Up Front
Tourism Bosses Welcome Merger
CIHCA President, Mr. William Connolly(left) & CTA President, Mr. Rod McDowell (right)
In a swift response to the call by Ministerof Tourism, the Hon. McKeeva Bush for unification of organisationsrepresenting tourism interests, the sector's two main bodies meton Wednesday, 29th November to begin discussion on how they couldmerge.
The meeting between the Cayman Islands Hotel and Condominium Association(CIHCA) and the Cayman Tourism Alliance (CTA) - representing hotels,condominiums, restaurants, transport and watersports - was heldat the CIHCA's Boardroom, at Trafalgar Square, West Bay Road.
It was chaired by attorney-at-law Theresa Lewis-Pitcairn and hadtwo mediators - Mr. David Foster, President of the Cayman IslandsChamber of Commerce, and George Town businessman, Mr. Billy Adam.
The meeting, described as "cordial,"marked the firstphase of the process of uniting the two bodies. Another meetingis scheduled for Monday, 4th December.
Several players in the tourism industry reacted positively tothe call by the Minister and to the move by the two organisationsto join as one.
"Actually we are excited about it," President of theCIHCA, Mr. William Connolly said before the meeting.
The CIHCA, in a statement presented at the meeting , pointed outthat it was "better positioned to bring all of the associationsunder one representation," given, among other things, its30-year history; its affiliation with regional and inetrnationalindustry bodies and its representation on the board committeessuch as the Beach Erosion, Hotel Licensing, Hurricane Preparedness,and the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Hotel Association,(CHA).
CTA did not present a proposal to the meeting but would "counter"from that presented by CIHCA, Mr. Connolly said.
CTA President, Mr. Rod McDowell said the move to amalgamate wasa "logical step forward. Everyone is positive towards it,"he added, noting that when CTA was formed nearly a year ago itwas with the goal of bringing as many of the players in the watersportsand restaurant business together, along with those in the hoteland condominiums.
General Manager of the Hyatt Hotel, Mr. Doug Sears agreed that"having one organisation makes a lot of sense." He notedthat a "homogenous, synergistic group working together withone common goal" would benefit the industry and that efficiencyand economy could be achieved with one entity.
"I was extremely gratified that the Minister wants to eliminatethe dual association of hotel and watersports," said Mr.Ron Kipp, operator of Ron Kipp's Bob Soto's Diving. Referringto the industry's meeting with Tourism Minister, McKeeva Bush,he said that he was "impressed by the timeliness and opennessof the discussion," which signaled that the industry would"work together with the Ministry for the good of tourism."
Another pillar of the sector, Mr. Dick Arch, of Air Agencies whohas over 40 years involvement in tourism-related enterprises,described the Minister's call for unity as a "brilliant idea."
"I think it's the first indication that we have had in eightyears that we are going to be able to talk to someone in government,"he said.
Chairperson Mrs. Lewis-Pitcairn, told Cayman Net News after themeeting that "every effort is going to be made to avoid conflictsand the separation of both organisations."
Speaking in a personal capacity, Mr. David Foster commented thatthe meeting showed that "there's a very good chance"of both the CIHCA and CTA coming together. "It's got to happen,or the whole island will pay the price," he said.