For ten years, the Young Caymanian Leadership Awards (YCLA) has been presented to sell-out live audience, with high viewership from the Cayman27 live telecast that continues to grow every year and receive rave reviews.
The first YCLA, in 2000 was presented at the largest available indoor venue in Cayman, the event tent at the previous Hyatt Regency hotel. The 2001 YCLA was also held at the Hyatt tent, which many residents will remember being located just off the Britannia golf course. During those years, YCLA honoured recipients Mr. Olivaire Watler in 2000 and Mr. Dax Foster in 2001.
In 2002, the YCLA moved to a larger venue when the Governor’s ballroom was build at the Westin Casuarina Resort. The event continued to grow in popularity and attract an enthusiastic sell-out audience for three years at the Westin location. Recipients of the YCLA were Sara Collins in 2002, Steve Blair in 2003 and Cindy Scotland in 2004.
In 2005, following Hurricane Ivan, the YCLA honorary board made the decision to postpone the event for the year in respect for the needs of hurricane relief. Many young leaders were founded during that year and were celebrated, recognized and rewarded during the much-anticipated 2006 YCLA, at yet another new and larger venue.
The YCLA moved over to The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman for the 2006 awards ceremony and has remained at that location for the past four years. The live audience has increased from the maximum capacity of the Hyatt at 270 guests to a packed Ritz-Carlton ballroom filled with 520 guests.
