Destinations Get Social, Make Changes

Changes have taken place at the Turks & Caicos Islands Tourist Board.

Rosemarie Wilson has been representing Turks & Caicos across Canada for over 20 years, “doing so with great passion for the destination and all that it has to offer.”

Wilson has now retired from the position — April 17 was her last day.

“It has been a great pleasure working with you,” she said to the travel industry on the of her retirement.

The Toronto office will remain operational and staffed by marketing officer Layton Lewis, who can be reached by emailing [email protected].

Meanwhile, Turks and Caicos has a new director of tourism, Pamela Ewing, who can be reached at [email protected].

The Toronto office’s phone number remains unchanged.

Anguilla Launches New Social Strategy

The Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) is launching a new social strategy that reflects and addresses the current situation in Anguilla and indeed across the globe.

The upcoming series of posts is designed to surprise and delight audiences, building community and connections through their digital channels, with heartfelt messages that make people feel supported, valued and loved.

The content being created falls into one of three categories: Informative, Inspirational and Educational.

To that end, the ATB has enlisted the participation of a wide cross section of Anguillians, including religious leaders, artists, musicians, chefs, historians and wellness practitioners.

Inspirational readings; live yoga sessions on the beach; Anguilla island playlists; award-winning cocktails with prominent mixologists; live culinary demonstrations of Anguillian specialties with leading chefs; fun, Anguilla-themed crossword puzzles, picture puzzles and games are all features that will be shared in the upcoming weeks.

Donna A. Daniels-Banks, chairperson of the tourist board, said of the new campaign: “We are all part of the global community, and we understand only too well the sense of isolation, fear and uncertainty that this pandemic has fueled.”

Daniels-Banks continued: “We believe it is important to share content that is uplifting and entertaining; stories that remind us of our common humanity, invoke the simple pleasures that we may have once taken for granted, and speak to how much we still have to be grateful for, despite the challenges we face.”

And the ATB’s chairperson added: “We also want to recapture for our repeat guests their favorite Anguilla experiences, and reveal what awaits our potential visitors, once they are ready to travel again.”

The With Love From Anguilla series will feature special messages from popular Anguillian personalities; virtual tours of Anguilla both by land and sea, including the island’s magical underwater world; and a mouthwatering  Anguillan BBQ, set in one of the most beautiful, secluded spots on the island round out the content calendar in development. The Anguilla Book Club, featuring stories and books by Anguillians and about Anguilla will be launched in May, traditionally the month of the annual Literary Festival.

The new content will begin appearing this week on all ATB digital platforms and continue being rolled out over the next three months. Everyone is encouraged to follow along and participate by using the hashtags #AnguillafromAfar and #DreamingofAnguilla.

Go to www.IvisitAnguilla.com for more.

Belize Picks DCI As Agency Of Record

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) has appointed Development Counsellors International (DCI) as Agency of Record for the destination’s tourism promotion in Canada.

Toronto-based DCI will handle public relations and both consumer and travel trade marketing initiatives throughout Canada, with a focus toward stimulating a return to tourism growth post COVID-19.

Karen Bevans, director of Tourism at BTB, said: “COVID-19 has changed the world. It’s important to the Belize tourism industry to have an experienced agency in place to both assist the travel trade in the short-term in Canada, and to help us think strategically about how we will recover in Canada when the crisis subsides.”

Bevans noted that: “DCI recognizes our current market position and demonstrates a deep understanding of what will be required to address our marketing challenges with vigor.”

And she points out that: “Our country features astonishing wonders such as the Great Blue Hole, legendary Garifuna UNESCO intangible heritage, top-notch adventure including diving and jungle hiking a unique cultural connection to the ancient Mayan legacy. There will be many inspiring stories about Belize that will encourage Canadian visitation when the nation is ready.”

Karyl Leigh Barnes, president of the Tourism Practice of Development Counsellors International, commented: “The tourism industry has been brought to its knees by COVID-19, but it will rise again. DCI is committed to helping the Belize tourism industry remain connected with the Canadian trade, and we are counting the days until we can help to spur recovery.”

Travel industry representatives can learn more about Belize via the Travel Belize Specialist program, available at www.travelbelizespecialist.com.

As well, a new Facebook-based community exclusively for travel advisors with an interest in Belize can be found at https://www.facebook.com/TravelBelize/.