Thursday, December 25 2008

Chris James, chairman of the Tobago Division of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce and vice-president of the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association has been highly commended in the Best Personal Contribution category at this year’s Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards organised by responsibletravel.com.

At a ceremony hosted at World Travel Market (WTM), Docklands, London in November, the awards were handed out by the organisers and founders of the awards, Justin Francis, managing director of responsibletravel.com and headline sponsor Amanda Wills, managing director of Virgin Holidays.

The judges said: “An hotelier and business leader enthusiastic for responsible tourism, Chris was influential in getting the Adopt a Farmer programme off the ground and managed to get fishermen and farmers on the steering committee.

“As honourary Regional Director of the Travel Foundation, he has made a difference,” They said.

Roger Heape, chair of the Travel Foundation said, “Without the drive, dedication and support of Chris James our work in the Caribbean would have been so much more difficult.

“We are greatly indebted to him and this award is very well deserved.”

Headline sponsor representative, judge Willis said that she was both moved and inspired by the winners this year and that there was much to learn from them.

Launched in 2004, the awards are run in association with partners World Travel Market, the Daily Telegraph, Geographical Magazine and BBC World News.