BHTA new head focused on rebuilding tourism sector

Newly elected Chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) Renée Coppin is ready to lead the charge to rebuild the tourism sector as she settles into her new role.

Coppin was elected at a Special General Meeting held last month, following the departure of Geoffrey Roach who resigned in December last year. He had stepped down when the company he headed, Bridgetown Cruise Terminals Inc., a member of the BHTA, ceased operations after the Bridgetown Port was returned to Government management.

“I am really very excited to be leading the association at this time as we seek to rebuild our industry after two years of pandemic uncertainty,” said Coppin. “2022 also marks the BHTA’s 70th year of existence and I am standing on a legacy of strong Board and Executive leadership over those years and a secretariat team that has been second to none.

“It is certainly my vision to build on this foundation to again have tourism be the preeminent sector driving the development of Barbados. There is a great deal of work to do but we in this industry have proven our resilience, and with the support of all Barbadians we are ready to reestablish our island as a leading tourism destination,” added Coppin who currently serves as a Director on the Board of the Intimate Hotels of Barbados (IHB) and in her capacity as BHTA Chairman will also serve on the Board of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI).

The owner and operator of two South Coast hotels, Pirate’s Inn and Infinity on the Beach, and real estate agency Sea Shell Caribbean Inc., previously held the position of First-Vice Chairman on the BHTA Board from June 2020 to December 2021 and June 2013 to June 2014.

With over 20 years of experience in the tourism industry and a background in sales and marketing, the registered Qualifying Broker holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Management from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the new role.

During the Special General Meeting, Mark Kent was also elected to serve as the BHTA’s First Vice Chairman and Paul Doyle as Second Vice Chairman.

Other members of the Board of Directors include: Stephen Austin, Immediate Past Chairman; Jo-Ann Roett, Director of Finance; Kavita Sandiford, Director of Direct Tourism Services (DTS); Alfredo Giovine, Chairperson – DTS; Karen Capaldi, Chairperson – Luxury; Leroy Browne, Chairperson – A Class; Rod Weatherhead, Chairperson – B Class & Apartments; and Tania Wallace, Chairperson – Vacation Rental Property Management Companies.

Chief Executive Officer of the BHTA, Rudy Grant, also sits on the Board along with representatives of the BTMI – Jens Thraenhart; Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) – Patricia Affonso-Dass; and IHB – Mahmood Patel. (BT/PR)