Some 45 volunteers have been trained in preparation for Barbados’ hosting of the 41st edition of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace, from May 9 to 11, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC).
Under the theme Enhancing Service Excellence, these individuals, drawn mainly from tertiary institutions across the island, participated in two training sessions at the LESC.
The training was conducted by Rhonda Bryan-Hutson and Norma Shorey-Bryan, who informed the volunteers about the various roles they would perform, and how to engage and present their best selves while interacting with delegates of the trade show and the media.
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s, Chief Product Development Officer, Marsha Alleyne, told the volunteers, who were mostly young people, that “tourism is about sustainability” and they “have a role to play in the development and continuity of the island’s tourism product”.
Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association’s, Chief Executive Officer, Ryan Forde, explained to the volunteers that most people view tourism “as just the hotels, the airlines and cruise ship and that’s not what tourism is, that’s a bit of the operation”.
He added: “We work with trainers, with HR personalities, with accounting, with IT. We also work with our support agencies … National Conservation Commission, Immigration, Customs, all of these entities all connect with what is tourism. When you fly here you have to go through the airport and you’ve got Immigration, that’s not tourism to you, but it is to us; you also got Customs, everybody has a responsibility….”
Mr. Forde told the volunteers that come next week when they interact and speak about Brand Barbados they have a responsibility to show the passion and love they have for their country as Bajans.
“So, when you are working together as a team, just think Brand Barbados because all of us have to work together to make this trade show a success,” he advised.
The Caribbean Travel Marketplace allows tourism suppliers to meet face-to-face with wholesalers from around the world selling Caribbean vacation travel over the course of two days of business meetings.