The Silver Convention welcomes the world
pp. 26-27 · Read in the full issue
Fiji’s prime minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara heads an impressive list of guests at this year’s 25th Fiji Tourism Convention.
Already dubbed “The silver convention” the event is scheduled for the Hyatt Regency Hotel on the Coral Coast from June 23-26.
The planning commitee, headed by Andrew Drysdale, expects over 300 delegates for this most important event on Fiji’s tourism calendar.
“The calibre of our speakers, the investment opportunities theme of the convention and the fact that the PM has agreed to deliver the keynote address will all be attractions to delegates,” said Mr Drysdale.
Other guest speakers include:
• Mr George Warde, presi dent of Continental Airlines Pacific Division and former CEO of Continental worldwide; • Mr Savenaca Siwatibau, governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji; • Mr Richard Hartman, director of operations, Asia Pacific division, Sheraton Hotels.
Chairman of this year’s con vention is former Fiji hotelier and now general manager of the Regent, Auckland, Andrew Thomson.
Other events on the program for the country’s annual tourism event include a travel mart conducted along similar lines to those held at PATA and other travel conferences where “buyers” and “sellers” of tour
ism have an opportunity to meet.
Overseas delegates can also enjoy tours both before and after the convention to give them a wider experience of Fiji.
A touch of nostalgia will be added to the convention with the cutting of a silver jubilee cake by former Fiji minister of finance and tourism, Sir Charles Stinson.
Sir Charles and Lady Stinson will be making a special return visit to Fiji from Australia where they now live in retirement.
Open forums and debates on related tourism topics will be a major feature of the working sessions in the three-day program.
On the final day, the minis ters of the Fiji government’s
Tourism Commission have been invited to attend and take part in what promises to be lively afternoon.
Another event which has been a feature of recent con ventions, the poster and brochure competition, will be expanded to cover awards for the best examples of media advertising Fiji abroad.
A list of 100 leading North American travel executives, re commended to the committee by their major airlines, has been drawn up and they each have received a personal invitation to the Silver Convention.
The packed convention program gets off to a sporting start on Sunday June 22 with a “Funday Sunday” with golf, tennis and gamefishing tourna
ments, scuba diving or a Vatulele cruise with night time live entertainment in the va rious hotel nightspots.
On Monday, it’s down to business with the keynote address by the prime minister followed by a guest speaker and the report on resolutions from the 1985 convention.
The Fiji Visitors Bureau has a presentation after lunch and this is followed by the first travel mart session.
The Silver Convention then has a gala birthday party on the beach.
Air Pacific’s presentation opens the next day’s proceed ings, followed by a panel de bate, the address by Mr Siwati bau and the second travel mart.
Wednesday has the second
panel debate followed by a guest address and a question session with the Tourism Com mission ministers.
After the awards presentation and and closing ceremony, the convention venue, the Hyatt Regency, is hosting cocktails and dinner.
The Silver Convention is sure to justify the hopes and hard work of the planning com mittee who have set out to make this convention a show piece for the industry and for Fiji as a whiole.
It will be a forum for detailed discussion aimed at reinforcing Fiji’s position in its traditional markets, helping to develop new markets and encourage investment.
Ratu Mara...to open the Silver Convention.