Bermuda Delegation Meets With ATL Coalition

September 1, 2011

Minister of Business Development and Tourism Patrice Minors and a Bermuda delegation completed a series of meetings yesterday [Aug.31] designed to help further a  sister community relationship with the Buckhead area of Atlanta. The partnership seeks to generate economic development and tourism among the citizens of both destinations.

Minister Minors is leading a delegation to Atlanta this week that includes the Mayor of Hamilton Charles Gosling; Chamber of Commerce President Stephen Todd; Michelle Khaldun, Acting Permanent Secretary, Business Development and Tourism; William Griffith, Director of Tourism; Jasmin Smith, Assistant Director of Tourism and Travis Gilbert Legislative Assistant, Ministry of Business Development and Tourism.

The group attended an exclusive morning meeting held with the executive board of The Buckhead Coalition, a chamber of commerce-type, nonprofit organization consisting of 100 prominent CEOs of major regional firms in the area that has been termed “The Beverly Hills of the East.”

Buckhead Coalition president, former Mayor of Atlanta, Mr. Massell presented Minister Minors with a crystal peach:

Minister Minors and Mr. Massell

Of the yesterday’s meeting, Minister Minors said, “I get a sense of home here that I don’t always get in other destinations in the way that people on the street are so friendly and will say hello just as we do in Bermuda. This visit has been an outstanding opportunity to both sell Bermuda as a vacation destination and as a place to do business.

“Having the opportunity to speak with such a prestigious group of CEOs and business leaders was very valuable. There is no doubt in my mind that this region is an excellent fit for Bermuda and we are appreciative of The Buckhead Coalition for giving us the opportunity to explore ways to mutually benefit our respective communities.”

At yesterday’s meeting, Buckhead Coalition President Sam Massell, former Mayor of Atlanta, discussed the similarities between the two destinations, noting “each catered to an upscale clientele who appreciated outstanding hotels, restaurants and shopping, amongst other activities.”

Minister Minors encouraged the Buckhead business leaders to consider Bermuda as a destination for hotel development, while the Mayor of Hamilton Charles Gosling and Chamber of Commerce President Stephen Todd discussed the commercial aspects of Bermuda’s retail and tourism industries and the potential for Buckhead residents and business leaders to both enjoy the destination as visitors or as investors.

After a short tour of Buckhead, the group held an additional meeting with Buckhead Coalition members during which Mr. Massell presented Minister Minors and Mayor Gosling with a crystal peach and crystal dogwood, respectively. The artistic pieces were designed by the prestigious Frabel Studios in Georgia.

In turn, Minister Minors presented Mr. Massell with a hand-carved tray made from Bermudian cedar while Mayor Gosling and Mr. Todd each presented representative items from the destination including a ceramic tile with a representation of a traditional Bermuda cottage created by local designer Barbara Finsness, as well as a Bermuda historical book.

Following the meeting, Minister Minors and the delegation met with local media at a news conference at which they discussed Bermuda’s key selling points for Atlanta-area residents, including events such as the upcoming PGA Grand Slam of Golf, which will be broadcast on Atlanta-based TNT network, as well as the Island’s natural beauty and the warmth of the Bermudian people.

She also noted to the media that many Bermudian students travel to Atlanta for schooling and residents will come to take advantage of the outstanding shopping. Concluding the news conference, she invited Buckhead and Atlanta area residents to enjoy Bemruda’s close proximity and pleasant climate as well as its myriad business opportunities.

Today Minister Minors will carry Bermuda’s message to the local Atlanta media with interviews and meetings with top outlets. Minister Minors will be interviewed on two of CBS Radio’s local affiliate stations, Dave-FM and WVEE-FM, during the popular morning drive period and she will later that morning make an appearance on WXIA-TV’s (NBC) “Atlanta & Company”.

She is also scheduled to meet with editors from The Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper and regional magazines The Atlantan and Points North before returning home to Bermuda tomorrow [Sept.2].

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Comments (8)

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  1. MinorMatters says:

    Minister of Tourism, How is the plan coming along????????

  2. PEPPER says:

    What plan ?

  3. Terry says:

    So whats ALT stand four………

    • YES MATE! says:

      ALT is typically used as the abbreviation for ALTERNATE. However, I suspect that you may have made a TYPO, which is short for TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR, and you meant ATL. ATL is the airport code for Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in ATLanta, Georgia. Many people, most notably those living the Hip-Hop lifestyle, commonly refer to Atlanta as simply ATL.

  4. YES MATE! says:

    Hi you have reached the voicemail of me, Miss Minus, Minister of Tourism. Sorry, but I cannot take your call right now because I’m in Buckhead, Georgia checking out some real estate. If you have general tourism questions, please call David Dodwell. If your question is about our Tourism Blueprint, please contact the director of tourism. What? the director is here with us? Oh sorry. If your query pertains to the Tourism Blueprint please contact the assistant director. What? I forgot she came along too! Oh well, just leave your message here. Thank you and have a Bermudaful day!

    We are sorry but the voicemailbox for Patrice Minus is full.

  5. Down 'n' Dirty says:

    Buckhead has authentic Bloods ‘n’ Crips running around . Unlike Bermuda .

  6. global village says:

    Where is the Husband?

    Why continue to visit places before implementing the much talked about strategy?

  7. Wow says:

    I really hope she is saving her pay checks and that she can go from part time back up to full time hours at BNTB, a nice Lady a but bad decision to take on this level of responsibility.