By: Gizelle Morris
Convention Bureau to aid job creation
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Trinidad and Tobago is set to capitalise on the booming business tourism industry with the launch of the country’s first Conventions Bureau.
“The Trinidad and Tobago Conventions Bureau will be fully staffed and running in the next few months and is targeted to bring ten corporate meetings and ten association meetings annually,” revealed the Minister of Tourism Joseph Ross at “Shaping the future of Trinidad & Tobago’s Meetings and Convention Business,” the first in a series of business forums hosted by the Tourism Development Company (TDC) at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad on January 21.
Aimed at fostering understanding of the synergies required to build a vibrant Convention Bureau, the forum attracted a diverse audience including Government Ministers, academics, business interests and tourism stakeholders.
“The bottom line is job creation,” said Rick Taylor, CEO of the South African based Business Tourism Company and former CEO of the Cape Town Convention Bureau.
Taylor, who was instrumental in the development of Cape Town, South Africa, into a top international meeting destination, said Convention Bureaus can bring jobs and stability to surrounding communities.
“The mandate of Convention Bureaus is to help alleviate poverty, particularly in emerging markets,” Taylor explained.
“Business tourism,” he added, “is an economic development agent which can assist in increasing income and employment and enhancing quality of life.”
With benefits of the Convention Bureau expected to spread beyond hotels and convention centres, restaurants, transportation services, the entertainment industry, tour operators and the agricultural sector are all expected to share in the wealth.
Everyone has a role
Keynote speaker at the event, the tourism Minister said Trinidad and Tobago can successfully compete in the meetings and conventions sector by offering a quality product combined with a unique tourism experience.
“What we will be focusing on is the provision of the essence of value – offering the customer a product that exceeds their expectations for a competitive price,” he added.
With a small meeting of 700 people bringing up to TT$7 million into the country, the TDC has projected that in its first year of operations the Convention Bureau will generate revenues of more than TT $110 million.
“Everyone has a role,” said featured presenter Paul Flackett, Managing Director of IMEX, one of the largest international trade shows for meetings and conferences.
Emphasising the need for collaboration between Government and private sector interests Flackett said the meetings and conventions industry will demand trained people.
“There must be high standards of service, from the hotel’s general manager to the bell boys and housemaids,” he said.
We are ready
While some stakeholders voiced concerns about Trinidad and Tobago’s readiness to host large international events, the Tourism Minister assured that the country is prepared.
Noting that Trinidad and Tobago has successfully hosted large events in the past, including the Annual Florida Caribbean Cruise Association Conference, he said the conventions and meetings market holds both lucrative benefits and enormous growth potential.
“Our diversification into the conventions and meetings segment will help create a more sustainable industry offering more employment opportunities, as well as generating revenues.”
TDC President Ernest Littles also gave assurances that all stakeholders will receive relevant training to meet the sector’s needs.
Taylor, however, believes this twin island state already has what it takes to be a leading business tourism destination.
“Great human capital, great infrastructure and a supportive government all amounts to a good team,” he said.
Dismissing fears of the effects of the international credit crunch, Taylor advised the audience to “Strike while things are tough.”
“Yes there is a recession going on, but recessions will come and go,” he said, adding, “Tourism is an agent of economic development.”
