Who We Are

The tourism industry plays a most important role in the Bahamian economy and the hotel sector makes a major contribution in this effort. The Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA) represents the interests of the country’s leading hotels and a large allied membership of companies that support the industry.

Meet our Executive Board

PAST PRESIDENTS

1952 – 1953 Reginald Nefzger
1954 – Frank McHugh
1955 – D. Murray Delahey
1956 – Wesler D. Keenan
1957 – John Cota
1958 – 1959 Denis S. Hickman
1960 – Reginald Nefzger
1961 – G. M. Anderson
1962 – Richard E. Slee
1963 – 1964 David E. Richardson
1965 – 1956 James M. Painton Jr.
1967 – 1968 Norman Anderson
1969 – Roy Maltby/George R. Meyers
1970 – George R. Meyers/Gene Barrett
1971 – Gene Barrett
1972 – Charles Schlakman
1973 – C. Schlackman A. Wilberg
1974 – 1975 Andres Wilberg
1976 – 1977 William Naughton
1978 – 1979 George R. Myers
1980 – Ron Overend
1981 – Michael J. Williams
1982 – William Naughton
1983 – Berkley Evans
1984 – 1985 Aaron Rubenstein
1986 – 1987 Michael J. Williams
1988 – Peter M. Krollpfeiffer/Michael J. Williams
1989 – Michael J. Williams
1990 – 1991 Robert D. L. Sands
1992 – Michael J. Williams
1993 – Stephen Sawyer
1994 – Stephen N. Sawyer
1995 – 1996 Robert D. L. Sands
1997 – 1998 R. Andrew Barnett
1999 – 2000 Dion B. Strachan
2001 – 2002 Barbara Hanna-Cox
2003 – 2004 Jeremy L. McVean
2005 – 2006 Earle R. Bethell
2007 – 2008 Russell M. Miller
2009 – 2010 Robert ‘Sandy’ Sands
2011 – 2016 Stuart Bowe
2017 – 2020 Carlton Russell
2021 – 2024 Robert ‘Sandy’ Sands

Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association Lifetime Directors

Nettica Symonette
Anders Wiberg
William ‘Bill’ Saunders (Deceased)
J. Barry Farrington (Deceased)
George Myers (Deceased)

Past Hoteliers of The Year