VINCENT VANDERPOOL-WALLACE TO STEP DOWN AS CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION SECRETARY GENERAL AND CARIBBEAN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY CO-CEO

VINCENT VANDERPOOL-WALLACE TO STEP DOWN AS CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION SECRETARY GENERAL AND CARIBBEAN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY CO-CEO

July 3, 2008

Returning to Bahamas as Minister of Tourism and Aviation; Arley Sobers Named Interim Secretary General/CEO

BARBADOS, July 3, 2008 – Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace will step down on July 7 from his positions as secretary general of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and co-CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC) to become Minister of Tourism and Aviation for the Bahamas.

According to Senator the Hon. Allen Chastanet, chairman of the CTO and co-chairman of CTDC, Mr. Arley Sobers, the CTO’s director of research and information management, will be the interim secretary general/chief executive officer. The CTO’s executive committee will immediately begin the search for a new secretary general.

Senator Chastanet hailed Vanderpool-Wallace for the significant contributions he made during his tenure with both organizations.

“Vincent is, quite simply, one of the strongest, most visionary leaders in the Caribbean,” said Chastanet. “He has been one of the most outspoken advocates for a unified Caribbean, as evidenced by his push for the creation of CTDC itself.  He has been instrumental in advancing the Caribbean as a brand and increasing awareness of our region. It is no secret that he is one of the most highly regarded assets we’ve had in promoting this region and we look forward to continuing to work closely with him in his new role.”

Chastanet added, “The Bahamian government and people know very well what a tremendous leader he is and I have no doubt that they are going to see enormous benefit from his work as their Minister of Tourism and Aviation.”

Vanderpool-Wallace assumed the position of CTO secretary general in 2005 after serving for 12 years as the Bahamas director general of tourism. He helped lead the formation of the CTDC in January 2007 and create the first marketing and business development unit owned equally by the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) and the CTO.

According to Alec Sanguinetti, CHA Director General and co-CEO of the CTDC, Vanderpool-Wallace brought a true spirit of unity and cohesion to the organization. 

“It has been my great pleasure to witness first-hand the vision, energy and enthusiasm that Vincent brought to the table as we and others worked closely together to create the CTDC,” said Sanguinetti.  “Vincent believes strongly, as do I, that if the Caribbean is to thrive, then the public and private sectors must work together as one to increase our voice.”

About The Caribbean Tourism Organization

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with the headquarters in Barbados and marketing operations in New York, London and Toronto, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency and comprises membership of over 30 governments 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 technical assistance to member countries in the areas of marketing human resource development, research and statistics, information technology and sustainable tourism development.  The CTO disseminates information on behalf of its member governments to consumers and the travel trade. 

About The Caribbean Tourism Development Company

The Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC) is a marketing and business development unit, owned equally by the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). Its mission is to own, promote, protect, advance and enhance the Caribbean brand.

The CTDC combines the resources of the Caribbean region’s destinations, accommodations and service providers to create a viable, cohesive business unit that is able to identify commercial opportunities and allow the members of CHA and CTO to benefit collectively from those opportunities in ways that individually they could not. In all its endeavors the company will engage only in activities that honor the Caribbean brand and benefit the members of CHA and CTO. The CTDC may be contacted through the offices of the CTO and CHA. For more information on the Caribbean, go to www.caribbeantravel.com.

Media Contact

View the original article here