Ex BTMI boss elected to CTO body

Former chief executive officer of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) William ‘Billy’ Griffith is the new chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s (CTO) Allied Member Board.

He has been elected to serve for the 2020-2022 period.

“I am honoured to have been elected to represent the allied members of the CTO and represent this diverse group of companies, as its chairman, at this critical stage of our tourism destiny,” said the CEO and managing director of WCG Consulting Ltd.

“My immediate priority will be to re-energise and increase the membership base, build capacity and work with the executive branch on a cohesive plan to recover from the devastating effects of COVID-19.”

A release from the CTO said a cadre of former Caribbean destination management officials was elected to the CTO Allied Member Board of Directors by private sector members of the organisation.

Griffith is one of three new allied members elected to the five-member Board. The others are: Seleni Matus, a former director of tourism in Belize, now executive director of the International Institute of Tourism Studies at George Washington University; and Sharon Flax-Brutus, a former director of tourism of the British Virgin Islands, who is now director and strategist at White Oleander Destinations.

The new board members will be supported by returning members, Jacqueline Johnson, the CEO of Global Bridal Group and MarryCaribbean.com; and Barry Brown, Afar Media’s executive director for the Caribbean. Both have served on the board for several years and have renewed their commitment to supporting the CTO’s objectives.

Through various activities and events, the allied members utilise their wide roster of professionals and expertise to assist the CTO with its development programme for Caribbean tourism. In consultation with the wider allied membership, the board makes recommendations on regional tourism programmes to the CTO board of directors, identifies opportunities to build the CTO’s non-government membership programme, and coordinates key activities during major CTO events, including the allied marketing conference and networking initiatives for government and allied members.

Elections for the allied board are held every two years for the private sector and non-governmental members of the CTO. This year’s election was held virtually for the first time. (PR)