The Center for Tourist Initiatives of the South (CIT) presented its annual awards last weekend at a gala held at the Barceló Tenerife hotel, in San Miguel de Abona, which was attended by more than 300 people, including the mayors of the region and the president of the Cabildo, Pedro Martín. The Gánigo awards recognize the work of people, organizations, companies, associations, entities and administrations to promote and spread the development of the south of Tenerife, their contribution to economic progress and the projection of its benefits, riches and singularities.
The Honorary Award went to the Hotel H10 Gran Tinerfe, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. It was the first hotel establishment built in Playa de Las Américas, thanks to the investment commitment of the businessman Cándido Luis García Sanjuán, and it became the symbol of the launch of the promoter Santiago Puig’s commitment to place this area of the island on the map of major international tourist destinations. The award was collected by Elvira García Sanjuán and Nieves Damas, current director of the hotel.
Another of the most applauded awards of the night was the one granted to Cáritas Diocesana, which received the special award for the work it carries out in the South. Its director in the province of Tenerife, Juan Rognoni, expressed his gratitude and underlined the high number of people without economic resources in the region, while highlighting the work of the Catholic organization “to reach where the administrations do not reach”.

In the municipalities category, the distinctions were awarded to the IES El Galeón (Adeje), Grupo Al Sur (Arona), Vecinos de Arquitecto Marrero (Granadilla), Isorana Musical Group and Virgen de la Luz Music Band (Guía de Isora), Arcángel San Miguel Sports Club (San Miguel), Víctor Manuel Fernández Suárez (Santiago del Teide), San Miguel de Tajao Fishermen’s Association (Arico), Higos de Fasnia Farm and Cafeteria La Paz Restaurant (Vilaflor de Chasna).
In the business category, the awards went to The Ritz-Carlton Abama hotel (Tourism), La Calabacera Gourmet Ecology (Primary Sector), Roseta and Calado Antonio Rodríguez (Commerce and Crafts), Overseas Restaurant (Restaurant), Spawellplus (Events, Leisure and Culture), Futurism (Communication) and Sermugran (Sustainability).
Rafael Dolado, president of the CIT del Sur, highlighted the “emotional” nature of the event and the “just recognition” of the award-winning individuals and entities. In addition, he announced that the awards gala, which rotates each year through the municipalities of the South, will be held in 2023 in Adeje.