SOTIC 2015 CURACAO: INTERVIEW WITH CTO’s JOHNSON JOHNROSE

SOTIC 2015 CURACAO: INTERVIEW WITH CTO’s JOHNSON JOHNROSE

By: JJosepha News

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Willemstad, Curacao. On Thu, Oct 8, 2015 at 10:06 AM, JJosephaNews had the distinct privelege to engage in a meaningful dialogue on a few questions posed to the Secretary General Riley, but because of his traveling schedule he kindly forwarded me to the astute attention of Mr. Johnson JohnRose. Mr. JohnRose, from the Commonwealth of Dominica, had been a consultant with CTO since March 2002, was appointed Communications Officer in January 2003 and is presently the Communications Specialist at The Caribbean Tourism Organization headquartered in Barbados. Mr. JohnRose in his capacity as Communication's Officier was expected to develop and implement a Caribbean Tourism Awareness Programme to raise the level knowledge and understanding of the importance of tourism to the Region and also had the task of increasing and improving the level of communications of the CTO with its public and private sector membership and its staff on an ongoing basis. The following interview ensued with Mr. Johnson JohnRose; a 13 year veteran and the Communications Specialist at The Caribbean Tourism Organization; relative to the State of The Industry SOTIC-2015 and Curacao's hosting of SOTIC-2015. Good Morning Mr. Riley! Best of success and wishes; in all your efforts during your business trips. Josefina Josepha: My initial basic questions to you; are the pre-details of a press release of the SOTIC 2015; Such as the venue of the SOTIC-2015; because from the web site I see its WTC, but which sala in WTC?", Mr. JohnRose: Thank you Josefina and kind regards to you as well! Well because of the nature of the event, we will use different rooms at the WTC but the main conference sessions will be in the Mail Hall. Josefina Josepha: Would you please tell us how much is it to attend the SOTIC-2015 or who are eligibile to attended? and when; and at what times will The SOTIC2015 in Curacao occur on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of October 2015? Mr. JohnRose: We waive the registration fee for media who are covering the conference. For everyone else in Curacao we have a special registration fee of US$250.00 for local delegates. However, if someone wishes to attend just one day, the fee is US$150.00 Josefina Josepha: Whom are the panelist or invited guest speakers and or honored guest speakers? Mr. JohnRose: Our keynote presenter is Mr. Robin Hayes, the CEO of JetBlue. In addition we have a number of exciting experts from both the Caribbean and outside the region, some of who you will find here. Josefina Josepha: What is the Program structure of events over the 3 days? Mr. JohnRose: We have a combination of plenaries and workshops, along with our very popular Tourism Youth Congress at which students between the ages of 14 and 17 present on interesting tourism topics. The session mimics a meeting of the CTO Board of Directors and is chaired by last year’s winner. Please see the conference programme here. Josefina Josepha: What is the target market of the audience intended for the Conference? Mr. JohnRose: The conference targets ministers and directors of tourism, tourism professionals, students, travel agents, hoteliers, customs and immigration officials, seaport and airport officials, taxi drivers, restaurateurs and workers, media, department stores, and anyone touched in one way or the other by tourism Josefina Josepha: What is your Projected Average Target Attendance (PATA) for the conference? Mr. Johnrose: Normally this conference attracts about 300 people. We are hoping to have a large local audience and the CTB is promoting it locally to get everyone involved. Josefina Josepha: I see that Minister Palm, is on your advertising and that the event is in Piscadera Bay at the WTC, so I understand that your hotel accommodations for non-curasalenos especially visiting for the SOTIC-2015 would be more accommodating at the hotel on site premises at the WTC or are there other sponsors or collaborators that visitors to the island can register with? Mr. JohnRose: The participating hotels are the Hilton, the Marriott and the Floris. In response to a video response from the Secretary General to my further questions; Mr. JohnRose responded that; "Mr. Riley indicated in his email to you, he is travelling at present, therefore a video response isn’t possible right now. In addition, you might wish to arrange to interview him after he arrives in Curacao. Since many of those questions will still be relevant. Mr. Johnrose also expressed that; "The CTB is responsible for registering the local media and taking care of local advertising".He also went on to clarify that; "We have our business meetings on the 20th and 21st, ahead of The State of The Industry Conference SOTIC-2015". Josefina Josepha: Has there been a chairperson; elected or appointed to govern or chair the conference? Mr. JohnRose: While we have different moderators for each session, the overall conference anchor is Anita Mendaratta, an author and special advisor to the secretary general of the World Tourism Organization. Here bio is included among those of the presenters the link to which I shared earlier Josefina Josepha: Whom are those persons that have been nominated to chair the conference and can you give a brief description and introduction of The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and its board and or the executives? Mr. JohnRose: “About CTO” is included in the press releases that I will share. The highest decision-making body is the Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism which comprises all ministers and commissioners from CTO member countries. The board of directors includes all directors of tourism from CTO member countries, as well as representatives from various private entities such as the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association, airlines, and allied members of the CTO. You’ll find more information about CTO here.

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