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Source: The Nassau Guardian newspaper
http://www.thenassauguardian.com/nat...8299317351.php
Miss Universe Pageant could boost economy
By KRYSTEL ROLLE,Guardian Staff Reporter,krystel@nasguard.com
The Miss Universe Pageant, scheduled to take place in The Bahamas in August, will not only have a lasting impact on the nation's tourism product but also could lead to the creation of additional jobs, inject millions of dollars into the faltering local economy and bring worldwide attention to the country, pageant organizers said yesterday.
Paula Shugart, organizer of the Miss Universe Pageant, officially announced that The Bahamas will be the host country of the prestigious event, which will air live from the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island on NBC on August 30, reaching an estimated one billion people around the world.
Last year, the Miss Universe contest was broadcast to a record 185 countries, Shugart said at a press conference yesterday held at Atlantis' conference room.
And while the pageant itself is a one-day event, The Bahamas will be featured on the world stage for the entire month of August during activities leading up to the pageant.
That alone is an opportunity that the country could not have paid for, according to Minister of Tourism Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace.
"There's no better way to get us in front of the world stage. We have more than 80 beauty queens from around the world coming and we're going to take every opportunity to make certain that in every single country they're going to know where these people are coming to and why other people should follow," Vanderpool-Wallace said.
"We look for events that have a specific aura that will add value to The Bahamas brand. There's no question that this does that, but I always remind people that we don't buy events, we buy audiences. So at the end of the day, the reason that we do this is for the vast audience that is attracted to this event. The activities are over the course of a month. We will begin to showcase around the world bits and pieces of The Bahamas that we ordinarily wouldn't have the rights and privileges to do. This is really where the great value comes."
Vanderpool-Wallace said during August, the government will ensure that all of the islands are on "full display". He said part of the reason the government agreed to host the contest is to show potential guests The Bahamas "beyond the beach".
While the minister acknowledged that the country is home to some of the clearest waters in the world, he said there is so much more to the country.
The pageant, he said will give The Bahamas the opportunity to show the world the full range of some of the things that make it very special.
But the contest will do more for the country than just bring publicity. It is also expected to create jobs.
According to Kerzner International Bahamas Ltd. President George Markantonis, several temporary jobs are expected to result from the projected occupancy levels that the pageant is expected to create at the Atlantis Resort.
"As the major employer outside of the government, I expect that we will be bringing in additional people when our hotels reach 100 percent levels for those specific moments in time to deal with special events," he said.
However, Markantonis stressed that the jobs will only be temporary.
"When we have these sharp spikes and peaks in valuable business, we will be bringing on more temporary labor that will in turn, hopefully, be felt in the community. So hopefully there will be temporary labor reassigned everywhere and everyone will benefit," he added.
Meantime, Tourism Director General Vernice Walkine said she expected full occupancy levels all over the island during the time of the pageant.
"It is my full expectation that every available room will be used. Because you're talking about 89 contestants and 89 delegations plus, so I think that's fully our expectation that we will be able to fully utilize all available rooms," she said.
Vanderpool-Wallace added that where needed, the government would employ additional people to fill any voids.
"I assure you that if there are places where we need additional persons to work we're going to make that happen, because we want to maximize our opportunities. So if there is that opportunity we certainly will do that," he told The Nassau Guardian.
When asked why The Bahamas was chosen over countless other destinations, Shugart said the hospitality and enthusiasm of the people was a great determining factor. The natural beauty of the islands was also an element in the decision-making process, he said.
http://www.thenassauguardian.com/nat...8299317351.php
Miss Universe Pageant could boost economy
By KRYSTEL ROLLE,Guardian Staff Reporter,krystel@nasguard.com
The Miss Universe Pageant, scheduled to take place in The Bahamas in August, will not only have a lasting impact on the nation's tourism product but also could lead to the creation of additional jobs, inject millions of dollars into the faltering local economy and bring worldwide attention to the country, pageant organizers said yesterday.
Paula Shugart, organizer of the Miss Universe Pageant, officially announced that The Bahamas will be the host country of the prestigious event, which will air live from the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island on NBC on August 30, reaching an estimated one billion people around the world.
Last year, the Miss Universe contest was broadcast to a record 185 countries, Shugart said at a press conference yesterday held at Atlantis' conference room.
And while the pageant itself is a one-day event, The Bahamas will be featured on the world stage for the entire month of August during activities leading up to the pageant.
That alone is an opportunity that the country could not have paid for, according to Minister of Tourism Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace.
"There's no better way to get us in front of the world stage. We have more than 80 beauty queens from around the world coming and we're going to take every opportunity to make certain that in every single country they're going to know where these people are coming to and why other people should follow," Vanderpool-Wallace said.
"We look for events that have a specific aura that will add value to The Bahamas brand. There's no question that this does that, but I always remind people that we don't buy events, we buy audiences. So at the end of the day, the reason that we do this is for the vast audience that is attracted to this event. The activities are over the course of a month. We will begin to showcase around the world bits and pieces of The Bahamas that we ordinarily wouldn't have the rights and privileges to do. This is really where the great value comes."
Vanderpool-Wallace said during August, the government will ensure that all of the islands are on "full display". He said part of the reason the government agreed to host the contest is to show potential guests The Bahamas "beyond the beach".
While the minister acknowledged that the country is home to some of the clearest waters in the world, he said there is so much more to the country.
The pageant, he said will give The Bahamas the opportunity to show the world the full range of some of the things that make it very special.
But the contest will do more for the country than just bring publicity. It is also expected to create jobs.
According to Kerzner International Bahamas Ltd. President George Markantonis, several temporary jobs are expected to result from the projected occupancy levels that the pageant is expected to create at the Atlantis Resort.
"As the major employer outside of the government, I expect that we will be bringing in additional people when our hotels reach 100 percent levels for those specific moments in time to deal with special events," he said.
However, Markantonis stressed that the jobs will only be temporary.
"When we have these sharp spikes and peaks in valuable business, we will be bringing on more temporary labor that will in turn, hopefully, be felt in the community. So hopefully there will be temporary labor reassigned everywhere and everyone will benefit," he added.
Meantime, Tourism Director General Vernice Walkine said she expected full occupancy levels all over the island during the time of the pageant.
"It is my full expectation that every available room will be used. Because you're talking about 89 contestants and 89 delegations plus, so I think that's fully our expectation that we will be able to fully utilize all available rooms," she said.
Vanderpool-Wallace added that where needed, the government would employ additional people to fill any voids.
"I assure you that if there are places where we need additional persons to work we're going to make that happen, because we want to maximize our opportunities. So if there is that opportunity we certainly will do that," he told The Nassau Guardian.
When asked why The Bahamas was chosen over countless other destinations, Shugart said the hospitality and enthusiasm of the people was a great determining factor. The natural beauty of the islands was also an element in the decision-making process, he said.
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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