-- CTO organises 4th Annual Tourism HR Conference in BVI, May 21-23, 2008 --

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Human resource professionals from across the region will get an opportunity to enhance their mediation and negotiating skills at the 4^th Annual Tourism Human Resources Conference organised by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).

Delegates to the 21-23 May, 2008 conference in the British Virgin Islands will also work on developing inspirational team leadership, the CTO has announced.

The regional tourism body has organised two Master Classes – intensive practical learning sessions presented by experts in the various fields – on the two subjects as part of the conference programme. Both topics are in keeping with the conference theme, Developing Inspirational Leadership for Caribbean Tourism.

“These Master Classes will focus on building skills in the specific areas of leadership and in mediation and negotiation – skills that every leader should have,” said Bonita Morgan, the CTO’s director of human resources.

“Our Master Classes are three hour sessions designed to provide knowledge building, skills development, genuine interaction and participation,” she added.

This year’s conference will cover a number of issues facing tourism human resource professionals. These range from Human Capital Management to Promoting Wellness in the Workplace. Climate change and its impact on Caribbean tourism will also be discussed at one of the plenary sessions.

“Because our audience is made up of a number of tourism educators, trainers and human resource professionals, every year we focus on a tourism related topic that is current and pressing so they can have up to date and relevant information on the topic,” Ms Morgan said, “hence the sharing of information on Climate Change and Tourism.”

The 4th Annual Tourism Human Resources Conference is being held in collaboration with the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board.
Registration and other information available at www.onecaribbean.org.
About the British Virgin Islands
 
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) is a necklace of islands and cays strung along Sir Francis Drake Channel between Puerto and St. Kitts. Tortola is the largest island and its capital, Road Town, hosts government offices, banks, shops, ferry service and an international cruise-ship dock. Many of the islands are rich with indigenous fauna, including red-legged tortoises and Anegada iguanas and all but one are volcanic in origin.