People Power Caribbean Tourism as CTO HR
Premier Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley on Tuesday opened the 11th Caribbean Tourism Organization Human Resources Conference at Maria's By The Sea Hotel, saying the strength of Caribbean tourism is its people. Delegates from across the region and beyond will take part in plenary sessions, master classes and field tours from Oct. 28–31, with organisers and government officials emphasising workforce development and community engagement.
Premier and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development Dr. Wheatley officially opened the 11th Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Human Resources Conference on Tuesday, telling delegates the industry is powered by people rather than planes, hotels or technology. The opening ceremony took place at Maria's By The Sea Hotel as the four-day event runs Oct. 28–31, organisers said (BVI Government; JTV).
Describing the conference theme, 'The Human Touchpoint: Redefining HR Excellence in Caribbean Tourism', as one that 'could not be more fitting', Premier Wheatley said the event puts people, the territory's most valuable resource, front and centre. 'By the front desk agent who greets you with a smile.
By the chef who pours love into every dish. By the housekeeper, the tour guide, the taxi driver, by every single person who makes the Caribbean experience what it is,' he told attendees (BVI Government). The conference has drawn delegates from across the Caribbean and beyond, including the British and United States Virgin Islands, Anguilla, St.
Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, the Cayman Islands, as well as representatives from Florida and Canada (JTV; BVI Government). Local tourism and human resources voices shared the platform during the opening. Sharon Flax-Brutus, Interim Executive Director of the BVI Yachting, Hotel and Tourism Association, urged a people-centred approach to modern HR, saying 'redefining HR today means looking beyond policies and procedures to focus on our people, their purpose, and their well‑being' (JTV; BVI Government).
Kendra Roach, Chapter President of SHRM Virgin Islands, emphasised that HR excellence is a collective responsibility that requires buy-in from both leaders and workers. The ceremony was chaired by Joseph Smith‑Abbott, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development, and included remarks from Delma Maduro, Chair of the BVI Tourist Board, and Donna Regis‑Prosper, Secretary General and CEO of the CTO.
The keynote address was delivered by Philip Mondor, President and CEO of Tourism HR Canada (JTV; BVI Government). Conference programming mixes practical workshops, plenary sessions and master classes on topics tailored to local employers and residents. Sessions listed by organisers include 'Reimagining Employee Experience', 'Leveraging Talent and Culture', 'Artificial Intelligence', 'Tech vs Tradition', 'Building Trustworthy Workplaces', 'Women in Tourism', 'Health & Wellness', 'Cultural Sensitivity and Diversity for Leadership', and 'Unlocking Resilience' (BVI Government; JTV).
Delegates will also take part in destination field tours over the next few days, and local vendors and artisans are on site to showcase Virgin Islands‑made products. Organisers say the conference offers workforce development, networking opportunities and a chance to highlight the BVI's tourism assets to regional peers (JTV; BVI Government).
Photos of the opening were provided by Ronnielle Frazer of the Government's Department of Information and Public Relations, and the Government press office circulated additional details and contact information in its event release (BVI Government). For BVI residents, organisers stress the event is both a learning opportunity and a way to celebrate the people who make the visitor experience special.
Primary source: JTV