Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley knows the tourism industry from the inside, he said this week at a Road Town meeting for human-resources professionals from across the region.
His experience, he said, came when he was a young man working at a hotel at the Atlanta airport “I was what they used to refer to as the bellman,” Mr. Wheatley said during the Tuesday opening ceremony for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s Human Resources Conference.
“I would be lugging around these heavy suitcases and taking them up to the rooms and hoping for at least a dollar or two at the end. So I understand the human touchpoint.”
The premier also told attendees at the three-day summit, which was held at Maria’s by the Sea Hotel, that 60 percent of jobs in the VI depend on international visitors.
“This week, the Virgin Islands is the heart of Caribbean tourism,” added Mr. Wheatley, who is also the minister of tourism and financial services.
Referring to the summit’s theme — “The human touchpoint: redefining HR excellence in Caribbean tourism” — he said the territory was the ideal setting for the week’s discussions.
“Our industry isn’t powered by planes or hotels or technology: It’s powered by people,” he said.
The premier added that the VI strives to provide its visitors with a personal experience.
“Hospitality isn’t just something we do: It’s who we are,” he said. “The Virgin Islands isn’t just a place to see: It’s a feeling — a feeling of connection, of community, of belonging.”
Keynote speaker
The opening day’s keynote address was delivered by Philip Mondor, president of Tourism HR Canada, which was described as an organisation that has worked closely with CTO.
Mr. Mondor expressed delight at his arrival in Tortola for the gathering.
“When I landed on the plane, the greeting was exceptional,” he said.
“The door was opened by the gate attendant, and his first comment was ‘Welcome to paradise.’ I think it’s actually a really smart and accurate kind of introduction. But what I also enjoyed was the roosters quickly coming by and doing their thing.”
The event drew professionals, educators, trainers, consultants, students and other tourism stakeholders from the public and private sectors.
Tourism strategy The premier’s remarks came after he has come under repeated fire from the opposition in recent months for presiding over a years long failure to produce a tourism strategy for the VI.
Mr. Wheatley did not mention the document in his Tuesday address.
His last mention of the long-awaited strategy came at a press conference earlier this month when he said it would be completed “sometime in 2026.”
He had previously promised it by the end of this year.
