Home >> VIPY Readers’ Choice 2016 – Voting Closed!

VIPY Readers’ Choice 2016 – Voting Closed!

September 2nd, 2016
in Lifestyle

For detailed information about this event, please visit: bvipropertyyacht.com/readers-choice-2016

In 2011, VIPY started the Readers’ Choice as an entertaining way to see who our readers favour most in a number of categories pertaining to our magazine’s themes of LAND, SEA, and LIFE in the Virgin Islands. At present, the categories stand as the following 20, listed in alphabetical order:

Best Air Travel or Air Tour company

Best Architectural Firm

Best Bartender

Best Crewed Yacht (individual)

Best Health & Spa

Best Land Activity

Best Marina

Best Marine Activity

Best Marine Chandlery/Maintenance Company

Best Provisioning

Best Real Estate Company

Best Resort/Hotel/Accommodation

Best Restaurant/Bar

Best Retail Store

Best Day Sail/Day Charter

Best Sailor

Best Vacation Villa (individual)

Best Yacht Brokerage

Best Yacht Charter Company

And…

The Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award

From 2011 – 2014, we held this growing awards event at the Dove Restaurant in Road Town, BVI.

By 2015, we required a larger venue and moved to Nanny Cay, where all who attended were able to enjoy the announcements of the winners while relishing food, drink, and entertainment.

New for 2016

Fresh for our 6th annual event, we’ve introduced our proud ‘in association’ sponsors Veuve Clicquot and expanded the Readers’ Choice event so that it’s incorporative of the Virgin Islands as a whole – we’re excited about this development as now each of the aforementioned categories have three winners:

Best of the BVI

Best of the USVI

Best of the Virgin Islands

Additionally, we’ve created a new category presented by Veuve Clicquot – the Business Woman Award. Originally created in 1972 as a tribute to Madame Clicquot, the annual Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award champions the success of business women worldwide, who share the same qualities as Madame Clicquot: Her enterprising spirit, her courage, and the determination necessary to accomplish her aims.

Highly prized and sought after, it is the first international award formed specifically to recognise the contribution that women have made to business life and is now regarded as the ‘Oscar’ for female entrepreneurs and business leaders around the world.

Introducing The Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award Judges

Linda Markham – President of Cape Air

Linda serves as President of Cape Air, which has been operating in the Caribbean region for 18 years. Linda is the only active female airline president in North America and first female Chair in the 41-year history of the Regional Airline Association.

Upon her arrival at Cape Air, the company employed approximately 300 people and served 17 cities. Cape Air now employs over 1,200 people and serves 43 cities in six regions around the world. Her devotion to the communities served by Cape Air, as well as to the employee group and all divisions of the organisation have led to Cape Air being named “One of the Top Small Airlines in the US” by Condé Nast Traveller magazine.

Sybille Sorrentino – Owner of Virgin Islands Ecotours, Kayak, Hike & Snorkel Adventures

With a vast, varied, and incredibly impressive entrepreneurial background, Sybille currently runs Virgin Islands Ecotours where she endeavours to educate visitors, local residents, and students about the importance of environmental conservation of mangrove lagoons and coral reefs in an entertaining and enjoyable way.

Her management resume commenced at Fort Wines & Spirits and in all her pursuits, she has expanded businesses, increased profitability, and delivered excellent customer service. During more than a decade of being an owner of international wine distributing, importing, wholesale, and retail business, she was the only woman in the wine industry in the world who owned, managed, and operated a wine business.

Third judge TBC

2016 Readers’ Choice Awards Ceremony

Date: Tuesday October 4, 2016
Venue: Nanny Cay Beach Bar
Time: 6pm till late
DJ and other entertainment
Welcome glass of Veuve Clicquot or rum cocktail on arrival for all guests
Best Bartender Cocktail Competition: this is a key difference in this year’s event. The top six voted bartenders of both the BVI and USVI will have to demonstrate their best cocktail on the night, using Brugal Rum as the main ingredient. Judges: Scott Hart from Peter Island, Robert Knock from Caribbean Cellars, Phillip Jarrell representing Eddington Group
Prize giveaways for voters

Best Bartender Cocktail Competition

This year, we’re levelling the playing field for one of the most popular categories in the awards. The top six voted bartenders in the BVI and top six voted bartenders in the USVI will be invited to compete in a cocktail challenge on the day of the event. The Bartenders’ cocktail creations will be judged on the night by a panel of industry experts to decide the winners for BVI, USVI, and Virgin Islands overall.

Rules of the Cocktail Competition

Basic rules:

Competitors must be employed in the BVI/USVI hospitality industry
Competitors must be 21 years old or over

Creative licence:

Competitors will be given a free bottle of Brugal Rum with which to practice
Competitors are expected to create and mix an original mix featuring Brugal rum
Brugal Rum must be the main alcoholic ingredient
Other alcoholic ingredients are allowed but must not overshadow the main ingredient of Brugal Rum
Points will be awarded for: A) Taste B) Appearance C) Creativity D) Front of house skills/Personality
Judging will be by a panel of three judges