And We're Off!

I’m excited and I’m motivated. All of a sudden the rising oil prices and a troubled US economy seems like a really great opportunity for the Caribbean. Why? Because Myles Munroe has just finished speaking and I now feel like I’m about to be a part of something big, something important, and something inevitable. I’m going to be a part of CHANGE. Everyone is captivated. Garcia Thompson-Hendrickson of the Nevis Tourism Authority, to my right, has goose bumps. Dan of Advisors Hospitality Consulting seems to be fixated on the stage and Gloria Minor the owner of the full service travel agency, “Friends Who Travel”, is smiling away and nodding every few minutes. Everyone’s enjoying the show, and as Garcia has rightly noted, he’s touched each of us in a unique and individual way.

Myles Munroe is one of the most positive human beings I’ve ever encountered. Originally from humble beginnings, born into a family of 11 from the Bahamas, Pastor Munroe is now the CEO of his own company of “Myles Munroe International”. If anyone has ever questioned the law of attraction and the power of positive thinking all they need to do is look to Myles Munroe. He puts out positive and as a result attracts positive – he has his own private jet – how’s about that for positive.

The man can find a silver lining in everything, including a cemetery, which he claims is the wealthiest spot on the earth as it contains the most ideas that were never manifested. According the Munroe, everyday people die “full”. His advice? “Live to make a difference” and “die empty”. These are wise words and all of a sudden it makes sense that this man of God has an estimated audience of one billion people. And he’s from the Caribbean. I’m proud of him and so is the Bahamas Tourist Board – I just asked them.

It is, of course, fitting then that he’s opening the Annual Caribbean Tourism Summit and it’s started with a bang. Tourism is dependent on disposable income. It’s a leisure activity and with oil prices steadily rising and the US economy wavering, less Americans can afford to spend on their vacations. As a result, the US domestic tourism is on the rise, meaning a precarious situation for the Caribbean tourism industry. But, Munroe is happy. He’s excited even! This means change and according to him “crisis and change produce leaders”, but more importantly, “crisis creates business”. It always comes down to the bottom line.

Innovation and leadership should be our watchwords for this conference and the future of Caribbean Tourism. With a line up that includes the likes of Dr. Allan Greenspan, the 13th Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Google’s Eastern Regional Director of Travel, David Pavelko, major regional tourism officials and even Munroe himself, we’re starting big! Let’s hope we finish in first place.