Basseterre, St. Kitts – NEWLY-ELECTED President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Hotel and Tourism Association (HTA) Nicolas Menon has welcomed the position with much fervor and hopes to accomplish a number of important goals during his two-year stint.
During the November 24 Annual General Meeting of the Association, Menon was elected to represent the Association’s 77 member companies. Menon is currently a director at the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla Trading and Development Company (TDC) and has been involved in various tourism developments for many years.
Following his election, Menon spoke to SKNVibes and noted his appreciation for the memberships’ confidence in his leadership abilities, describing his call to office a “very fulfilling” one.
The new president has taken office at a time when the tourism sector has been struggling as a result of the global economic and financial crisis. Hotels have significantly downsized their workforce and a recognizable decline in tourist arrivals has translated into occupancies plummeting.
“I feel quite proud for the membership to place its confidence in me and my leadership abilities, especially in the challenging times that we have ahead of us.
“The world recession has meant a drop-off in tourism and many hotel properties are struggling through this difficult time. The tourism partners are also finding it difficult to keep their head above the water and we have to be creative, innovative and fresh in what we bring to the table now,” he added.
Topping his priority is seeking relief for the HTA member hoteliers, beginning with the reduction or removal of the business electricity surcharge, an issue that was of equal concern to his predecessor Kishu Chandiramani.
As hotels continue to teeter in the face of enormous challenges, the new President expressed great concern that this surcharge is an additional burden on these businesses.
“Within other Caribbean jurisdictions, governments have waived electricity surcharge for hotels to allow them to survive and have some relief in troubling times. This is something we are looking to try to discuss and negotiate with the government to allow hotels some respite and relief in the near future,” he indicated.
Meetings with the Premier of Nevis Hon. Joseph Parry have proven to be a source of hope for the Association and similar sessions between the new president Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas have been scheduled.
One of the medium to long term objectives of the new president is to capitalize on external marketing opportunities for the Federation rather than promoting each island separately. This method, according to Menon, would bring the islands closer together to really be “two islands, one paradise”.
Richard Boon and Jaime Holmes were elected to the HTA Board as Vice Presidents. Representing St. Kitts’ hotels are Flor Van de Vaart and Karen Keusch, while Richard Lupinacci and Andrew Humphries represent the hotels on the island of Nevis.
Other board members include the St. Kitts Allied Directors Patricia Wilkinson and Claire Rawson and Nevis Allied Directors Greg Phillip and Ernie France.
President Menon tipped his hat to immediate past president Chandiramani for what he deems to be “yeoman service” in taking the Association “through a turbulent period in its development to a very strong position, allowing it to play a real role as an advocate for tourism stakeholders in the marketplace today”.
The newly-elected directors, the executive and the general membership also came in for high praise as Menon viewed their participation as essential in ensuring that the HTA would have a “real role” in the landscape of St. Kits and Nevis.
The St. Kitts and Nevis Hotel and Tourism Association was established in March 1972. In the past year, the Association successfully lobbied the Government for duty free concessions for small hotels and restaurants, they conceptualized and executed the St. Kitts Visitor Channel and encouraged an improved relationship with the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, Nevis Tourism Authority and both Ministries of Tourism.
