Patricia Affonso-Dass (center) with Barbados Minister of Tourism Ian Gooding-Edghill and Renée Coppin, Chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association.
Affonso-Dass accepts Caribbean Hotelier of the Year award at Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Montego Bay, Jamaica
Saint Lawrence Gap, Barbados – May 28, 2024 – Patricia Affonso-Dass, CEO/Group General Manager General Manager of Ocean Hotels Group in Barbados, was named the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Hotelier of the Year. Affonso-Dass was announced the winner at the CHTA 2024 Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Montego Bay, Jamaica on May 21, 2024.
“I consider myself immensely fortunate and blessed to have been awarded this honor,” said Affonso-Dass. “I have been privileged to know many of the past recipients, they have been my mentors, and were/are amazing leaders and shapers of our industry in the Caribbean. At the start of my career, their enthusiasm and passion were electric and inspirational, and I am eternally grateful for the impact that they have had on my journey. I am also especially grateful to my team at Ocean Hotels and the vibrant hospitality community in Barbados and the wider Caribbean, that have allowed me the opportunity to contribute and make a difference in this industry that I so dearly love.”
A true product of the Caribbean, Affonso-Dass was born in Roseau, Dominica, and lived in Trinidad and Antigua before moving to Guyana where she grew up. She has lived in Barbados for the past 26 since August 1998. After earning her degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management at Florida International University, she embarked on an impressive career spanning over 30 years.
The hotelier served as President of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, while also contributing to the regional development of the industry, serving on the Board and Executive Committee for CHTA and later being elected by her peers to serve as the organization’s president. As a former CHTA President from 2018 to 2020, Affonso-Dass navigated unprecedented challenges posed by a series of major hurricanes, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since September 2009, under Affonso-Dass’ leadership, the group has evolved into one of the leading players on the island, with service excellence, product quality and authentic Bajan hospitality at the heart of all aspects of the guests’ holidays.
The Caribbean Hotelier of the Year Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association. The award recognizes excellence in Caribbean hotel operations by demonstrating superior achievement in Resort Operations, Food & Beverage, Marketing and Sales, Resort Maintenance, Staff Training and Motivation, Innovative Management, Environmental Practices, Community Affairs, and Involvement with National and Regional (CHTA) lodging industry associations.
