BTO Atlanta and Buckhead Club Partner for Virtual Event amidst COVID-19

The Mission Goes Virtual

Buckhead Club, Atlanta, Georgia - On August 18 and 25, the Atlanta based Bahamas Tourist Office (BTO ATL) hosted a two-fold event for members of the prestigious Buckhead Club (Atlanta) to bring awareness of the destination amidst COVID-19.

Though to some, travel may be on hold, there are proven studies pointing to pent up frustration among those who love to get away. Naturally, given the statistics from TravelPulse and Travelocity sources, the ATL BTO team sought to capitalize on numbers where consumers could choose to fly away, notwithstanding the current travel stipulations.

Due to the prestigious clientele of the Atlanta market, the partnership with the local Buckhead Club was a great fit to share The Bahamas' stance on tourism since COVID-19.

With the idea to educate and pique travel interest for when tourism rebounds, BTO Area Manager, Garbrielle Archer, brought The Islands of The Bahamas to Atlanta with a fresh "two-in-one" event.

As a result, members of the Buckhead Club (Atlanta) got a true taste of The Bahamas despite the current travel-related limitations. The dual event showcased the culture of The Bahamas with a Bahamian Lunch special prepared by the Club's Chef. It also included a virtual panel discussion titled Tourism Talks: The Ripple Effects of a Pandemic and the Road to Recovery with Consuls General from The Bahamas, Canada, and The United Kingdom.

The first part of the event series took place on August 18, when members of the Club enjoyed peas n’ rice and a savory steamed snapper for the day's special. Members of the BTO ATL team and Bahamas Consul General, Astra Armbrister-Rolle, were present to commend the chef for a job well done.

The experience continued on August 25 with a more educational approach as the Atlanta based Consuls General, Nadia Theodore (Canada ), Astra Armbrister-Rolle (Bahamas ) and Andrew Staunton (United Kingdom ), all spoke to concerns and the way forward in respect to their countries during these times. The Consular panel was hosted by Global Speaker and Entrepreneur, Mea Boykins.

With The Bahamas being the only country of the group that heavily relies on the tourism market, Consul General for The Bahamas to Atlanta, Astra Armbrister-Rolle, shared accordingly on the country's current state of affairs. However, each panelist had the opportunity to shed light on the important issues faced as a result of a global pandemic as well as the impact on tourism.

"It was important to me to participate in this discussion," said Consul General Armbrister-Rolle. " The return of the Tourism sector is going to be crucial to our country’s economic recovery, and we need all hands on deck to ensure that that happens."

While The Bahamas and other government entities continue to put their citizens first despite the economic impact on their respective tourism sectors, the focus on pivoting to secure the state of each nation's security was highlighted appropriately.

Moreover, at the end of the discussion, it was evident that people clearly understood why all participating countries had to make tough decisions regarding combatting the spread of COVID-19.

Garbrielle Archer, Area Manager, BTO ATL, said, "Seeing this event come to fruition at such a critical time... when things have pretty much come to a halt shows that we can still be innovative in our strategy while looking forward to the future".

“I was thrilled to work with Buckhead Club in organizing this virtual event. Our sales team has been working overtime to foster new ideas and to develop relationships that are beneficial in positioning The Bahamas as the best and first destination people choose to visit when travel picks up again," added Archer.

As many countries, including The Bahamas, wait to fully reopen their borders, the Bahamas Tourist Office in Atlanta will continue to push the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation's mission in an innovative virtual climate.