PGA draws celebrities and business leaders to Bermuda

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24: The superstar athletes competing in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf are not the only celebrity golfers on island this week.  The Bermuda Department of Tourism is playing host to a group of top former athletes and business leaders as well as a contingent of North American golf media who are visiting to experience and showcase Bermuda as a top destination.

Minister of Business Development and Tourism the Hon. Wayne L. Furbert, JP, MP, played host this past Saturday to a meeting of 24 members of the Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA). The organization, which has membership of more than 15,000 female golfers worldwide, opened a Bermuda chapter just over a year ago to bring women together for business networking and camaraderie.

In addition, the Department of Tourism is a sponsor of the Stedman Graham and Bob Brown Invitational, a charitable tournament being played on Thursday, October 25 at Newstead Belmont Hills to help benefit Athletes Against Drugs. The charity’s mission is to provide kids with an educational outlet to advance academic life without use or danger from drugs, gangs or social peer pressure. Two of the high-profile supporters of the charity on island to play in the tournament include NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins and former Major League Baseball star Gary Sheffield. Also playing in the tournament are overseas and local business leaders.

Stedman Graham, a frequent visitor to Bermuda, is a well-known executive, educator and speaker who works with corporations, organizations and nonprofits in the areas of identity development, leadership, diversity training, personal wellness and branding.

Brown is Chairman and CEO of B & C Associates, Inc. a management consulting, marketing, research and PR firm headquartered in High Point, NC. He is also Chairman & CEO of B & C International Inc. and also President of International Booksmart Foundation.

While on island, Graham will be working with the Department of Tourism to record a video interview promoting the destination that will be utilized through the Department’s web and social media assets.

The Department of Tourism is also hosting several North American golf writers who will view the PGA Grand Slam and also tour the destination while playing on several of the island’s courses for themselves. Outlets represented include The Golf Channel, Golf Today, African American Golf Digest, Arizona Fairways and Golf Guide.

The goal of all of these efforts, according to Minister Furbert, is to spread the word on Bermuda as both a top golf and vacation spot and a place to meet and do business.

“We’re very excited to welcome back influential business leaders Stedman Graham, Bob Brown and all playing in their tournament. We are happy for the opportunity to showcase the destination to them and to the North American media,” said Furbert. “This week truly underscores what a great product we offer here and allows us to share it with the world.”