Zane Kerby hailed as ‘Backbone of the Caribbean Economy’
Published:Monday | September 1, 2025 | 12:05 AMJanet Silvera/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The man credited with being the backbone of the Caribbean economy, Zane Kerby, was recognised by Caribbean tourism ministers at the start of the ASTA Caribbean Showcase at Sandals Southcoast on August 24.
Kerby, president and CEO of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), received glowing tributes from Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett and his regional counterparts from Barbados, St Lucia, Grenada, and St Vincent and the Grenadines, who hailed his leadership in strengthening the Caribbean’s lifeblood industry.
“You have been the backbone of the Caribbean economy,” Bartlett told the gathering of travel advisers and industry executives. “We don’t take this relationship lightly, we treasure it, and we honour it. You are not just a face in the place; you are a source of economic well-being, an agent for prosperity in the Caribbean.”
The recognition came months after Kerby’s formal induction into the Sandals Hall of Fame during the STAR Awards in St Vincent and the Grenadines in May 2024. His contribution was once again spotlighted on Sunday, this time with the endorsement of Caribbean governments alongside Sandals Resorts International.
Gary Sadler, executive vicepresident of sales and industry relations at Unique Vacations Inc, said Kerby’s relentless advocacy for travel advisers and his belief in the Caribbean made him stand out.
“Zane Kerby has been a true champion of tourism for the Caribbean and a champion for travel advisers,” Sadler noted. “Every single opportunity he gets, he champions the cause of the travel profession. It is therefore fitting that we recognised him, not at the end of his career, but at a moment when he is still so energised and impactful.”
In a symbolic show of unity, the five ministers, Bartlett, Barbados’ Ian Gooding-Edghill, St Lucia’s Ernest Hilaire, Grenada’s Adrian Thomas, and St Vincent’s Carlos James, joined Sadler on stage to underscore regional appreciation for Kerby’s work. Their presence signalled the strength of the partnership between ASTA and the Caribbean, one that continues to drive economic growth, connectivity, and opportunity across the region.
For Sandals, the moment also reaffirmed its long-tanding relationship with the travel trade. Sadler reminded delegates that the company’s “Caribbean-built product” and industry-leading commissions are only as strong as the advisers who sell them, making ASTA’s role and Kerby’s leadership critical to the region’s success.
As the conference opened, the mood was clear: beyond luxury resorts and marketing campaigns, it is the people-to-people connection, travel advisers on one side, Caribbean communities on the other, that sustains tourism. And, Kerby stood at the centre of that relationship, hailed as a partner in prosperity.