Anita Johnson-Patty celebrates receiving her Apex Award. Pictured (from left) are awards host, Jerry Butler; BM&T associate publisher, Gloria Herbert; Tourism Chief Communications Officer, Basil Smith; Ms. Johnson-Patty, BM&T publisher, Solomon Herbert; and Minister Vanderpool-Wallace.

Nassau, Bahamas - The Bahamas took prominent places in the 2010 Apex Awards on April 22 as Ministry of Tourism And Aviation General Manager Anita Johnson-Patty walked away with an Apex and Minister of Tourism & Aviation Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace accepted an Apex on behalf of Bermuda Premier Dr. Ewart Brown.

As Minister Vanderpool-Wallace accepted the award, he pointed out that he and Dr. Brown are close colleagues and friends. They both support each other in events and issues in Bermuda and The Bahamas, he said.

“If anybody is wondering about Bermuda and the Bahamas, we both compete and cooperate,” he said.

The same is true for The Bahamas’ relationship with many other Caribbean Minister Vanderpool-Wallace said The Bahamas shares a great deal of information with other countries, cooperating in various projects. nations.

“If there was such a thing as the United States of the Caribbean, we would do some special things in the world, and if you just want to see a little piece of it, I ask you to think about having a country called the United States of the Caribbean compete in the Olympic Games.” He said. “Game Over!”

The Apex Awards are presented annually by Black Meetings and Tourism Magazine for distinguished service. The awards, which were part of the Travel Professionals of Color conference, recognize outstanding contributions that have positively impacted travel and tourism.

Anita Johnson-Patty, who represents Offshore Communications in the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation’s office in Plantation, Florida, was a proud recipient of the Apex.

“Working in the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism for 24 years, it is so easy to come to work,” she said as she received the honor at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort. “I have a passion for it, and I just love selling it. So when I received this honor, I was just taken aback and shocked.”

The awards were presided over by Solomon and Gloria Herbert, publisher and associate publisher of Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine.

“You are true friends of The Bahamas,” Ms. Johnson-Patty said. “Thank you very much for your business, and we look forward to the future.”

Black Meetings and Tourism Magazine is known as the authority on African-American conventions and incentive and leisure travel. The magazine is a six-year sponsor of the Travel Prfessionals of Color annual conference.