SLHTA Appoints Directors for Allied Members Sectors

The Saint Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Representatives to their Board of Directors, effective immediately. Mr. Richard Peterkin has been appointed Representative at Large for Banks, Professionals, Educational, Training Institutions & Other Allied Members. Richard is the partner in charge of Tax and Transaction Services at Grant Thornton Windward Islands. He has provided assurance, business advisory, recovery and corporate services to a wide variety of clients over the last 37 years, and is the Client Service Partner for a number of hospitality clients in Saint Lucia and the Eastern Caribbean. He is currently a member of the International Olympic Committee, and Immediate Past President of the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee Inc.

Mr. John Mathurin has been appointed to the SLHTA’s Board of Directors as the Representative for Airlines, Travel Consultants, Destination Management Companies, Cruise Handlers and Wedding Service Providers. John is a 27-year veteran in Saint Lucia’s tourism industry. Owner and Manager of Serenity Vacations & Tours, John has also worked in a finance and accounting capacity with Steigenburger Cariblue Hotel (now Le Sport). An avid champion of Human Resources Development as a means of spreading the economic offerings of tourism, John also serves as an industry representative on the Hospitality Industry Advisory Council formed by the Ministry of Education and on the Tourism Transportation Regulatory Committee of the Ministry of Tourism.

Both Directors will be charged with liaising with their respective sub-sectors on a regular basis to ensure that sector concerns and views are represented and adequately championed at discussions of the SLHTA Board of Directors. No stranger to the affairs of the SLHTA, Mr. Peterkin and Mr. Mathurin have both been involved in SLHTA negotiations and discussions on taxation and developmental issues affecting Saint Lucia’s tourism industry.

Given the critical importance of allied members to product development and diversification of the offerings of the destination, the Association has made deliberate effort over the past few years to ensure that the needs and concerns of its allied members are addressed in discussions at the highest levels. The SLHTA Secretariat takes great pleasure in welcoming both gentlemen to the Board as the Association continues to carry out its main function as the “Voice of the Hospitality Industry” in Saint Lucia.