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Minister of Tourism Hon. McKeevaBush taps first Caymanian for ... Top DOT Post in US
Minister of Tourism, the Hon. McKeevaBush (centre) witnesses a settlement between Cayman Tourism Allianceand the Cayman Islands Hotel and Condominium Association to merge.Pictured (right to left) Rod McDowell of CTA and William Conollyof CIHCA.
Facing an uncertain tourist season, theHon. McKeeva Bush, Minister for Tourism, has already begun tomake definitive decisions, including having a Caymanian assumethe key DOT post in Miami, to help to improve the territory'stourism product.
According to a statement released by theMinster, 'we are in the process of finalising recruitment of anew US Director of Sales and Marketing. Ms. Pilar Bush, is innegotiations with the Department to assume the position and Mr.Michael Altman from Canada will be Deputy Director of the Departmentof Tourism (DOT) office here on Grand Cayman,î the releasestated.
Ms. Bush has been the Vice President of Marketing and Sales atCayman Airways for the past four years. Prior to that she heldthe postion of assistant secretary in the Ministry of Aviationand Planning.
When contacted by Cayman Net News about her appointment, she said"I am honoured for the opportunity to join the DOT team,particularly in such an important position to the success of theDepartment's global marketing strategy."
"Mine is a nationalist passion; this is my country and soI have a personal stake in its success. Whatever I can contributeto its success, I think then that it is a privilege and an honourto be able to take it," she added.
"This is the commitment I give to the Caymanian people: Iwill personally measure my success in this job by the successof the local tourism businesses," she promised.
Mr. Bush said that both these positions are instrumental in bringingabout the positive changes the local industry is expecting. "Ilook forward to continuing to work with DOT under the guidanceof Director of Tourism, Mrs. Angela Martins and her entire team,both locally and overseas as we strive to realise the goals ofsustainable tourism for the Cayman Islands."
In addition to announcing the appointments, Mr. Bush said: "Iam pleased with the progress my Ministry and the Department ofTourism have made in formalising the vision and medium-term planningobjectives for Cayman Islands' tourism."
One of his goals was the amalgamation of the two tourist associations-- Cayman Tourism Alliance (CTA) and the Cayman Islands Hoteland Condominium Association (CICHA), which is slated to take placeon March 31st this year.