New Tourism Advisory Council chairman named

Maurice Facey, chairman and chief executive officer of Jamaica Property Company Limited, has been named chairman of the newly appointed Tourism Advisory Council.

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, in making the announcement yesterday, also said group managing director of Lascelles deMercado & Company Ltd, William McConnell, has been named vice-chairman.

The nine-man council, which includes some of Jamaica's most successful tourism and business professionals, was appointed by Bartlett in December 2010. The group's first meeting is slated to take place at 10 a.m. on January 27 at the New Kingston offices of the Ministry of Tourism.

Bartlett expressed confidence in both the chairman and vice-chairman, citing that "both gentlemen have proven track records and have the requisite acumen and leadership skills to steer this august body, which will aid in moving Jamaica's tourism industry to higher heights".

The other members of the council are hoteliers Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, chairman of the Sandals Group; chairman of SuperClubs, John Issa; chairman of the Iberostar Hotel, Miguel Fluxa; managing director of Charela Inn, Daniel Grizzle; chairman of the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites, Karl Hendrickson; chairman of the Hart Group of Companies, Tony Hart; and attorney-at-law Hugh Hart.

Terms of reference

With the mandate of helping to shape the strategic direction of policies for the tourist industry, the terms of reference for the council include advising the minister on the long-term policy direction for the tourism sector, as well as on global, regional and local issues affecting the operation of the sector.

The council is also charged with the responsibility of forging appropriate partnerships and strategic alliances, and advising on strategies aimed at further diversifying Jamaica's tourism product, expanding source markets, achieving growth in the sector and identifying a sustainable source of funding to support marketing and airlift programmes.

Bartlett maintains that "this team, which includes the heads of the world's two most successful hotel chains, as well as others who have made significant contributions to the development of the tourist industry, business and law, is expected to start working on a plan which, when implemented, should see the dawning of a new day for the industry".