PZYLO

About Katrina Chin

Hailing from the vibrant land of Jamaica, home to legends like Bob Marley and Usain Bolt – Katrina Chin has grown up with a passion for dreaming big. As the incoming President of the University of the West Indies Tourism Society and a second-year student, her journey in tourism has been marked by significant milestones, including becoming a finalist in the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge. Her dedication to youth policy advocacy as a Youth Parliamentarian and Junior Counsellor, combined with her academic success; ranking third nationally in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination, reflects her commitment to leadership and excellence.

Katrina’s motivation for participating in this competition is driven by a vision to spearhead sustainable practices within the tourism industry. She aspires to be a policy-making leader, creating impactful changes that will position her future company in events and conferences as a pioneer in sustainability. This vision is exemplified by Pzylo, a textile fabric made from Zeolite cotton and Jamaican bamboo upholstery cloth, which purifies ambient air, reduces energy consumption, and supports local labor and industries. Pzylo’s versatility across all tourism sectors makes sustainability accessible to anyone with a building and walls.

To Katrina, sustainability means recognizing the socio-cultural, environmental, and economic impacts of the industry and taking strategic actions to safeguard the world for future generations.

About Judane Whittaker

Judane Whittaker is a student at the University of the West Indies with a passion for traveling, music, delivering high-quality work, and building meaningful connections. When not working, she can be found: Turning pages and exploring new worlds through reading, or discovering new destinations and immersing herself in different cultures through traveling and different genres of music.

Her passion for sustainability in tourism comes from a deep-rooted belief in the responsibility to preserve the planet’s beauty and cultural heritage for future generations. Motivated by the transformative potential of sustainable practices, she is excited to participate in the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge’s finals to exchange ideas, learn from industry leaders, and contribute to shaping a more responsible tourism industry. Her current project focuses on developing initiatives that balance economic viability with the environment.

About Dedranae Davis

Dedranae Davis, a keen representation of the Jamaican saying ‘likkle but we tallawah,’ is a persistent and hardworking girl from Jamaica who, regardless of challenges presented, seeks the best solutions through hard work and dedication. Being the eldest of four girls and the first in her family to pursue tertiary education, she aims to excel in her latest endeavor.

With an interest in numbers, her pursuit of an accounting degree was born. She is a lover of books, be they fiction or non-fiction, great music, good vibes, and amazing food. Traveling is also a great interest of hers, and with an interest in the tourism sector and all it offers, she opted to partake in a tourism course.

The Sustainable Hospitality Challenge (SHC), brought forth and highlighted the numerous challenges the hospitality industry and the world at large faces, and questioned how to sustainably solve them. Dedranae believes sustainability speaks not only to the present but also to future generations and how they are impacted. As a part of the present generation, she hopes to help preserve as much of the economy for future generations. PZYLO was created with numerous air pollutants in mind and how to reduce the need for air conditioning units.

“The opportunity SHC has created was certainly unexpected, but I’ve persisted and engaged in this endeavor, and I am excited to share and learn from different individuals from all over the world.
‘No matter what expect the unexpected. And whenever possible be the unexpected.’ ~ Lynda Barry”