Press Release

T&T's "young and vibrant" Convention Bureau lauded for timely initiative

Trinidad and Tobago’s “new, young and vibrant” Convention Bureau came in for high praise from Minister of Tourism Joseph Ross, as he launched a three-day Tourism Business Workshop for industry service providers at the Trinidad Hilton & Conference Centre on September 2.
“I must commend the Conventions Bureau of the TDC (Tourism Development Company) for putting together this workshop that will enable us to position ourselves better, to proactively identify challenges and opportunities and to ensure that tourism continues to benefit our country on many levels,” said Minister Ross as he delivered the feature address.
An education programme, the Workshop aimed to provide local tourism stakeholders with practical tools in Destination Management, Marketing and Sales, as well as providing an overview of emerging tourism trends and technologies.
“This workshop is quite timely...It is a good opportunity for stakeholders to work closely to find smart, innovative paths as we forge forward to make Trinidad and Tobago the premiere Caribbean business destination,” the Tourism Minister added.
The intensive 25 hour programme was facilitated by international tourism expert Rick Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of The Business Tourism Company based in South Africa. A former hotelier, marketing and advertising executive, Taylor was also instrumental in the positioning of South Africa as one of the top meeting and incentive destinations.
Taylor expressed confidence in Trinidad and Tobago’s potential to be a leading destination for international meetings. “Trinidad and Tobago’s got talent,” he said in his opening statements to participants.
Although he identified location and value for money as major considerations behind the choice of business tourism destinations, Taylor advised that the relationships and alliances forged by the Convention Bureau would be vital to its success. “Clients,” said Taylor, “want transparency, flexibility, trust, professionalism, service and respect.”
Led by David Contant – a former International Affairs Manager for the Mayor’s Office in Atlanta – the main focus of the Trinidad and Tobago Convention Bureau, a division within the TDC, is to increase the number of events, conferences and meetings held in Trinidad and Tobago. The Business Workshop is part of the Convention Bureau’s strategy to build capacity among stakeholders while positioning Port of Spain as the meeting and conference capital of the Southern Caribbean.

PHOTO CAPTION: From left, Minister of Tourism the Honourable Joseph Ross; David Constant, Manager Trinidad and Tobago Convention Bureau and Rick Taylor, CEO, The Business Tourism Company, South Africa, at the launch of the three-day Business Tourism Workshop hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Convention Bureau at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre from September 2 to 4.