{"id":29207,"date":"2012-12-11T20:03:55","date_gmt":"2012-12-12T01:03:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/?p=29207"},"modified":"2012-12-11T20:03:55","modified_gmt":"2012-12-12T01:03:55","slug":"new-bahamas-hotel-tourism-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/2012\/12\/new-bahamas-hotel-tourism-team","title":{"rendered":"New Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>President And Minister Call For Greater Commitment To Quality Service<\/strong>
\nMembers of the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association elected their 2013-14 leadership team at its 60th Annual General Meeting where returning President Stuart Bowe joined with Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe in calling for a greater commitment to elevating the level of service in the country across the board.<\/p>\n

According to BHTA President Stuart Bowe, \u201cThe industry turned the corner in 2012.\u00a0 This year will end with the highest average occupancy since 2007, our benchmark year, with average room rates continuing to improve but still below 2007.\u00a0 Despite higher operating costs and lower levels of visitor spending, 2012 represents a positive change in our sector of the economy,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Bowe cautioned however, \u201cOur industry remains challenged on account of the sluggish US economy and pressure on many international economies\u201d.<\/p>\n

Tourism Minster Obie Wilchcombe, who joined members at the meeting, emphasized the importance of a broader commitment to providing exceptional service.\u00a0 \u201cService begins before the visitor leaves home.\u00a0 We need a cooperative effort with all stakeholders to deliver on our promise that \u2018It\u2019s Better in The Bahamas\u2019\u2019, stated the Minister.<\/p>\n

President Bowe indicated this would be a priority partnership issue with the Ministry for BHTA in 2013.<\/p>\n

Elections were held\u00a0 at the meeting with several members re-elected to their positions.\u00a0 Stuart Bowe, Senior Vice President for Kerzner International, will continue as President.\u00a0 Peter Maguire from the Lyford Cay Club, continues in his post as Treasurer.\u00a0 Shavonne Darville, owner-operator of Gems@Paradise on Long Island, was re-elected Vice President for the Out Islands; and Magnus Alnebeck, General Manager for Pelican Bay, continues as Vice President for Grand Bahama.\u00a0 BHTA Executive Vice President Frank Comito was re-elected as Corporate Secretary.<\/p>\n

New members elected to the Executive Committee include Sheraton Nassau Beach General Manager Glenn Sampert, who will serve as Senior Vice President.\u00a0 Patrick Drake, General Manager for Sandals Royal Bahamian was elected Vice President for Nassau-Paradise Island.<\/p>\n

For the first time in the organization\u2019s history BHTA\u2019s allied members elected a Vice President to represent their interests on the governing body.\u00a0 Vernice Walkine, Nassau Airport Development Company Vice President for Marketing and Communications, will serve in that post.\u00a0\u00a0 Members amended the organization\u2019s Articles earlier this year to elevate the Allied position, a strategic move tied to the renaming of the BHTA and the broadening of the organization\u2019s mandate.<\/p>\n

Past President Robert \u2018Sandy\u2019 Sands will continue to serve on the leadership team in his capacity as Immediate Past President.<\/p>\n

President Bowe thanked members and announced two returning appointments to the Executive Committee.\u00a0 Beverly Saunders, Vice President for Training at Kerzner International will return as the organization\u2019s Chairperson for Workforce Development activities.\u00a0 Hotelier Nina Maynard, owner-operator for the Corner Hotel, continues to represent the small hotel interests on the Executive Committee.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to thank the members of the 2012 Executive Committee for their service to the industry and our organization, and commend our partners that contribute to the ongoing improvements in our industry,\u201d stated President Bowe.<\/p>\n

At the meeting, BHTA released its 2012 Annual Activity Report highlighting the organization\u2019s key accomplishments and areas of activity.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur work in education, training, product development, research, membership development and advocacy was considerable.\u00a0 We must continue in this vein and challenge ourselves to do even more in 2013\u201d states Bowe.<\/p>\n

He outlined a number of priorities for the tourism industry, now and into the future.<\/p>\n

These include:<\/p>\n

(1) maintaining global standards of customer service;<\/p>\n

(2) continuing to strategically use the airfare incentive program to drive business;<\/p>\n

(3) building on the success of exciting and popular special events;<\/p>\n

(4) appealing to niche markets;<\/p>\n

(5) completing major infrastructural developments;<\/p>\n

(6) continuing to aggressively expand airlift; and<\/p>\n

(7) reducing high energy and operating costs without compromising service.<\/p>\n

Minister Wilchcombe commended the organization on its 60th anniversary milestone.\u00a0 \u201cYour 60th Anniversary is cause for greater appreciation of the BTHA, and its critical role in the development of our industry and nation.\u00a0 It\u2019s also an opportunity to look ahead for new opportunities.\u00a0 We must challenge ourselves to be the best.\u00a0 Are we going to worry about the competition or are we going to have the competition worry about us\u201d, he added.<\/p>\n

President Bowe indicated that a 5 -year strategic plan will be developed in the coming months to guide the organization\u2019s activities in 2013 and beyond.\u00a0 \u201cWe will engage all stakeholders through conversation and a survey to assess the present situation, and establish achievable goals that are measureable and contribute to the advancement of our industry\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Members of the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association elected their 2013-14 leadership team at its 60th Annual General Meeting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_10223285771444175_51037792744":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[152,33],"class_list":["post-29207","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business","tag-hotel","tag-tourism"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29207","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29207"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29207\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29207"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29207"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}