George Markantonis, President & Managing Director, Atlantis Named 'Caribbean Hotelier Of The Year'

The CaribbeanHotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and MMGY Global presented the "Caribbean Hotelier of the Year" award to hospitality veteran George Markantonis, president and managing director, Atlantis, Paradise Island in the Bahamas at the annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace.

Markantonis is the 34th recipient of this prestigious award, which 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.

In 2005, Markantonis assumed the leadership of Atlantis, Paradise Island as president and managing director and has overseen its rapid expansion into the iconic and most successful destination resort in the Caribbean. Atlantis boasts 8,000 employees and 3,400 rooms in six hotels, including the 1,100 room Cove and Reef hotels, a 100,000 square foot convention center, over 50 restaurants, bars and lounges, a 140 acre water theme park, two marinas, a variety of retail facilities and the largest casino in the Caribbean.

Markantonis has orchestrated the introduction of innovative themed restaurant concepts such as Bobby Flay's Mesa Grille, Nobu, Virgil's Real Barbeque, and Todd English's Olives. Many of the resort's restaurants incorporate Bahamian cuisine in their menus. He has also implemented extensions of the resort's gaming operations with poolside gaming, a state of the art sports betting facility, and mobile gaming.

Under Markantonis' leadership, Atlantis has also supported training and educational programs for employees, including working with local high school and post-secondary training institutions on the development of chefs through apprenticeship programs, and providing support for scholarship initiatives and culinary competitions including the Taste of The Bahamas and CHTA's Taste of The Caribbean.

As Vice Chairman of the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board Markantonis has also helped guide several successful destination promotional activities, including the Companion Fly Free and other air credit programs. He has supported major promotional efforts directed at the growing Latin American market and increasing convention business from both sports and religious groups.

Atlantis also demonstrates its commitment to community and corporate responsibility in numerous ways, supporting non-profit and community activities, and engaging employees in the Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association and other civic initiatives aimed at improving both the visitor experience and overall quality of life in The Bahamas.

In 2011, Markantonis was honored as the Bahamas' Hotelier of the Year, receiving the prestigious Cacique Award in recognition for his outstanding commitment to the industry and the further development of tourism in The Bahamas.

Markantonis' 35-year hospitality career began in Johannesburg, South Africa at the Carlton Hotel, an international flagship of Westin Hotels and Resorts, where he started as a front desk clerk and was soon promoted to key management positions at other Westin properties in Texas, Florida and Canada. Markantonis has also held various positions at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and was recognized as Nevada's "Hotelier of the Year" in 2004. After Las Vegas he assumed the position of president and managing director of the Atlantis Dubai UAE resort during its planning and development phase. In addition to Atlantis, Markantonis is responsible for Kerzner's One & Only Palmilla resort, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and One & Only Ocean Club in The Bahamas.

MMGY Global is the world's largest and most integrated global marketing firm with more than 35 years of experience in the travel, hospitality and entertainment industries. The award-winning agency maintains a global communications practice in all marketing channels, serving many of the world's premier travel and tourism brands. MMGY Global is author of acclaimed industry research (including the Portrait of American Travelers) that identifies the habits and preferences of travelers - insights that serve as the foundation for its marketing strategy. For more information, visit www.mmgyglobal.com.

Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association

The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) is a federation of 32 National Hotel Associations, with more

than 600 member hotels and over 300 allied members. CHTA is the largest representative of the private sector in the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry. We are 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 600 member hotels and over 300 allied members.CHTA, including the events staged by the association, is supported by Strategic Partners AskMe Inc., Clear Channel Airport Division, HVS, Interval International, JetBlue Getaways, MasterCard, OBM International, Tambourine and Travelzoo. For more information, visit http://www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.

Theresa M. Oakes
KTCpr
(516) 594-4100
CHTA