Contact: Joseph Daley : Information Officer II
Telephone: 468-3701 ext. 2076
Email: [email protected]
 
GOVERNMENT INCREASING ITS SUPPORT FOR SMALL PROPERTIES
 
Wednesday, March 12 – Premier and Minister for Tourism Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE is hopeful that small properties will eventually see improvements in their businesses, following the appointment of Mrs. Zoë Walcott-McMillan as a consultant with the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board.

Speaking during his 2008 Budget Address in the House of Assembly last Thursday, the Premier said Government is moving to provide greater assistance to the operators of small tourism-related properties in the Virgin Islands, to ensure they receive their fair share of the industry.

“Government welcomes the appointment of Mrs. Zoë Walcott-McMillan who has been trained in Marketing to specifically concentrate on helping the small hotels, guesthouses, and villas,” the Premier said while presenting his 2008 Budget Address.

Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office Mrs. Rosalie Adams told the Department of Information and Public Relations that the Premier’s Office entered into an initial six-month consultancy with Mrs. Walcott-McMillan and that the arrangement became effective on Friday, 1st February, 2008.
 
“She is to conduct extensive research and make recommendations to the Government in keeping with the Government’s objectives which stated that support would be given to the small properties arm of the tourism product,” Mrs. Adams said.

In particular the consultant will be expected to assist the Premier in developing a Small Properties Development Plan, providing advice on the overall development of the Territory’s small properties, and developing a strategy for marketing and promoting the BVI’s inns and villas.

Mrs. Walcott-McMillan will also liaise with small property owners on related matters and provide assistance and coordination where appropriate to maximise the benefits of all existing development activities.
 
Her other duties include recommending and developing industry guidelines and service standards for the efficient management and operation of small properties; liaising with Government organisations directly and indirectly related to the development of small properties; and developing a training and development strategy for management and staff of small properties in the Territory.