MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA (June 20, 2012) - St. Lucia luminary and hospitality veteran Karolin Troubetzkoy, owner, Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resort, has been recognized as the 2011 Caribbean Hotelier of the Year.  Troubetzkoy accepted the honor before an international audience of hospitality and tourism industry leaders assembled for the Golden Jubilee Gala celebrating CHTA's 50th anniversary, hosted at the Montego Bay Convention Center in Jamaica.  Troubetzkoy is the 33rd recipient of this coveted award, widely considered the most prestigious in the region.

Co-sponsored by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and MMGY Global, the annual Caribbean Hotelier of the Year Award is the highest professional honor bestowed in hotel and resort operations in the Caribbean.  The award recognizes excellence in all areas of operations, as well as a commitment to the training and development of staff, contributions to the community, and a demonstrated commitment to sound environmental practices.  The award also acknowledges each recipient's active role in both national and regional issues affecting Caribbean tourism.

Troubetzkoy's passion for guest service, natural leadership and marketing savvy have played an instrumental role throughout her impressive career spanning more than two decades in St. Lucia.  As owner and executive director of marketing and operations for the award-winning Anse Chastanet, she currently oversees all aspects of operations while continuing to develop the property's facilities and services.  Troubetzkoy guided the resort's first large expansion from 37 to 49 rooms in 1990.  Upon completion, she pioneered innovative marketing campaigns that enabled the property to achieve over 90% occupancy between 1992 and 2001.  She has also directed the marketing efforts on behalf of Jade Mountain Resort since 2004.  Both Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain are widely celebrated as two of the Caribbean's top resorts, consistently recognized among the world's best by Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines.

A patron of St. Lucia's cultural arts community, Troubetzkoy has curated Anse Chastanet's eclectic art collection of indigenous woodcarvings and acrylic paintings, collaborating with local and international artists in a creative residency exchange program.  Her passion for promoting healthy and sustainable lifestyles inspired her vision for the resort spa, Kai Belte.  She conceptualized two new culinary experiences based on fresh, locally sourced cuisine -- one entirely vegan, and another that fuses innovative East Indian and Saint Lucian flavors.

Troubetzkoy's local charity work ranges from youth education and care efforts for senior citizens to an "adopt a farmer" program.  She established Anse Chastanet's charitable guest account in 1989, and assists with the purchase of books and stipends for children of resort staff.  She secured funding for a new school cantina and kitchen for the Bouton School near Soufriere, and after Hurricane Tomas, arranged for immediate relief funding to aid these organizations.

The current president of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association, Troubetzkoy also serves as chairperson of the Marketing Committee of the St. Lucia Tourist Board.  She received the Crystal Award from the St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association in 2002, and was named recipient of the St. Lucia Hotelier of the Year award in 2006.

Appointed Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2009, Troubetzkoy holds a degree in business administration with majors in both tourism marketing and hotel and restaurant management from the University of Applied Sciences in Munich. She is fluent in German, French, English and Italian.

Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) facilitates the full potential of the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry by serving members' needs and building partnerships in a socially responsible and sustainable manner.  Celebrating its Golden Jubilee in 2012, CHTA is the voice of the Caribbean hospitality industry for the development of the region in the highly competitive and sophisticated environment of international tourism. Today, tourism is widely recognized as a pivotal industry in the economy of the region - and CHTA functions as the common denominator for this industry in a region of diverse nationalities, languages and styles, identifying mutual problems and marshaling the resources of the active and allied members to devise solutions. CHTA represents all facets of the hospitality industry with more than 725 member hotels and 375 allied members.

For more information, visit http://www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.
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MMGY Global
MMGY Global is a $150 million integrated global marketing firm with more than 35 years of experience in the travel, hospitality and entertainment industries. For more information, visit www.mmgyglobal.com