Tourism shaping up nicely

A welcome boost in corporate group visitors will help breath fresh life into the tourism industry over the next year.

Convention business for this year is already up on 2012, and the trend looks said to continue into next year, says Tourism Authority Chair Designate David Dodwell.

John Harvey, President of the Hotel Association, agrees that there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic: “Going forward, the next four or five months look to be better than last year already.”

Mr Dodwell told the Bermuda Sun that the shift is due in part to a $500,000 Tourism Board cash injection aimed at encouraging group travel back to the island.

He said: “The good news is that convention business is up for the summer and we are pleased about that.

“Group rooms are up six per cent on last year and the advanced bookings for 2014 are good, too.

“We have put half a million dollars behind the group incentive programme to work with potential groups and give them savings to encourage these convention groups to come back to Bermuda and it is already bearing fruit.

“This kind of business benefits everyone and ensures that the room rate remains consistent.

“The trickle down effects of this group business is a major factor too.

“The hotels like it, the restaurants like it, the shops like it — it creates a real buzz where money is being spent on the island.

“This is an area we are seeing progress in already and that’s encouraging.”

Mr Dodwell said that figures for this summer were already looking good, and the number of expected visitors for October was also ‘way up’ on last year.

Plans are now being put in place to launch a new photo promotion campaign of the Bermuda product as part of the So Much More Campaign.

He added: “The Tourism Authority is still on track.

“It’s important for people to remember that we have to wait for the legal framework to be put before the House in July before the authority can begin to take a lead. It cannot take a lead until it is officially formed.

“This will be a Bermuda-centric piece of legislation, but we have also looked at how these kind of authorities have worked elsewhere in the world.”

John Harvey told us: “We are happy with [the projected numbers] and hope we can nurture and grow the group visitors as well into 2014. 

“Group business benefits all aspects of the industry from taxis to hotels to water sports company and it is a very valuable source of business.

“We are heading in the right direction, but there are more challenges ahead. Everyone is cautiously optimistic.”