Billy Griffith returns as chair of CTO Allied Board

William “Billy” Griffith has been reelected chair of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Allied Board for the 2026-2028 term, as three new members join the five-person group. The board will help steer allied-member priorities across Caribbean tourism, workforce development, cruise operations and travel technology.

Why it matters: - The Allied Board helps shape Caribbean Tourism Organization programs that connect private-sector members with government tourism priorities. - The 2026-2028 team brings experience in destination marketing, workforce development, cruise operations and travel technology. - The board’s work can influence how CTO grows nongovernment membership and coordinates major event participation.

What happened: - William “Billy” Griffith was reelected chair of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Allied Board for the 2026-2028 term. - Danny Cohanpour was reelected to the board. - New members elected to the board are Amrita Bhalla, Joseph Boschulte and Christos Shepherd. - The election took place Oct. 6 during CTO’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference in Guyana.

The details: - Griffith is managing director of WCG Consulting Ltd. and chairman of the Bermuda Tourism Authority. - Griffith brings more than four decades of tourism and hospitality experience, including previous roles as Bermuda’s director of tourism and CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. - Cohanpour is founder and CEO of Trove Tourism Development Advisors. - During his previous term, Cohanpour launched the Allied Member Insights Series to increase knowledge sharing and engagement. - Bhalla is managing director of A.B Consulting and brings more than two decades of human resources and hospitality leadership experience. - Boschulte is president and CEO of The West Indian Company Ltd. and a former U.S. Virgin Islands tourism commissioner. - Boschulte’s background includes destination leadership and cruise port operations. - Shepherd is founder and CEO of The Visitor Card LLC. - Shepherd previously served as chief commercial officer of JetBlue Travel Products and led the commercial performance of JetBlue Vacations. - CTO Secretary-General and CEO Dona Regis-Prosper said the team’s complementary perspectives will support Caribbean tourism, workforce development and public-private collaboration. - The Allied Board represents allied members’ interests on CTO’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. - Its responsibilities include recommending regional tourism programs, helping grow nongovernment membership and coordinating activities that connect allied members with government members at major CTO events. - CTO said the board’s allied membership links regional priorities with the skills and resources needed to advance them. - SOTIC is supported by official conference partners Amadeus and the Inter-American Development Bank. - Tourism Intelligence Awards sponsor ASM Global Route Development is also supporting the conference. - Additional contributing sponsors are the Association of Value Airlines, Digicel Business and Atlantic Suites Hotel. - Carnival Corporation sponsors the Youth Congress. - interCaribbean Airways is the official airline partner.

Between the lines: - The board mix suggests CTO is leaning on commercial expertise as well as tourism policy experience. - Griffith’s return gives the board continuity, while the three new members broaden its industry reach. - The emphasis on workforce development and public-private collaboration points to labor capacity and coordination as ongoing tourism priorities.

What's next: - The board will serve throughout the 2026-2028 term. - Its members are expected to support CTO’s regional tourism agenda and allied-member engagement efforts. - CTO will continue using major events like SOTIC to connect allied members with government stakeholders.

The bottom line: - CTO is keeping experienced leadership in place while adding new commercial and operational expertise to its allied-member board.