BVICCHA forms separate Hotel & Tourism Association
BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) is undergoing what it described as a “rebranding” of the organisation to provide a greater focus on tourism.
The organisation indicated in a media release yesterday that the BVICCHA has established a tourism arm called the BVI Hotel and Tourism Association (BVIHTA).
In the interim, this new body will be headed by former Tourism Director for the state-owned BVI Tourist Board, Sharon Flax-Brutus. She is will serve as interim President of the BVIHTA.
“The BVIHTA is an organisation that will be laser focused on all things tourism in the BVI. The BVIHTA will join a group of successful hotel and tourism associations around the Caribbean region whose directors have been pivotal in guiding the swift recovery of their tourism product post pandemic,” Flax-Brutus explained.
Chambers of commerce and hotel associations separate in other countries
In offering a further explanation of the move, Chairman of the BVICCHA Shaina Smith-Archer said the time came to reflect on how the BVICCHA could be a more effective and efficient voice of business while meeting the needs of its member companies.
“Across the region, chambers of commerce and hotel associations are separate entities that collaborate for the economic development of their countries and here it would be no different. Locally we work with the existing industry organisations on current advocacy concerns like workforce development and we look forward to accomplishing much more with the BVIHTA,” Smith Archer stated.
BVITHA was conceived last year when the board of directors of the BVICCHA initiated a working group to explore the feasibility of establishing an organisation to represent the tourism sector, which is a main economic pillar of the BVI and the “employer of 65 per cent of the [local] workforce”.
The findings of the group confirmed that the hospitality industry stakeholders were resoundingly in favour of the initiative. A road map for the formation of a hotel and tourism association was produced, presented to the Board of Directors, and subsequently approved in December 2022.
“The official launch of the BVIHTA will be announced shortly with membership drives commencing immediately thereafter. More information about the rebranding of the BVICCHA will be rolled out in the coming weeks to members and the business community,” BVICCHA said in its media release.
Editor’s Note:
The BVICCHA is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation that supports the local business community through advocacy on business legislation and regulations, training resources, and networking events. It was formed more than 50 years ago.
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I just asking if the people of the BVI are aware of the damage Andrew did to us because of his arrogant attitude.look how we all relegate.I remember when they terminate her Carvin was ranting that he has something on her but up to now he can’t say what.say what you want she knows her job
they are doing this as hardly any restaurants and bars and even hotels are in the BVICCHA all they want is more money, they hold no sway and are just looking for more cash to pay themselves, they do absolutley nothing for the industry except take money
During this season the number of occupied hotel rooms on land is dwarfed by the number of occupied cabins at sea in the BVI. Remove the cruise ship guests and yacht cabin guests will still exceed hotel room guests.
Perhaps the time has come to inaugurate a BVI Yacht & Tourism Association
This is probably the death of the BVICCHA. When it can’t meet the needs of a significant market segment within its constituents then it can be argued to be suffering from mission drift or not properly staffed at management
The mere fact that there was a need to establish this arm for the BVIHCA shows just how broken and failed the Tourist Board is. For the love of God! Nothing will work here until the system of Public Service is fixed. Make the upper and middle managers accountable for the jobs they are paid to do instead of paying them to park there behinds waiting for pensions. The populace will continue to be dissatisfied and castigating of any political party who has been voted in because even after the COI the people of this country still do not realize that it is the broken, antiquated dysfunctional, horribly managed (by our own people) deeply corrupt systems that is the problem. No party or Minister can fix this without the support and cooperation of the PUBLIC SERVICE.
Probably a significant number of persons were not born when in the earlier days of tourism there was in fact a BVI Hotel and Tourist Association. I don’t know who brilliantly thought that a Chamber of Commerce would work well with a Hotel Association, but it only took about 23 years for them to figure out that it did not. They have never figured out how to work on the issues of business which is separate from Tourism. I’m sure there might be ways for the two entities to collaborate, but it just never happened here. Add in the lack of interest government has shown in tourism, except to throw some money at advertising, and you have a wonderful soup that’s pretty much like cabbage soup for a diet and you end up skinny with no restaurants or hotels involved. Not to mention outside of the skinny nothing significant accomplished to speak of. Other things played into that as well and I saw it coming from the little time I was involved on the BVICCHA board. But everyone involved is well educated so they all knew best. Now they are selling the separation as a new and wonderful thing. This is what happens when people don’t write their history or even want to know what it is. Again, add to that the people of the original HTA are mostly dead. Best of luck for great success to the new entities. By the way I know a Belonger with a Masters in Sustainable Tourism. Maybe she could help?
Why?? This just sounds like brokering a deal for the ex TB person to have her way with her own association. Why could she not work undwr the exisitng BVICCHA? The BVICCHA has died under its current leader and the past two boards. Least the Trini lady that was paid had the culinary program happening and sponsors.
Lets see if either of these actually make something of them selves or continue to just be mouth pieces for their chairs. Currently the marine assoc is equally useless so none of the tourism industry has a usefull advocate for them.
She had called in all her favours to keep that under wraps! While you might say * was this and that he saved her a** from being in Jail for what she did!!!!
When carvin dig a grave he dig two and he big enough to fit in two. Who was demoted from Minister? He was listening to A&*&&w and following him like a SHEEP. SHE IS THE BEST FOR TOURISM
The fact is that the bulk of the tourism product is on the Sister Islands and the BVICCHA does not cTer to the Sister Islands. bvuccha is trust companies e
Your first three sentences hit the nail on the head.
I thought she had been fired from TB?
Love these reincarnations.
Are there any hotels or restaurants that are actually members of this organization?
They seem to represent no one but themselves.