By NAVARDO SAUNDERS

Freeport News Reporter

The most influential people in the country are expected to converge in Grand Bahama, January 26-28, for the Second Annual National Tourism Conference where they will seek to identify and develop steps that will lead to the significant growth, improvement and sustainability" of the nation's premier industry.

The theme for the conference, which will be held at the Westin at Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort, is "Making it Better in The Bahamas Again."

Keynote speaker will be Jeffrey Rayport, who is widely considered in business and academic circles as one of the world's most influential experts on the impact of new information technologies, companies' services and marketing strategies.

Rayport, chairman and CEO of Marketspace, LLC, is expected to tackle important issues that make and break the tourism industry.

In a report to the Ministry of Tourism, Rayport said, "The numbers are in: customer loyalty has hit an all-time low, despite an economy in which organizations succeed or fail based on customer loyalty. Organizations ignore these implications at their own peril."

In his presentation, Rayport said he will describe what's necessary to succeed in the tourism industry.

"What's needed is a customer service leap of faith that involves putting long-term relationships ahead of short-term profits – something most firms are unwilling to do, but one that's necessary in today's market."

Rayport will give the main address at the start of the conference and Prime Minister Perry Christie is expected to deliver the keynote address at the close of the conference."

Among the other speakers are Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe, Agatha Marcelle, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Chris Gray, CEO of Freeport Container Port, Paul Quigly, Chief Operating Officer, Gold Rock Creek Enterprises Ltd, Beverly Saunders, Vice President, Organization Development and Training, Kerzner International and Renee McKinney, assistant director, Human Resources, Sheraton at Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort.

Some of the topics that will be discussed include service improvement, enhancing accessibility, increasing visitor expenditure and learning from disaster – minimizing the effects of a maximum strength hurricane.

The first national tourism conference was held in Nassau, but Minister Wilchcombe noted that Grand Bahama is also quite capable of hosting such an event.

"Grand Bahama was chosen for its natural beauty, business infrastructure, and its well deserved reputation as one of the most important tourism hubs in The Bahamas," said Minister of Tourism and Member of Parliament for West End and Bimini Obie Wilchcombe. "In the recent months, despite being buffeted by two major storms, the island and its people have shown a resilience and buoyancy that have inspired the nation."

Minister Wilchcombe is calling on Bahamians in the country and abroad, researchers, educators, and all those who are interested in the development of tourism in The Bahamas to submit compositions on growing, improving and sustaining the country's premier industry.

Awards will be given to the authors of the best empirically based composition and the best conceptually based paper. The winners will be to present their compositions at the conference.