Cayman Stingray Tourism Awards 2025 takes place on Friday, September 19, 2025, at the Grand Cayman Marriott Resort, honoring the people and businesses that embody “Caymankind” and power the Cayman Islands’ visitor economy across all three islands. Organized by the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) in collaboration with public and private partners, the gala evening features a 6:00 PM cocktail reception followed by dinner and the awards ceremony at 7:00 PM, with categories spanning restaurants, watersports, accommodations, transportation, and allied services to recognize excellence at every level of the industry.
Date, venue, and schedule
- Date: Friday, September 19, 2025.
- Venue: Grand Cayman Marriott Resort (Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort), Seven Mile Beach.
- Schedule: Cocktail Reception at 6:00 PM; Dinner and Awards Ceremony at 7:00 PM, hosted by CITA and partners.
The awards are CITA’s signature recognition platform, drawing leaders and teams from across Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman to celebrate service excellence, innovation, and lifetime contributions to Cayman tourism.
What the Stingray Tourism Awards recognize
CITA’s Stingray Tourism Awards honor individuals and organizations whose daily work elevates the visitor experience and advances the destination’s reputation for warm, high-quality hospitality. Each of the five core industry groups — Restaurants, Watersports, Accommodations, Transportation, and Allied — typically confers three distinctions: Employee of the Year, Manager of the Year, and Rising Star, highlighting achievement across career stages and roles that guests may see on the front lines or behind the scenes. Special honors can include Long Service and Lifetime Achievement awards, acknowledging extraordinary commitment to Caymankind hospitality and destination stewardship over many years.
2025 nominations and eligibility
Nominations for the 2025 awards opened in late July with a submission deadline of Friday, August 22, 2025, allowing employers and peers to put forward standout talent from CITA member companies. Eligible nominees generally must work for a CITA member and have at least one year of service, though exceptional circumstances may be considered by the review committee. This structure ensures both accessibility and quality in the finalist pool while reinforcing membership standards across the sector.
How winners are selected
CITA convenes a review panel to evaluate nominations against set criteria including service excellence, leadership, innovation, teamwork, guest feedback, and measurable contributions to their business or the wider industry. The process balances objective accomplishments with the intangible quality of Caymankind hospitality that defines the Cayman experience, ensuring awardees reflect both professional excellence and cultural authenticity.
Why the awards matter
- Elevating standards: By formally recognizing top performers from entry-level to leadership, the awards reinforce service benchmarks and encourage best-practice sharing across hotels, restaurants, tours, and transport.
- Workforce pride: Publicly celebrating achievements boosts morale, aids retention, and supports career pathways within tourism — a critical pillar of the Cayman economy.
- Destination reputation: Honoring great service contributes to stronger word-of-mouth and repeat visitation, aligning with national tourism goals and private-sector strategies.
Event highlights and experience
Guests can expect a polished evening with welcome cocktails, networking among sector leaders, a seated dinner, and an uplifting awards program that mixes moving recipient stories with destination pride. The setting at the Grand Cayman Marriott on Seven Mile Beach provides an elegant yet accessible venue, and CITA coordinates closely with sponsors and the Ministry of Tourism to deliver a seamless guest experience. The gala is open to the wider tourism community, with tables and individual seats available for companies and supporters who wish to attend and celebrate their teams.
Tickets and sponsorship
Ticketing information is available through CITA channels and affiliated listings, with options for individual seats and corporate tables that place teams together for the award presentations. Sponsorship opportunities span category presentations, reception elements, and brand placements, offering strong visibility before, during, and after the gala to a highly targeted industry audience. Early commitment secures preferred placements and helps CITA finalize production details well ahead of gala night.
Tips for nominators and finalists
- Be specific: Use nomination forms to highlight concrete examples — guest commendations, service recoveries, process improvements, training initiatives, sustainability practices, or community contributions.
- Showcase growth: Rising Star entries stand out when they demonstrate rapid development, cross-training, and leadership potential verified by supervisors and peers.
- Prepare teams: If shortlisted, coordinate attendance early so colleagues and managers can join and support finalists at the gala.
Travel and logistics for off-island attendees
- Getting there: Grand Cayman is served by Owen Roberts International Airport with broad connectivity; Seven Mile Beach hotels, including the Marriott, are a short drive from the airport.
- Where to stay: Industry rates are often available at partner hotels around Seven Mile Beach. Booking early ensures convenient proximity to the resort venue.
- Evening timeline: Plan to arrive for the 6:00 PM reception; valet and rideshare options make arrival and departure simple from hotels along the corridor.
A tradition of excellence
The Stingray Tourism Awards have a long history of celebrating those who deliver exceptional guest experiences and help define Cayman’s global reputation, with previous editions drawing record nominations and stirring tributes to lifetime contributors and long-service stalwarts of the sector. The 2025 ceremony builds on that legacy with a broad slate of categories that reflect the industry’s diversity and the collaborative spirit between private operators, associations, and government partners.
How to stay updated
- Official page: CITA’s dedicated Stingray Tourism Awards hub provides event details, nomination links, deadlines, and contact information for questions.
- Nominations and deadlines: The 2025 nomination portal specifies eligibility and the August 22 cutoff; follow CITA updates for the shortlist announcement and final instructions for finalists and attendees.
- Local media and calendars: Cayman Independent and Cayman Resident carry timely notices on deadline reminders, ticket availability, category outlines, and day‑of logistics.
Celebrate Caymankind on September 19
Set for Friday, September 19, 2025, at the Grand Cayman Marriott, the Cayman Stingray Tourism Awards is the night the industry comes together to honor the people who make every arrival feel like a homecoming and every stay feel unforgettable. Secure tickets or a table, rally teams across restaurants, watersports, accommodations, transportation, and allied services, and prepare to applaud the 2025 class of Employee of the Year, Manager of the Year, Rising Star, and special honorees whose work represents the very best of Cayman’s tourism community. For nominations, seating, and sponsorship, visit CITA’s awards page and join an evening dedicated to excellence, pride, and the enduring spirit of Caymankind.