BTA Receives ‘Accreditation With Distinction’
The Bermuda Tourism Authority [BTA] has earned reaccreditation eight years after first receiving the Destination Marketing Accreditation Programme [DMAP] seal from Destinations International [DI].
A spokesperson said, “The DMAP seal is awarded in recognition of the BTA’s commitment to industry excellence and meeting the industry standard for performance and accountability of destination organisations around the world.”
“The BTA was awarded “Accreditation with Distinction”, the highest possible recognition for a destination organisation. “With Distinction” indicates that the organisation exceeded the minimum requirements for accreditation and that the independent DMAP Board found no opportunities for the organisation to improve its responses to the required standards.”
“We are pleased to have the Bermuda Tourism Authority join our distinguished group of professionals,” said Don Welsh, President and CEO of Destinations International. “The industry distinction defines quality and performance standards for destination organisations and I look forward to their ongoing participation in the DMAP community.”
“By achieving DMAP accreditation, the Bermuda Tourism Authority has demonstrated that they have developed strategies for the direction of their destination and the policies and procedures to safeguard the use of public dollars,” said Maura Allen Gast, FCDME, executive director at Visit Irving, and Immediate Past Chair of the DMAP Board.
The spokesperson said, “The accreditation programme requires a destination organisation to successfully comply with a multitude of mandatory and voluntary standards that span a variety of performance areas to gain this achievement. The standards cover nearly all aspects related to the management and marketing of destination organisations including governance, finance, human resources, sales, communications, destination development and research. The BTA is among over 200 destination organisations who have obtained DMAP recognition, fewer than 10% of which earned “Accreditation with Distinction”.”
Wayne Caines, BTA Chairman said, “On behalf of the Board I offer my congratulations to the BTA staff for their diligence in successfully securing Destinations International [DI] reaccreditation with distinction. The DMAP Seal reflects the BTA’s commitment to excellence and meeting the industry standards for performance and accountability.”
Tracy Berkeley, BTA CEO said, “The BTA’s reaccreditation with distinction by Destinations International is testament to the hard work of the BTA team. Membership of DI ensures access to a wealth of important industry resources, educational opportunities and other benefits that will assist the BTA team in building a successful, sustainable tourism industry.”
The BTA is spending too much time meeting criteria to obtain useless awards such as this celebrating perfecting admin procedures. Clearly a feel good award for the BTA and has nothing to do with actual achievement such as increasing arrival figures. BTA celebrating failure.
How interesting. The PLP government gives awards to civil servants for doing their jobs but not a word when the BTA receives an award “in recognition of the BTA’s commitment to industry excellence”.
How about an award for actually doing something like increasing tourism? Cuba is still pulling in over 1 MILLION Canadians a year. What awards has Cuba won from Destinations International?
All this back-patting is useless. Show us the tourists!