Glenn Jones On “Misperceptions” About BTA
Newly appointed Bermuda Tourism Authority [BTA] Stakeholder Relations Adviser Glenn Jones said the “politics of the day do not drive or direct” the BTA team, and asked people to “keep the BTA out of the political crossfire because doing otherwise is counterproductive to the goals I know all of us want to achieve.”
Mr. Jones said, “I’m only a few days into the job but I thought it would be a good idea to share some things publicly that I hope will solve misperceptions I notice among the public discourse in local media.
“Firstly, the Bermuda Tourism Authority is transparently releasing information about its activities, performance and finances on its website on a quarterly basis.
“Quarterly reporting from the country’s tourism agency is a carry-over from the former Department of Tourism, but now the information includes robust financial data too. You can find it here.
“Secondly, the Bermuda Tourism Authority is an organization of talented industry professionals of which 90% are Bermudian. This means the tourism recovery all of us seek will come at the hands of mostly homegrown talent.
“Additionally, each BTA team member’s job security is tied to his/her ability to meet performance objectives based on the goals of the National Tourism Plan. Performance-based management is a key component of successful private enterprises.
“Lastly, the politics of the day do not drive or direct the people on the BTA team. We are focused on building the kind of sustainable tourism economy that can succeed no matter which party is elected to lead the country.
“The BTA believes the country deserves economic stability and job security from its tourism industry and the people I work with are clearly focused everyday with that goal in mind.
“My role requires me to meet with a variety of stakeholders, including elected officials. When I meet stakeholders my goal is to ensure they have the information they need to educate themselves, their staffs or their constituents on the vital recovery of our tourism industry.
“In return, I will ask them to work as hard as we are to keep the BTA out of the political crossfire because doing otherwise is counterproductive to the goals I know all of us want to achieve,” concluded Mr. Jones.
“Quarterly reporting from the country’s tourism agency is a carry-over from the former Department of Tourism”
NOTHING Changes!
We are not Amused, hon, MOST organizations report on progress on a monthly. quarterly basis. That is not unique to BDOT or BTA. What would you have them do??? Not report at all?? Report daily???
So you think nothing has changed in terms of operations and focus based on that one sentence alone huh?
How little you know. Go and check the BTA website and the articles on Bernews in which the dollars spent is accounted for and the initiatives that are being undertaken and financed by the BTA. And to note the budget the BTA has been granted is roughly $5mn less than the previous tourism budget. Increasing efficiency while decreasing expense is a good thing.
Or you could simply post such brilliant rebuttals as you did above.
I am glad that the politicians have been driven away from this portfolio. Or else we could have the brilliant tourism initiatives such as faith based tourism, advertising in magazines that have limited reach and a Minister singing at baseball games for our tourism supper. Or maybe you prefer a return to the days where the previous Government fired Bermudian staff as a means to give millions of our dollars to an overseas firm (Global Hue).
“Calling a spade a spade” once again LiarLiar. Thanks for being forward and frank.
Very well said my friend!!! I would also like to point out that you can minus one dislike so that only makes it 8 imbeciles that would disagree with what you said!!! I accidentally hit it while trying to ” LIKE ” what you wrote!!! Well done!!!!!
@LiarLiar—i guess your pants are on fire, the “elected” have the job of keeping the political crossfires away from the Tourism Authority! The must feel like the preverbial “Job”,(see Mr. Jones last paragraph) until government now or later recinds their authority! …just a flip flop…
Spoken like a well trained SURROGATE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spoken like a true **********
Spoken like someone who wants Bermuda to fail
spoken like an idiot as usual
“Lastly, the politics of the day do not drive or direct the people on the BTA team”
Of course politics play a part, to think otherwise is ludicrous. We have a Minister of Tourism who answers to his political party, the BTA was the recipient of a $20m grant from the taxpayers, plus there was the case in which the college buddy of the Minister and paid political consultant was able to participate in a consultancy gig awarded by the BTA. Plus, the Minister had a say in appointing the BTA board and played a big part in appointing the BTA chief.
Politics plays a part…of course it does.
Glenn says “Firstly, the Bermuda Tourism Authority is transparently releasing information about its activities, performance and finances on its website on a quarterly basis
THEN PLEASE TELL BERMUDA HOW MUCH YOUR BOSS IS MAKING @ BTA!
Is it
a) 100,000.00
b) 200,000.00
c) 300,000.00
d) or none of my candy a$$ business because the OBA said so!
e) more than a, b or c!
What’s it to you???? What part of the fact did you miss concerning the budgeted amount given to the BTA!!! It happens to be $5million less than what was being paid before!!! And from what I see, we are getting better results!!! You are just being nosy!!! If only you were that nosy when it came to the head of the hospital boards salary under your plp ????? Zaney never would reveal what he made??? Why were you acting like a tree frog then????
Kiss my a$$
Whitney?
this question was asked on the floor of the house
but minister crockwell refuses to answer it is the peoples money and they have every right to know how it is being spent
You said all that to say what, to remind us you have a taxpayers funded job.
Most of Bermuda has a taxpayers funded job!
In short He told you all to shut up lol
Glenn please ignore ‘igrant’ comments and Continue to help Bermuda recover….SMH at the haters!
Since its existence the B.T.A. has done more to benefit Bermuda, (all of us) than what had been accomplished in the past decade. They’ve a positive approach to/in rejuvenating our tourist industry and that’s good news!
So, contrary to what the Opposition followers tend to believe we are on the road to recovery, but it will not happen over night nor in nine months…”Give Peace a Chance”
Call 911 Ray has bumped his head to many times. Ray you’re suppose to drink the Red OBA Kool-Aid not get drunk on it. What are you smoking bie? Thinking some group that got formed over night has done more to benefit Bermuda in this short time. Seriously I’m here laughing so much the VP came into my office to see what’s so funny! Now were both lol.
“Thanks for the LOL & flikel” you both need one another’s company. Also a few trucks / dolls to play with. I am not the one to play your games…Sad yes, but true
“Since its existence the B.T.A. has done more to benefit Bermuda, (all of us) than what had been accomplished in the past decade.”
Really? Can you provide details on the BTA’s accomplishments?
Of course, they have $23 million to play with. They better have some good results with that kind of taxpayer investment.
If BDOT had that kind of money at their fingertips, I’m sure we would have had just as good results. “Money answers all things…” Ecc. 10:19
The BDOT did have a bigger budget. And yet no platinum period as promised.
YOU HAVE PERVERTED THAT CHAPTER AND VERSE….
How? What interpretation should those words mean instead of what’s written?
Prove it.
Who are ALL the people. What the the SALARIES. That’s TRANSPARENCY for ya.
Who are ALL the people. What *are the SALARIES. That’s TRANSPARENCY for ya. SHAMEFUL BTA.
Like your grammar? Oops.
Is the BTA a privately owned company.
Rhonda give it a break.. i don’t recall ever hear you asking for the pay of the then hospital ceo who was on paid leave of absence for a whole year while under investigations which lead to his resignation.
MP Zane DeSilva handled the hospital matter badly, which is but one of the reasons he sits on the opposition benches.
However,Minister Crockwell, the architect of the BTA was one of his loudest critics, which is fair enough.
The OBA promised to end that behaviour if elected, but lo and behold, they are taking it to another level.
Deserves Re Posting!
flikel says:
September 17, 2014 at 3:14 pm
“Lastly, the politics of the day do not drive or direct the people on the BTA team”
Of course politics play a part, to think otherwise is ludicrous. We have a Minister of Tourism who answers to his political party, the BTA was the recipient of a $20m grant from the taxpayers, plus there was the case in which the college buddy of the Minister and paid political consultant was able to participate in a consultancy gig awarded by the BTA. Plus, the Minister had a say in appointing the BTA board and played a big part in appointing the BTA chief.
Politics plays a part…of course it does.
I have tons of respect for Glenn but I cannot believe he believes what he sent out. The BTA is clearly a political organization. It reports to the Minister, is staffed at the highest levels by appointees of the OBA administration, refuses to disclose its salaries of the executives under a litany of excuses, and refuses to engage the suggestions put forth by the Opposition.
For this statement to go out, which is basically telling the PLP to not offer criticisms, is unfortunate. If Glenn and the BTA are so confident in the path they are on, they would accept constructive criticism and realize that criticism can sometimes make you better. yes we are all in this together, but that doesn’t mean that the BTA should be devoid of criticism.
And the PLP would have supported the 400 travel agents on the cruise ships today alongside the BTA staff members that were on-site from 6:30am until 7pm, instead of trying to discredit everything before the event was even over.
Criticism at the appropriate time, b****.
The PLP were right on track trying to disrupt this event. They continue to rob the bread and butter off of our plates.
Nothing wrong with critcsm. Just please do not use the BTA to attempt to score political points. Raise issues first with the BTA and not straight to media. If issues, misconceptions or stakeholders concerns can be dealt with like adults without to and fro in the media, then that is good for the industry, that is good for Bermuda, that is good for you.
I will not vote PLP in the next election.
Soooo…………. Much rhetoric and no solutions!
I think the OBA’s intentions are noble. I think they are trying to do the right thing and that includes whatever is happening with the BTA. This whole anti-Bermudian branding is nonsense from the PLP.
Unfortunately, it continues to be a PR mess for the OBA. Glenn Jones is a respectable person, I like him a lot but is this a press release from Mr Jones, an interview with Bernews or an opinion column? It seems like jot has come from left field.
Wow CEO has been silent so a Bermudian has to be hired to read the Party line
What happens to these Surrogate type characters when they are used up?
Glen is a passive, do as I’m told, type of guy. Voice of the non-transparent folk hey Glenn? When at the Sun, did you think the BTA is what you describe it as today? By the way, how much you getting paid???
Did you come out with all this crap when DREB appointed him?
How much are you getting paid? Make sure you tally up your government welfare handouts and food stamps, fool.
Why so hung up on salaries – they make what you think they make – and similar to what govt professionals in similar roles make. What’s the big deal? What if hanbury makes 200k plus? So what?
I am more interested in seeing what he does and the BTA do to save tourism, so far not much, but a lot hiring and talk…but early days I suppose
Why so hung up on hiding the complete “compensation package”. Which includes salary, accomodation, travel expenses, and who knows what, indeed vey similar to some other gov. “professionals”. I won’t call any names (ex premier). Which is a perfect example of why we need to know exactly what the bta is up to and how the money is bieng spent. All of it.
I too am interested in seeing what he does, but without accountability and close scrutiny, it will be hard to identify, amongst the 40 employees, who is responsible, for what.
So far not much, and even that is a stretch…so far almost 27 million in the hole, and, I am sure, that they are gearing up for the next $27,000,000 handout anytime now!
Save tourism? Good luck. One thing we cwn be assured of though the bta will be getting their money.
And the BDOT, Global Hue, Andre Curtis got their money as well
Who cares? We are talking about the oba’s bta!
and there is the double standard……..
LOL thanks PLP
No double standard, present not past.
What a surprise! The new guy on the block is being trotted out to sing for his supper.
Unfortunately, he cannot change the facts.
The OBA is treating the BTA as if it is a private company. It is an entity paid for by the taxpayer.
Isn’t dodwell ubp? In fact I think that he, quite possibly is the worst tourism minister that bermuda has had to endure. His tenure in this role produced absolutely nothing. Save a few $$$ in his bank account.
Ubp translates nicely into oba, after all, alot of the ubp stalwarts are now oba.
The bta, I am sure, are working in tandem with the oba.
The mere fact, that all operational costs are covered by a government grant, not only at present, but, for the forsee able future, invites us to say whatever we want. You may think you can claim that the politics of the day does not drive or direct the bta team, yet you rely solely on the funding of the politics of the day to continue to function as an ‘authority’!
How dare you give us a directive, and then say that it is what we all want.
Talk about politics of the day… and the Grammy goes to… glen jones, and the bta…nice try.
The oba and the bta, are as thick as thieves.
All those being funded by government, from the most menial laboror, right up to the premier(which I believe is the highest gov. appointment) are employed to serve the people of bermuda. None are above public scrutiny.
The oba promised transparency, where is it? Always trying to hush us down…don’t get on that boat glen, oops, too late.
Y’all might be seein’ results, although I doubt it…got to recover the 27 or so million that y’all are spending now, first! And we definitely ain’t seeing none, just riding on coattails, as usual.
Strange how no one combined about Dodwell being appointed as chairperson to the PLP initiated Tourism Board.
Very strange indeed…
“No one complained”
Buy now all
No DREB was the worst minister of Tourism ever.
Nah. Worst ever Tourism Minister was Patrice Minors. That record will stand for decades.
She didn’t even know how to spell tourism. I asked her and she said t ummmm o ummmm u ummmm I don’t know the rest but I do know how to spell goverment lol
Exactly how many things are being “carried over” from the bdot?
Are there any original plans of action from the great minds of the bta?
They claimed to have initiated this travel agent thing, but I beg to differ. It was organized by asta. Bermuda, just happened to be part of the itinerary. I believe selling cruises is their main focus. That is where the money is…do you think those travel agents really care where u go? Their only concern is that you book through them! They want your business, thats how they pay their bills. Cruise ships are the destination nowadays…ask dodwell, he will tell you how well appointed they are. He and his family went on a cruise about four years ago and returned singing their praise. Ask him.
The former govt gave millions$$$$$$$$ to Global hue.We got zilch in return.
Water under the bridge, stay on topic.
That is the topic.
The topic is glen jones on misperceptions of the bta.
Not a journey into the past.
Glenn how much are you being paid?
How much are you being paid, somuchless? Probably as much as your name infers.
And also the worst Premeir
Glen … Stop the fluff !
Is Glenn the new spokesperson for tourism? Why haven I ever heard from the actual onisland communications manager????????????
@somuchless- I am with you on this one. Why was he speaking at all considering he is a newly hired temporary worker?
Something strange
Mr. Jones, why is the BTA being political when it doesn’t give press releases to all of the press?
Like who and how would you know some did not get the release?
LOL real question?