Daily News Photo by ANGELA BURNS PIPER Kelvin Titley, left, Trefor Grant and Monica Ramjeet receive awards for excellent work in the tourism hospitality field. Rick Connel, right, accepted the award for Michael Spencer.

TORTOLA - In a departure from the norm, the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association on Wednesday presented awards to several outstanding individuals.

The first Tourism Awards luncheon was held at Chillin Caf้, in conjunction with the BVI Tourist Board, which is observing Tourism Month in November.

Trefor Grant, general manager of the Village Cay Marina and Restaurant, was named Businessperson of the Year, Hospitality/Tourism for demonstrating excellence over the last year in the hospitality/tourism industry.

Grant has worked in the hospitality industry since graduating from high school more than 20 years ago, following in the footsteps of his father. He has worked at properties including The Moorings, Long Bay Beach Resort, Club Med and The Southern Place.

Grant is a member of the Rotary Club of Road Town and a BVICCHA board member, and he has been elected twice as chairman of marketing and public relations.

Monica Ramjeet was named Pioneer of the Year, Hospitality/Tourism. This award went to a person who has played a major role in the development of the hospitality/tourism sector of the BVI.

Ramjeet was applied her hospitality and financial management skills in destinations such as The Bahamas, Antigua/Barbuda, Grenada and the Cayman Islands. Five years ago, she began working at Nail Bay Resort and is the general manager.

She is a member of the BVICCHA, a member of the Rotary Club of Tortola, and a founding member of the Friends of St. Mary's organization on Virgin Gorda, which raises money for the St. Mary's School.

Michael Spencer - head of Corporate Banking and Country Manager, FirstCaribbean International Bank, BVI - was recognized as Businessperson of the Year, Commerce.

Spencer began his career at Barclays Bank PLC in Antigua/Barbuda and has held various management positions in the Cayman Islands, London and Barbados. He served as Functional Integration Director on the Barclays/CIBC integration team which constructed FirstCaribbean International Bank.

Spencer is president of the BVI Banks Association and sits on several committees in the BVI financial services sector.

Pioneer in Business Award, Commerce, went to Kelvin Titley, who has 12 years of operational and management experience in graphic design, advertising, photography, music and television production through his business, Japhix Multimedia Services.

Titley's business has been recognized locally and regionally. In 2000, he was presented with the Creativity in Business Award by the BVICCHA; in 2006, he was awarded by the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States as one of the best exhibitors at the 25th anniversary trade show in St. Kitts.

The awards were presented by Director of Tourism Janis Brathwaite-Edwards and a representative of Meridian Construction, sponsors of the luncheon.

Awards for Business of the Year, Commerce and Business of the Year, Hospitality/Tourism will be presented at the BVICCHA's gala dinner event, Dec. 1, at the Treasure Isle Hotel.

- Contact Angela Burns Piper at 284-541-1691 or e-mail angelaburnspiper@yahoo.com.