The Week at the SLHTA, May 10th, 2013

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The Week at SLHTA
Friday, May 10, 2013
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In This Edition
Allied Member Feature
GOSL Street Lighting Project
SLU JAZZ & ARTS Mainstage
Travel & Tourism set to expand
The Little Lucian – Feature
11th Meeting of OECS Tourism Ministers
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Allied Member Feature
“West Technology Group Inc.”
WTGI

 

Incorporated in St. Lucia in April of 2010, West Technology Group strives to help small and medium sized businesses maximize their productivity and profitability by providing reliable and affordable technical support.

 

Some of the services that they provide are:

Setup, Configuration, & Support of:

    • Wi-Fi Networks.
    • Point of Sale Systems
    • Telephone Systems
    • File / Email / Database / Application Servers
  • Repair Computer, Printer, and Network Issues
  • Computer Virus Clean-Up To Improve Performance
  • Develop Customized Web Based and On-Premise Software Applications

They also provide support for any computer devices that you use at home.

 

Give them a call if there is any Information Technology issue that you would like to discuss, and if they are not able to assist, they will surely point you in the right direction.

 

#8 Alfiona Plaza
Rodney Bay, Gros Islet
St.Lucia, W.I.

 
Tel: 
(758) 458-WEST (9378)

 

Fax: 

(758) 458-9379

 

Tel (International): 

1-321-332-7141

http://www.westtg.com

Street Lighting Pilot Project For Saint Lucia
gosl

The Government of Saint Lucia successfully commenced the Street Lighting – Light Emitting Diode (LED) Bulb Replacement Pilot Project over the weekend.

Government is said to be taking advantage of the opportunities for energy conservation and the use of more energy efficient lighting.    On a yearly basis, the Government of Saint Lucia pays an estimated $7 million to LUCELEC in street lighting bills

Officials say if the LED  Pilot  Project is successful,  government would be interested in how this energy consumption product can be used to bring about significant changes in the country’s public sector energy consumption patterns.

Under the Pilot Project, forty eight LED bulbs have been erected along the John Compton Highway and Jeremie Street.

Trouble call and Street Lighting Supervisor,   Vincent Antoine says  the objective for installing the   new bulbs straddles both energy efficiency and going green trends.

“This is to reduce on the energy consumption of these lights., so this project will be monitored.    First we’re going to install a meter  to monitor consumption, and then we’ll also check the level of the lighting so we don’t compromise the existing lighting level. This is going to be monitored throughout a period of about a month or so or even more but it’s basically to reduce the energy consumption.’

The contractor who undertook the task of changing the bulbs  Windy Mangal of Island wide Electricals  is confident that the Led Street Lamps will deliver an exemplary statement as it has been proven to be a better choice than Incandescent Bulbs.

“It burns about 10 percent less power than the normal lights we have on the system and it gives you a better light while the other one will give you a yellowish colour.”

Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival 2013 MAINSTAGE

Infused into the Pigeon Island National Landmark each day is an eclectic stylized presentation of Saint Lucia’s heritage and culture from the outer gates, upon entry running right throughout the venue. The experience that will be created by the masquerade, drummers, quadrille dancers, traditional musicians, traditional fashions, carnival features, visual arts exhibitions and culinary extravaganza is unrivalled amongst jazz Festivals worldwide.

Visual arts display at Pigeon island will feature over fifty (50) artists, with styles ranging from but not limited to; very abstract to neo impressionism, photo-realism, psuedo-surrealism, contemporary and cubism. As an added treat patrons will also have the opportunity to browse and purchase the literary work of some of Saint Lucia’s finest writers.

Global Travel & Tourism Industry Defies Economic Uncertainty… 
wttcThe Travel & Tourism industry has outperformed the global economy in 2012 – growing faster than manufacturing, retail, financial services and communications.

The industry has grown its total contribution to GDP by 3% and increased the number of jobs by five million to 260 million. It means that, for the first time, one in 11 of all jobs in the world are now supported by Travel & Tourism. More than 10% of all new jobs created in 2012 were from the industry.

 

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) economic research, in 2012, Travel & Tourism’s total economic contribution – taking account of its direct, indirect and induced impacts – was US$6.6 trillion in GDP (a rise of US$500 billion year-on-year), US$765 billion in investment and US$1.2 trillion in exports* (all 2012 prices). This contribution represents 9% of total GDP, 5% of total investment and 5% of world exports.

Among the 20 largest global economies (the G20), South Korea, China, South Africa and Indonesia performed best. Growth of less than 1% in Europe and 2% in the United States was counter-balanced by 10% growth in South Korea, 7% in China and South Africa and 6% in Indonesia.

 

WTTC is predicting the Travel & Tourism industry will expand its total contribution to GDP by 3.2% in 2013, faster than the 2.4% predicted for global economic growth. The industry is expected to support nearly 266 million jobs in 2013 and again outperform many other industries.

 

David Scowsill, President & CEO of WTTC, said: “2012 demonstrated again just how resilient the Travel & Tourism industry is. Despite many economic difficulties, last year, for the first time, we saw more than one billion international travellers pass through the world’s ports, airports, roads and railway stations for the first time. This industry is an important driver for countries’ economic development and growth strategies. Our industry is responsible for creating jobs, lifting people out of poverty, and broadening horizons. But we need international institutions and governments to recognise its strength, to remove restrictive visa and tax regimes and to work with the private sector to stimulate that growth.

SLHTA’s

Chefs in Schools Programme

Chefs in Schools

The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) continues with the Chefs in Schools Programme 2013 which is aimed at educating and supporting students pursuing culinary and/or home economics studies in local Secondary and Tertiary Schools on the island.

The SLHTA, along with chefs from Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet Hotel visited the Micoud Secondary School on Thursday 2nd May 2013.  The programme started at approximately 9:00amand ended at 11:30 and was held at the Food & Nutrition room.

The teachers and students were thrilled and anxious about the visit of the chefs.  The Chefs demonstrated various cutting, chopping and dicing techniques in the preparation of different meals and also how to use different seasonings to create unique flavours.  In addition to the cooking session, a bartender also from Jade Mountain tagged along to show students the beauty and splendor of creating lovely cocktails (Non-Alcoholic).

The SLHTA expresses its gratitude to the Bank of Saint Lucia for sponsoring this initiative.

Log on to our facebook page and stay connected with our daily updates and pictures of our various events.

http://www.facebook.com/SaintLuciaHotelandTourismAssociation

The Little Lucian…
Watch.Taste.Eat
jo-anne schultz

Enjoy COOKING CLASSES while visiting the island paradise of St Lucia.  Experience Authentic St Lucian Cuisine. Join us for our unique culinary adventure called The Little Lucian…Watch Taste Eat.  Authentic food for curious travellers.
Our classes are an adventure in watching the preparation, tasting and eating of authentic and modern St Lucian dishes geared for curious travellers and local foodies.
Get ready for a fun-filled and inspiring food day that will include a light breakfast with fresh island grown cocoa tea; an overview of authentic fresh, local ingredients and an introduction to the cuisine of St Lucia.
Next, a demonstration of 4 – 5 dishes, created while you sip on refreshments, with some hands-on opportunities, depending on the menu. The day will culminate in a full St Lucian late lunch of the dishes you saw prepared!
You’ll take home a recipe book of the dishes taught at The Little Lucian Watch Taste Eat tour so you can practice and impress your guests back home!
Chef Jo-Anne Schultz’ two cooking schools: The Great Canadian Cooking School and The Little Lucian are inspired by her friends, all over the world, who love and showcase their local cuisines with passion, care and pride. Jo-Anne and her team seek out amazing destinations with authentic food, create a platform for those culinary traditions and make it available to curious travellers.

Jo-Anne was professionally trained in Canada as a Chef, is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association and of the International Culinary Tourism Association.

Chef Jo-Anne is a leader in innovation and global entrepreneurship starting culinary adventures in Western Canada and in the Caribbean nation of St Lucia.  Please contact us at The Little Lucian:  thelittlelucian@gmail.com

758-724-2134 in St Lucia
250-428-6021 in Canada

The 11th Meeting of the OECS Council of Tourism Ministers focuses on implementing the OECS Common Tourism Policy.
OECSHigh level officials from across the OECS converged on Anguilla on April 25th 2013 for the 11th Meeting of the OECS Council of Tourism Ministers. The meeting was convened under the theme: ‘OECS Economic Union: Implementing the Common Tourism Policy’.

Programme Officer at the OECS Secretariat Dr. Lorraine Nicholas says the Secretariat, with technical assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat, developed a Common Tourism Policy for the OECS, which was endorsed by OECS Ministers for Tourism in 2012. This was in fulfillment of the obligations articulated in the Revised Treaty of Basseterre Establishing the OECS Economic Union, which mandates OECS Member States to work towards the progressive harmonisation of Tourism policies; and to ultimately develop a Common Policy for Tourism.

 

The OECS Secretariat is currently actively engaged in assisting OECS Member States in implementing the Common Policy with funding support from the European Commission via its 10th EDF programme. Some of the priority issues being addressed are intra-regional travel facilitation, joint product development and marketing, training and human resource development, research and statistics, and inter-sectoral linkages.

 

The OECS Council of Tourism Ministers expressed keen support and appreciation for the work undertaken by the Secretariat and agreed to the following:

  • Establish a ministerial sub-committee comprising Antigua, St. Kitts and Grenada, to examine and advise on approaches to negotiations with airlines;
  • Harmonise Customs and Immigration procedures to facilitate ease of travel;
  • Harmonise visa policies and develop a more liberal approach to granting of tourist visas to stimulate growth in the tourism sector; and
  • Joint development and promotion of yachting in the OECS as a key product niche.

The 11th Meeting of the OECS Council of Tourism Ministers was held at the Paradise Cove Hotel in Anguilla. The Council of Tourism Ministers meets face-to-face once every year, with additional meetings held via video conference when the need arises.

 

Dominica has agreed to host the next meeting of the OECS Council of Tourism Ministers in April, 2014.