Bahamas Ministry of Tourism director general Joy Jibrilu has been named Caribbean Tourism Director of The Year in the most recent Caribbean Travel Awards.

Expert stewardship and deft handling of the post-Dorian climate in The Bahamas were just a few of the attributes that landed Jibrilu the prestigious title of Caribbean Tourism Director of The Year, according to the Caribbean Travel Awards.

Jibrilu responded to the announcement of the award: “I’m still processing the gravity of such a prestigious award. It is humbling, personally gratifying and a great way to end what has been quite a year. This award is not just for myself; it’s the final result of a collaborative effort from an exceptional team. From the communications team to our sales team globally, meticulously working in tandem towards a clear and concise vision.

“Hurricane Dorian was perhaps the greatest challenge ever faced by our nation. Naturally, the destructiveness of Dorian attracted lots of international media attention. It was critical for us to quickly manage the narrative in the storm’s aftermath, to disseminate an accurate message about the effects of the storm on our destination and to ensure that the world understood that only two of our islands were affected by the storm and that the vast majority of our islands are unaffected and open for business.”

Launched in 2014, the Caribbean Travel Awards are the region’s premier celebration of the best of travel and tourism. Winners are selected by The Caribbean Journal’s editorial staff and network of contributors and based on year-round research and on-the-ground travel experiences and information.

“Joy Jibrilu has done an admirable job for The Bahamas in a year of immense highs and tragic lows, from a rapid tourism surge earlier in the year to calmly leading the destination through the tragedy of Hurricane Dorian — and quickly getting the message out about how and where to visit The Bahamas,” remarked Alexander Britell, editor in chief and founder of The Caribbean Journal.

Jibrilu was appointed director general of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation in May 2014, where she has worked passionately to promote The Islands of The Bahamas. She began her government career in 2005 working as a consultant and later legal advisor for the Ministry of Finance. Jibrilu later served as the director of investments for The Bahamas Investment Authority, where she was responsible for the factiliation of all FDI projects and negotiated and worked on Heads of Agreements for major touristic developments, including the $3 billion dollar Baha Mar resort.