Tourism Authority Hosts New York Media

September 24, 2014

Today [Sept 24] the Bermuda Tourism Authority [BTA] hosted a media event at which Premier Michael Dunkley and Tourism Development & Transport Minister Shawn Crockwell spoke to what the BTA said were “some of the most influential publications in the world of travel.”

The BTA said, “They discussed a wide range of topics including: new on-island hotel and restaurant developments, Bermuda arts and culture, the Bermuda Tourism Authority formation, Cup Match, international business, casino gaming, experiential tourism and America’s Cup.

The journalists included representatives of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Travel + Leisure, Travel Weekly, Travel Agent and Luxury Travel Advisor. The session lasted about two hours.

Senator Jeff Baron and Bill Hanbury, CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, also participated in the group media session.

About the media breakfast, the Premier noted, “The chance to tell Bermuda’s story of revitalization to this influential media audience was an opportunity not to be missed.

“I believe these representatives got to experience firsthand the excitement that I, and my fellow Bermudians, feel about the new direction that our tourism industry is taking. From America’s Cup to building on our cultural tourism assets, we have a magnificent story to tell to a global tourism audience.”

Minister Crockwell added, “To have this notable media audience all in the same room at the same time was a great occasion for Bermuda tourism. I had the distinct pleasure to discuss our nautical, marine and sports tourism assets, which was well received by the media representatives.

“These types of media opportunities are important to rebuilding our tourism economy with the objective of putting Bermudians to work. The BTA needs to continue this type of aggressive marketing outreach. ”

The previous evening the same group attended a reception to acknowledge the historic and tourism marketing significance of the Mary Celestia fragrance launch. Several dozen media organizations from the lifestyle, fashion and tourism sectors were in attendance.

The Bermuda Tourism Authority organized and hosted the breakfast briefing in concert with the BTA’s marketing and PR team.

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  1. New Website To Detail Minister's Travel Costs - Bernews.com : Bernews.com | November 3, 2014
  1. Rhonda Neil says:

    So who speaks for tourism Mr. Hanbury or Mr. Crockwell

    • Creamy says:

      Why not both? Are you really that stupid?

      • more than enough says:

        Why not throw in the premier and a senator just for the heck of it!

    • More of the same says:

      I hope Hanbury spoke. The problem is when the BDOT performed the same thing under the PLP the OBA said it was a waste of money. Now under the OBA the everything is ok.

      The BTA and BDOT boats all look the same. All this government did was paint the boat a new color, call the department a different name and hire a $300,000K captain who answers to a Tourism Development & Transport Minister who does not know his A$$ from his elbow when it comes to Tourism. So many promises that have turned into lies.

      • haha says:

        BDOT weren’t gettin $*** done that was d problem! so much less

  2. I Got This says:

    I got this.

    What a waste of tax payers monies. These publications are hardly known and will give BDA no exposure whatsoever. The New York Times is just a rag, the Wall Street Journal doesn’t know anything about tourism and what the hell are the other 3 travel publications (since I never heard of them they must be garbage) going to provide for tourism.

    BTA is so such a waste of money and devoid of any new ides, why don’t they continue the advertising in gospel magazines as the BDoT did that reached all of a few thousand readers. Faith Based Tourism was an awesome BDoT initiative and something the BTA would never ever think of because they are useless. Instead they advertise to the unknown publications above. Disgusting use of tax payer monies I tell you.

    These guys are simply there for the travel perks and photo ops.

    Look at how they are dressed!

    Where is Global Hue when you need them?

    Why do they need all these people? I mean the Premier, Min. of Tourism and the BTA CEO? What do these jokers know about BDA and tourism? I mean they didn’t even sing like the previous Min. of Tourism would do!

    This is no different then the PLP when they spent thousands of dollars to travel to China, India, Dubai etc. to…um…to do something. So hypocritical of the current Government.

    The old BDoT could have done this as well…but they didn’t…but they…could have

    What are the salaries of the BTA employees?

    Please let me know if missed anything.

    • somuchless says:

      Wow you’re pissed lol but it is true some things just make you wonder. Hmmm

      • I Got This says:

        Pissed about stupid little bit picking over stupid little things.

        Sarcasm I guess is just too much for some o understand.

        Thank you BTA and anyone else that assisted in getting all these well known publications in one room for a BDA expose.

        I just pray they don’t read the ignorant and hateful comments on this site. I know if I did as a potential tourist to a small island I would change my vacation destination where the people would actually seem friendly.

    • haha says:

      You must be a moron. Of course they’re dressed nice, what do you want them to show up in t-shirt and shorts?! Faith based tourism yeah right how many visitors did they actually get? His still seeing jesus up west. These “garbage” magazines you speak of have millions of readers. get a life and stop spouting hot trash! The last government got nothing out of it, these folks will! Hope your being sarcastic!

    • Triangle Drifter says:

      Yeah, what a waste of public money & time!!! Just think… they could have gone to Boston & done something really productive like throw out a baseball or something. Maybe they could have done a factory tour to source the purchase of ‘pop by’ flags to litter the Island with.

  3. Ace girl says:

    The first two commentators are correct. There is such confusion with this Authority. There is no need for a Minister if the Authority is doing what it is supposed to do. Why must they always piggy back on other’ s concepts and ideas. Taxpayers need to get over following the party line nonsense and look at situations objectively. How many times must we read about which party did and are doing the worst job? Look at the money being thrown at this ever growing group of individuals with fancy titles that has achieved little to date. Can anyone give us, the taxpayers, a figure for our return on this major investment? Can anyone tell us what is going to happen if they continue on this non productive route?

    • I Got This says:

      It’s $5mb less than the previous BDOT budget.

      A definite plus already.

      • Rockfish#1 and#2 says:

        Have you done your homework….properly?

        • Sad says:

          I see the tourism budget is $5mn less than the previous budget.

          What do you see?

          Why do you hate the BTA so much?

    • I Got This says:

      The only ideas the BTA is piggy backing is the BTA structure itself which is found in many other jurisdictions to the south of us and elsewhere.

      The last days of the BDOT/Global Hue saw many failed and half a**ed initiatives that wasted our monies.

      • street wise says:

        And they are still wasting OUR money on the same stupid promotions that didn’t work last year, and the year before, and the year before that… IMHO the TA are as clueless as ever. Please tell me exactly what the TA has done/is doing to increase air tourism to our Island???

        • more than enough says:

          Thats a secret, like their over inflated “compensation packages”

    • PBanks says:

      Yeah. With a BTA, and a CEO, no need for a Tourism Minister. Let them report to the Premier. Mr Crockwell can devote his time to his other ministry instead of paying lip service to it.

  4. Rhonda Neil says:

    I smell perfumegate, more business meeting no cs, no disclosure, no transparency, The renamed Ubp thinks they are invincible. Premier and Baron. Really believe they are Batman and Robin.

    • Sad says:

      Rhonda the only thing you smell is your nasty attitude. Give it up. How is there no transparency when there threw press releases providing detail about the 3 events that have taken place during their trip?

      And I you are referring to costs do you want them to provide a daily expense report before the trip has ended? Seriously get a life Rhonda as you’re constant remarks providing absolutely no substance are just boring now.

      You need something to do.

      • Rhonda says:

        Which Ministry was the Priemier, and his assistant misrepresenting when he met with a group of business man, with no civil servant there, which is required sounds familiar….

        • Double Standards says:

          You don’t think the Premier (not just this one) shouldn’t partake in meetings designed to attract foreign investment onto our shores?

          That’s a very strange outlook on governing.

  5. Coffee says:

    So they sell Cup Match ! It would seem as if Cup Match is for sale like dunking the wench in St.George . Is it now a spectacle for our visitors to gawk at the natives play a game ? Now why would you even want to commercialize an intimate occasion such as Cup Match ? What culture or heritage of the other half of Bermuda gets commercialized for the benefit of tourism in this country ?Haha , get real you phony people !
    Seems as if the BTA , OBA /UBP have run out of ideas . So Shawn Crockwell talks about new hotel development , and this question is for the OBA /UBP shills …. Have any of you seen any plans ? Have any of you heard even thru the grapevine of any serious development for The east end . Sure some one is clearing the land at Morgans Point , for what I ask ? Where are the town hall meetings to discuss the development in #33 .
    This is a nothing but a high class JUNKET !

    • Triangle Drifter says:

      How many press conferences? How many grand announcements of hotels to be built? How many times was it all noise that turned into absolutely nothing during the PLP years.

      Coffee, there is much that you obviously do not know. Things are quietly happening. You don’t go blabbing all over the media till you have something solid to announce. A huge difference between the OBA & PLP. In 14 years the PLP was all show, no substance. How many times was the Club Med property about to be developed?

      The OBA have been in the drivers seat less than 2 years. It will take some time to rebuild Bermuda credibility in the investment world after the fast talking used car salesman.

      • more than enough says:

        Two years and already at least one failed attempt at securing a developer ( jetgate ) lest we forget…

        • Creamy says:

          And at least one successful attempt at getting a developer (Pink Beach) lest we forget.

    • PBanks says:

      Cup Match is already commercialized to the brink. You can’t go 5 yards without a HSBC banner/flag in view. And the clubs appreciate the $$$ in sponsorship money.

      Nothing wrong with promoting the event outside our shores.

    • Somebody's Momma says:

      They didn’t want to properly support Cup Match so why are they promoting what they don’t know.

  6. more than enough says:

    So bill is there too? How about giving us a list of participants.

  7. more than enough says:

    Well glen, so much for your idea of not politicizing the bta.
    I reiterate… as thick as thieves. It is plain to see that this took alot of planning to get at least six government sponsored individuals, the premier, two ministers, one junior minister ( mini me ) / senator, one “ceo” and his newly appointed foot soldier, glen, to these various events. Specially considering your weak attempt at instructing us that the bta is not driven or directed by the politics of the day.

    • Triangle Drifter says:

      I don’t have any problem with the Tourism Minister being at major tourism promoting events. I do have a problem with the Tourism Minister, no matter who he or she is, being at the forefront of such events.

      The BTA was supposed to push politics to the background. Enough of the Tourism Minister running things That has been a disaster from long before EB & the PLP really screwed it up.

      BTA, get the politicians, who more often than not don’t have a clue about tourism, out of the way.

  8. JUNK YARD DOG says:

    Until the Government effectively clamps down on crime from hand bag snatching to white collar crime, no body in their right mind will waste their time and money to invest here or much less come here.

    We are throwing salt in the ocean.
    We are shipping coal to Newcastle.

    We live in a country where we lock all doors and windows day and night.
    we have no way of defending our property.
    we can not drive on our roads with out risk.
    We live in a country where we can not go out at night with out risk.
    We live in a country where we can not go to the beach with out risk.

    Telling the world that we are no different than other countries is a cop out, as we bury our young.

    The people of this Nation are getting weary of the silly excuses.

  9. street wise says:

    Huh…??