Paul Stephenson heads the new executive council of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) as its president following elections last month.
On the new executive body are Paul Waldron, vice-president; Mitra Ramkumar, treasurer; and committee members Colin Edwards, Dee George and Abdoul Ba, THAG said in a news release.
Renata Chuck-A-Sang, restaurateur and manageress of the Dutch Bottle Café, is the Immediate Past President.
In 1991 when THAG was founded, Stephenson was named as one of the visionaries who realised that Guyana had the potential for the development of a tourism industry.
With over 35 years serving within the international and regional tourism and hospitality industry, Stephenson is today the CEO and co-founder of the Cara Hotels as well as an experienced hotelier.
The Cara Hotels of Guyana and Trinidad are owned and managed with his partner, Shaun McGrath.
Vice-President Waldron joined the tourism industry as a member of Team Discover Tours of the Tower Hotel and he later moved on to managing the Timberhead Rainforest Resort until 2001 when he started his Inbound Tour Operation – Outdoor Expeditions.
The three elected committee members are also very qualified and experienced.
George is the owner/managing director of Herdmanston Lodge and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics.
Edwards was educated at Westminster School and Suttleworth Agricultural College in England and is a former VSO to Guyana where he worked as an Agricultural Extension Officer.
In 1998, Ba joined the Correia Group of Companies as the sales and marketing manager.
Treina Butts is the Executive Director of THAG.