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CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION NAMES HUGH RILEY SECRETARY GENERAL Appointment Follows Extensive Search & Thorough Selection Process The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has announced the appointment of a new Secretary General. He is Barbadian Hugh Riley who has been the organization's Interim Secretary General for the past several months. In making the announce- ment, the CTO's chairman, Hon. John Maginley, who is Minister of Tourism for Antigua & Barbuda, described Riley as an experienced Caribbean tourism profession- al with a clear vision of how to move the tourism sector for- ward. "I am pleased to announce that after an extensive search and a thorough selection process, the CTO Council of Ministers has offered Mr. Riley the position of Secretary General and he has accepted," Minister Maginley said. "Mr. Riley has an intimate knowledge of the tourism industry and a sound strategic vision for what the region's tourism sector needs in order to remain competitive and to thrive, particularly in these trying times. We are confident that he is up to the challenge," Chairman Maginley added. Riley's appointment took effect on August 17th. As the organization's chief executive officer he will oversee the CTO's offices in Barbados, North America, the UK and Europe, succeeding the late Arley Sobers and the Hon. Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace. He will also lead the organiza- tion's initiatives to strengthen relations with our strategic partners, including the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA). CTO, as the region's tourism development agency, pro- vides research, human resources, marketing, communica- tions and technology services internationally to its public and private sector members. CTO has been in the forefront of recent efforts to interface with the governments of the US and UK on a range of issues affecting Caribbean tourism. The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with the headquarters in Barbados and marketing operations in New York, London and Toronto, is the Caribbean's tourism devel- opment agency and comprises membership of over 30 gov- ernments and a myriad of private sector entities. The CTO's mission is to provide to and through its members, the services and information needed for the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of the Caribbean people. The organization provides specialized support and techni- cal assistance to member countries in the areas of marketing, human resource development, research and statistics, infor- mation technology and sustainable tourism development. The CTO disseminates information on behalf of its member governments to consumers and the travel trade. GRENADA BOARD of TOURISM APPOINTS NEW HEAD of MARKETING The Grenada Board of Tourism is pleased to announce Raelene Lazarus as the new head of Marketing. This appoint- ment exemplifies the future direction for the Grenada Board of Tourism in its endeavor to grow Grenada's international marketing impact. With this appointment, the Board reiterates the important role that tourism plays in generating revenue, which con- tributes to and impacts upon, all aspects of Grenadian life. The effective marketing of Grenada is therefore of the utmost importance to businesses in the tourism sector and to the economy as a whole. Lazarus holds a Masters' Degree in Marketing, and has experience in marketing management, having worked with Digicel and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Grenada. She comes to this position at a very difficult and challenging period. However, the Board is confident that by applying her knowledge and skills, Lazarus will contribute positively to its ongoing marketing program. As head of Marketing, Lazarus will be responsible for, among other things, spearheading the Board's efforts in exe- cuting more innovative marketing strategies, particularly with respect to e-marketing and tactical promotions. Hugh Riley c O r n e r Black Meetings & Tourism October/November 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 34 caribbean Raelene Lazarus