WESTERN BUREAU:
BASIL H. SMITH, former deputy director of the Jamaica Tourist Board has been named executive vice-president designate of the Bahamas Hotel Association.
Mr. Smith, who resigned from the JTB in 1998, will assume full responsibility for managing the BHA in January, when incumbent John Deleveaux retires.
Mr. Smith brings to this post over 30 years of experience in tourism and communications and is a former partner and senior vice-president of the Counsellors marketing firm.
BHA president Dion Strachan made the announcement when Smith commenced working on November 1 in Nassau, Bahamas. In his new role he plans to modernise the organisation in terms of its physical and technological working environment, "That's the number one priority on my list for the first year", he told Wednesday Business.
"And to improve human resource development and public relations to the industry", he stated.
Mr. Smith is best known for his 1996 Nationwide Awareness Campaign called "Tourism. Is Every Jamaican's Business".
"This programme had all the components required to sensitise a nation on the importance of tourism, including a radio soap opera, called 'Nora's By the Sea', a television programme 'Doing The T' and a series of newspaper ads featuring persons who benefited directly or indirectly from the industry.
And even though he spent just two years at the JTB, his impact was felt in all circles of the industry. Mr. Smith also functioned for many years as Editor-in-Chief of the Bahamas News Bureau, and Director of Special Projects with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.
In his capacity as a public relations consultant Mr. Smith has worked with the BHA in the past and on a number of airline and tourism accounts. He recently resigned as the Honorary Consul for The Bahamas in Jamaica.
His new job includes promoting, increasing and regulating tourism in The Bahamas.
There are 71 member hotels, three casinos, 70 allied members and 12 outside The Bahamas.
The Association also represents the private sector of the Bahamas hotel industry at the regional level and internationally through membership and participation in organisations such as the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), the American Hotel and Motel Association (AH&MA) and the International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IH&RA).
By Janet Silvera
Freelance Writer
