The Tribune

A Bahamian Cabinet minister will this week address a conference set to be attended by hundreds of Tourism stakeholders.

Khaalis Rolle, minister of state for investments, will attend the 18th annual African American Hotel Ownership and Investment Summit and Trade Show.

Held at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay Hotel until Saturday, 19th, the conference will host new sessions such as ‘The Power of The Purse: Women Shaping and Influencing the Hospitality Industry’.

Andy Ingraham, chief executive of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers (NABHOOD), which organises the summit and trade show, said the theme of ‘Creating opportunities for a diverse generation’ was going to be highlighted throughout this year’s event.

“It’s everything that you can expect from a summit of this magnitude, but every year we keep adding on to it to customise unique opportunities for everyone in attendance,” said Mr Ingraham.

“We want to make sure that every year, stakeholders can leave here gaining something new from this experience that they can take with them out in their communities and businesses, and build upon.”

Caribbean speakers include Kenny Anthony, Prime Minister, St. Lucia; Jeanne Rogers-Vanterpool, conseillere territoriale, Office De Tourisme de Saint Martin; Haydn Hughes, p[rliamentary secretary for tourism and sports, Anguilla,; Claude Duncan, vice-president, investment promotion, JAMPRO.

Also speaking will be Geoff Ballotti, president/chief executive, Wyndham Hotel Group; Sam Bakhshandehpour, president, SLS Hotels; Sheila Johnson, Founder/chief executive, Salamander Hospitality; Tom Baltimore, president, RLJ Lodging Trust; Congressman Alcee Hastings ;and Warren Fields, principal, Pyramid Advisors.