By Kimberly Ramkhalawan
December 12, 2022
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley is promising a transformation of its tourism market, and shared the papers are already before them to be brought to parliament.
Speaking at the 70th Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association’s recent anniversary awards in a pre-recorded video message shared on the occasion, Prime Minister Mottley says the transformation of the sector will look to make it a public private sector body, with the BHTA critical to the conversation.
In the same vein, she mentioned that “Barbados already did not have enough greenfield sites to build out the sector into the 21st century” and to ensure it can pay its bills in a credible way, all while understanding how best it can renew its products, making it green and digitizing it, while providing training to its workers to be the best they can be, along with the synergies of manufacturing, agriculture and culture.
She says this continued transformation of the tourism industry in both the public and private sectors is necessary if Barbados is to remain a competitive destination. Noting that the sector has changed in recent years, especially post the pandemic and the challenges faced by the industry, Prime Minister Mottley says working together is needed more than ever across all sectors to ensure bolstering the economy to its pre-pandemic levels.
Meanwhile, recently appointed Tourism Minister Ian Gooding Edghill shared that his ministry was working with the BHTA to chart the strategic course and ensure “that Barbados remains top of mind for travellers and the premier destination for both pleasure and business”.
He added that “The intention is to evolve Barbados into a year-long destination, moving away from the concept of shoulder summer and winter. It means that all stakeholders have to be in alignment with this vision, from the increasing airlift, to ensuring that the range of accommodation is available to support the demand; to ensuring that the Civil Aviation Authority is functioning to facilitate the enabling environment for increasing airline traffic; to building our attractions, to improving distribution and detail”.
Minister Edghilll assured, “As minister with responsibility for both tourism and international transport, my vision for the sector is to strengthen the collaboration between government and the industry partners by building synergies. Therefore, my ministry has embarked on several initiatives aimed at strengthening Barbados and the Barbados brand in order to reposition the industry on a path of sustainable growth post COVID-19.”
He added that part of this commitment was to be seen in initiatives such as the enactment of a Civil Aviation Bill, as well as the signing of a contract with Mastercard International Inc in order to maximize capturing useful data via its platforms to track spending trends and to gain a competitive edge in the market.
Renee Coppin, Chairman of the BHTA, focusing on this year’s awards theme, ‘Revitalized and Renewed’, remarked that the industry was able to emerge stronger, after having endured something she likened to ‘apocalyptic’ in nature, through the impact of COVID-19, ashfall from neighbouring La Soufriere, a freak storm and the passage of a hurricane.
She remarked that what it did was reveal to Barbados its depth of “resilience and our character, the breadth of our partnerships, every player stepped up to save this industry, our government to our suppliers and our industry partners. As a result of that, we are still here, still standing and tonight reflects our determination to build back stronger and better.”
This year saw Lifetime Achievements presented to long standing hospitality service provider, Jackie White who amassed 32 years in the industry, while hotelier Sunil Chatrani was honoured for his long-term investment in the industry over the many years.
Other awards went out to individual categories Hanif Walcott of St . James Travel and Tours was recognised as Employee for the Year 2022, while Flow Barbados took the Business Excellence Award category for Industry Supplier of the Year and the Social Responsibility of the Year Award. Crane Resorts, took home the Tourism Industry Partner of the Year recipient was the Enterprise Growth Fund Inc and a Special Award in Response to COVID-19.
Hotel of the Year- Luxury, was won by the Sandy Lane Hotel, however, the A Class category was secured by Little Arches Boutique Hotel, while the B Class and Apartments Award was won by Eco Lifestyle and Lodge, who also won the Environmental & Sustainability Award of the Year.
Cheffette Restaurant received the Restaurant of the Year title, a much welcome by the crowd. In the Business Excellence Award category – Tourism Attraction Member of the Year Award was presented to Atlantis Submarine Barbados.