice” competition last year and placed a positive international spotlight on Jamaica.

The JHTA also presented Lifetime Achievement awards to hotel veteran and conceptualiser of the training programme at the Sandals Resorts Merrick Fray and former Minister of Tourism Francis Tulloch hailed by the JHTA as “one of the leading voices for tourism”.