New Youth Tourism Board Formed
Minster of Business Development and Tourism Wayne Furbert on Thursday [June 28] spoke about the formation of a new Youth Tourism Board.
“Much of the reinvention of our tourism is being driven by our board, chaired by Maxwell Burgess. However, we felt we needed a younger group of Bermudians who could also provide input and so formed the Youth Tourism Board”, said Minister Furbert.
“Working in close conjunction with the main Board, we have tasked this group with bringing new ideas and energy to the table and to ensure that no stone is left unturned in our efforts to renew and revitalize our hospitality industry – a key component of Bermuda’s economy.”
“I’m pleased to welcome this dynamic group of young Bermudians who I know will give their all in helping implement our recently released National Plan”, concluded the Minister.
Minister Furbert’s full statement follows below:
Good morning, and thank you for coming today.
As we work towards revitalizing our tourism industry, it is important to get a wide range of input and ideas from stakeholders across the island.
Much of the reinvention of our tourism is being driven by our board, chaired by Maxwell Burgess. However, we felt we needed a younger group of Bermudians who could also provide input and so formed the Youth Tourism Board.
I’m happy to be joined by the members of the youth board today, headed by Chairman Daniel Reece, who is also a member of the main tourism board.
Working in close conjunction with the main Board, we have tasked this group with bringing new ideas and energy to the table and to ensure that no stone is left unturned in our efforts to renew and revitalize our hospitality industry – a key component of Bermuda’s economy.
So I’m happy to announce the members of the Youth Tourism Board are:
1. Chairman – Daniel Reece, an Accountant in risk management and also a Promoter
2. Antonia Mills, who works in Marketing & Hospitality
3. Janson Cross, a Promoter
4. Tyler Owen in Insurance & Hospitality
5. Russell Griffith, who works for the Fairmont Southampton
6. Jonathan Tankard, a Musician
7. Francesca Cacace, working for a Marketing Degree
8. Tulani Bulford, working in Hospitality
9. Pahnya Ratteray, also working in Hospitality
10. Kim Wilson, of the Fairmont Southampton
11. Stefania Di Meglio of the Lido Complex
12. Danilee Trott who works at the Corporation of Hamilton
13. Alastair Jack, with a Masters in Hospitality & Promoter
14. Kim Burgess, works in International Business
15. Belcario Thomas, an Entrepreneur and Promoter and:
16. Makai Dickenson, who works in the Hospitality Industry
17. Tashae Thompson, Manager Events and Product Development, Bermuda Department of Tourism.I’m pleased to welcome this dynamic group of young Bermudians who I know will give their all in helping implement our recently released National Plan.
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This is great idea. It gets the young people involved, and they have enormous energy and bring with them varying talents. Congratulations to the board members!
Great to see Mr Russell Griffith in the mix. I had a really positive experience last weekend as a result of him understanding how to put customer satisfaction first. He ‘gets it’ whereas many other sour members of the public facing industry do not.
Good work Minister Furbert & Mr. Burgess, now bring on the casino and entertainment! Bermudians are starving for something to do weekends.
Good to see Maxwell put his daughter on the board.
I don’t see anyone from the Airline side of the industry?
And a few hotels are missing too.
And what is a Promoter? like a club Promoter? and are these paid positions?
@ Badluvin,
Not paid, volunteer only.
The term Promoter’s can be as elaborate as Event Planners, Producers, Social media networking influencers, niche marketers, decorators, DJs/consultants, ambiance creators and yeh, club promoters, dinner party promoters, concert promoters etc too. Maybe I’m biased as a former one, but if the objective is dynamic, forward thinking energy injections, then often, in Bermuda, people have become Promoters to manifest their creative offerings…and so,, they make a good field to pull from in my opinion.
Took my advise good stuff Mr. Thomas………….
LOL keep it up.
Powerful ..
Great idea
GREAT IDEAS.
TRAITORS FOR LEADERS!
SUBTRACT TWO N WE MAY HAVE A GREAT IDEA. NO MERCENARIES
2 FOXES AMONGST THE HENS!!!!!!!!!
of all people Maxwell Burgess..?it just gets better and better..where is his famous tie with all the hamburgues?
Congrats
Way to go UBP…oh snap I mean’t PLP!!!
I hope ya,all can sing!
all fixed like most things in bermuda
So we need these guys with their energy and ideas because the tourism board is tired and out of ideas? Did I get that right? Here’s an idea. Let’s kick Chris Furbert to the curb and give his spot to Belcario.
How were these people chosen?
WTF?!?!?!?!
There should have been an announcement and advertisements to promote this new youth tourism board so that interested individuals could have a chance to interview for positions.
This screams NEPOTISM and more PLP smoke and mirrors.
About time we put some young voices in the mix. Good for Minister Furbert.
But…………. Don’t this pitcure look a bit funny to anyone:-)
Like I mean… Dont this look like that could be an old pitcure from the UBP! LOL
And who says the UBP are still not in power!
@WTF?,
Board’s are appointed, not interviewed for generally.
That said, who said this youth board in particular, is for a particular party?
I’d guess 50% of us on this Youth Tourism Board would vote different from one another.
That’s awesome.
I’m pro Bermuda mate, choosing to try and contribute to a solution in a small way now, even if it takes 20 years for serious transition..then we’ll be 50+ years old, perhaps in more leadership positions having had way back in 2012 a chance to be a part of creating the foundation for a Fresh Bermy. Most probably think this way on this Board, with broad political backgrounds. Idealogically, it’s about spreading/inspiring pride, energy, dynamic mindsets for our island.
PooPooing people for trying to do that…is, unhelpful. Positive energy, thoughts, skillfull execution, a willfull mindset to have Bermuda be sought after again, we need some more of that island-wide.
Ok…so answer the question. How were the board members chosen?
I’m pro Bermuda too mate. Congratulations on “choosing to try and contribute”. However others, perhaps more intelligent, creative, and qualified than those chosen, would have made the same choice if it was given to them. Which was the basis of my frustration with this board just being created out of nowhere. Where’s the due process? Where’s the “equality” that our politicians are currently debating over?
So again, I ask, how were the board members chosen?
And the reason why I said this board is FOR the PLP is because it was created BY the PLP…as shown by the 2 PLP members standing up there with you. By us, for us…or is it for us, by us?
In your response it almost sounds like you would like to use this as a platform to dive further into politics and gain power in the future. I respect your ambition, drive, and love for Bermuda, but when you “poopoo” my question because you feel that it is bringing negative energy to the table I lose respect for you. I’m only being realistic and honest about an unfair and poorly designed process of selecting and electing people into positions of power. If we’re not allowed to ask the tough questions without having them “poopooed” as being negative then where are we as a society in 2012?
Can you not see the benefits of searching for talent rather than hand picking talent from your family and friends? Or are you biased in that respect as well?
Saying that the board brings a fresh, dynamic, energetic, and positive face to Bermuda’s tourism product is nothing more than propaganda and electioneering. Perhaps you should throw in another “positive” adjective to make yourself and the government sound even better. The current governments’ “track record” speaks volumes about the quality of their ideas…so please forgive me if I question them or their motives…
I’m also of the convention that positivity begets positive results, but positivity in and of itself does not produce positive results.
Talent, hard work, and dedication are the cornerstones of success. Positivity is necessary to bring it all together and I’m positive that we need to make changes to the way in which our country is run.
Now can you please respectfully answer my main question…how were the board members chosen?
Talk to me straight brother.
Oh great! Another sub-committee and more red tape to cut through before any plans are instituted. Oh yeah, I forgot… the DoT don’t have any plans, just a flashy brochure.
Or is this just more of the PLP’s per-election dog and pony show? It continues to be all talk… and no action.
The PLP and the DoT will never get it, will they… or get ‘er done! SMH.
Time to elect some fresh, new talent to the House! The OBA!
A lot of you make it a waste of time to even comment on these topics. All you do is ramble. The fact of the matter is , people stepped up to work, play a part and partisanship is irrelevant in this. Like Mr. Balcario Thomas said there are people from all realms on this board. For every finish there is a start. I was happy to see the make up of the board as I love the diversity and know that every member I saw is someone I can work with as I’m confident that they bring a part of what’s needed to the table. So put it down if you must, if that’s how you get your kicks, but Bermuda needs to unite and I’m all for that.
I agree. We need to unite, but we also need to give fair chances to the talent that we have rather than handpick our sons, daughters, nieces, and nephews.