The Tribune

The prime minister was the main speaker for the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association's (BHTA) 67th annual general meeting, which was held last Friday at Atlantis.

Dr Hubert Minnis addressed more than 100 tourism industry stakeholders, including BHTA president, Carlton Russell; Robert Sands, senior vice-president; Stuart Bowe, immediate past president; and Jamal Glover, BHTA treasurer.

Joy Jibrilu, the Ministry of Tourism's director-general; Fred Lounsberry, chief executive of the Nassau/Paradise Island Promotion Board (NPIPB); Ian Rolle, acting chairman of the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board; Kerry Fountain, executive director of the Bahama Out Islands Promotion Board (BOIPB); Basil Smith, executive director of the Association of Bahamas Marinas (ABM); and Vernice Walkine, the Nassau Airport Development Company's (NAD) president and chief executive, presented on recent developments and the outlook for their respective industries and companies.

Senior hotel operators reported on their properties' performance pre and post-Hurricane Dorian, and their forecast for 2020. Most indicated a strong year prior to the hurricane, while acknowledging a cross-sector downturn in the economy in its wake.

Tourism executives were cautiously optimistic for the New Year, with performance indicators beginning to show signs of a sustained rebound. Many properties spoke of the projects planned for their respective resorts, and hoped investment and improvement in the tourism product will continue to add value to the entire industry and assist in the economy's full recovery.

Attendees praised the strong and swift rebound of Grand Bahama, and applauded those in Abaco who were rebuilding and restoring their businesses. There, two properties - the Abaco Club and Sandpiper Inn - have opened their doors for business.