BERMUDA – Bahamian Minister of Tourism and former head of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace will deliver the opening plenary address at the Fourth International African Diaspora Heritage Trail (ADHT) Conference in Bermuda on July 27th, the Premier announced Sunday, July 20th.
The conference takes place July 26th to July 30th at the Fairmont Southampton Princess.
Minster Vanderpool-Wallace replaces Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerritt of Dominica who is now unavailable for the opening plenary session.
Minister Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace
Bermuda’s Premier and Minister of Tourism and Transport, Dr. Ewart F. Brown, said, “I was disappointed to hear the Prime Minister couldn’t join us, but what a stellar replacement we’ve found. Minister Vanderpool-Wallace understands Tourism and the African Diaspora like few others. I expect his addition will generate new excitement for this event”.
“I especially hope Bermudians will come out to hear from the Minister. A lot of people in Bermuda know and respect him.”
Premier Brown is host of the event. Conference Co-Chairs are Actor Danny Glover and Bermuda’s Permanent Secretary of Education Radell Tankard.
The African Diaspora Heritage Trail is the brainchild of Bermuda’s former Minister of Tourism David Allen. Under the leadership of Premier Brown the ADHT Bermuda Trail was officially branded and designated a UNESCO Slave Route Project. Mr. Vanderpool-Wallace’s home country of Bahamas was the second country to brand an official Trail and was the host of last year’s ADHT Conference.
The ADHT concept was founded to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of people of the African Diaspora.
Tickets to this year’s ADHT Conference can be purchased on a daily basis or for the entire event. More information is available at www.ADHT.net. Bermudians looking for additional information can contact Melony Ford Douglas at the Department of Tourism.
Mr. Vanderpool-Wallace was appointed Minister of Tourism for The Bahamas July 7th, 2008. Prior to his appointment, he was Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization – a position he held since June 2005 after serving as Director General of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism for 12 years.
Mr. Vanderpool-Wallace began his full-time employment at the Bahamas Ministry of Education and Culture before joining the Ministry of Tourism where he served from 1978 to 1982 and again from 1993 to 2005.
In the interim, he spent 11 years at Resorts International Bahamas and held various managerial positions there, rising ultimately to the position of Senior Vice President as part of the three-man Office of the President.
Mr. Vanderpool-Wallace has received several honours throughout his career including the Albert E Koehl Award for Lifetime Achievement in Advertising by Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and the Atlas Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Association of Travel Marketing Executives International. In March 2002, he was recognized by Fast Company magazine as one of the Fast 50 global champions of innovation from among 1650 entries and at the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the Caribbean Tourism Organization he was recognized as one of 50 people who contributed most to Caribbean Tourism in the past 50 years.
