Veteran hotelier and businessman, George Myers, will be heralded as
The Bahamas
Chamber of Commerce’s 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for his immeasurable contributions to the growth of tourism and business in the Bahamas.
With an exceptional career spanning over forty years, very few individuals can claim the achievements of George Myers, Chairman and CEO of The Myers Group Ltd. “Having played an integral role in the success of the Bahamian tourism industry,
Myers will be presented with The Chamber’s prestigious
2009 Lifetime Achievement Award
for his unrivaled accomplishments in the hospitality and restaurant industry in The Bahamas,” said Philip Simon, Chamber’s Executive Director.
Simon explained, “Selecting this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient was not an arduous task. Once Mr. Myers name was thrown into the mix, the Committee was unanimous in his recognition as this year’s recipient. It’s a testament to his body of work and the impact of his influence throughout the country both in business and in the lives he’s touched. He’s a humble man and we’re excited he’s accepted the honour.”
Born into the hospitality industry, Myers worked in family-owned hotel, Miranda Lodge, in Montego Bay, Jamaica as a child. Myers love for the industry took him away from his native Jamaica to London’s famed Westbury Hotel where he interned as a Management trainee, working his way through the hotel’s various departments.
In 1963, Myers came to the Bahamas and began his journey in Bahamian hospitality, one that would take him to various islands, through the ranks of various hotels and industry organizations and eventually validate him as a tourism pioneer, not only in the Bahamas but also in the Caribbean. Between 1963 and 1968, Myers, excelled through the ranks of management moving from Bar Manager to Vice President and General Manager of the Nassau Beach Hotel.
The growth of Paradise Island can be largely attributed to Myers, who served as Executive Vice President and COO of Resorts International (Bahamas) Ltd., charting their growth for fifteen years from 1977. He was named President of Paradise Island Limited, a subsidiary of Resorts International in 1980.
The Myers Group Ltd. was born in 1992, when the company began managing the former Radisson Cable Beach Resort. The group continued to do so until its sale to Baha Mar Resorts in 2005. The company also managed the Radisson Lucaya Resort on Grand Bahama until 1994.
Outside of the hotel industry, Myers, through The Myers Group, is actively involved the restaurant business with more than twenty units ranging from fast food concepts to fine-dining restaurants. Some of the Group’s brands include Burger King, Quiznos and the Bahamian staple, KFC. Through this Group, an employee base of more than 1,000 is engaged.
With a passion not only for his own business’ success but also for the growth of Bahamian tourism and the country’s economy, Myers has dedicated his time and served as president of various industry organizations including the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), the Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA), and The Bahamas Hotel Employers Association. Myers is currently the Chairman of the Nassau/PI Promotions Board. He is an Honorary Lifetime Director for both the CHA and BHA.
Expressing his concurrence with the Chamber’s choice, current president of the Bahamas Hotel Association, Robert ‘Sandy’ Sands, noted, “There is no one I can think of who is more who is more deserving of such an honor. George exemplifies success in the hotel industry and has made a vital contribution to the Bahamian tourism sector. He remains a tremendous resource to the industry because of his industry knowledge and contacts and greatly contributes to the development of marketing strategies and promotions for the destination.”
Sands continued, “His business acumen is not only limited to his tourism contributions but his entrepreneurial skills have made him the ‘king of fast food’ as he not only owns but very successfully operates a number of restaurant concepts.”
The Chamber of Commerce will present the Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2009 Annual Business Awards during their 38th Annual Awards Banquet and Silent Auction scheduled for Saturday, June 27 at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Hotel.
The Annual Business Awards will culminate Chamber Week, which begins on June 22, 2009. The week’s events also include a courtesy call on Prime Minister Ingraham, the highly anticipated Mix N Mingle business-networking event on Tuesday, June 23 and the Meet the Ministers forum on Thursday, June 25. Twelve Cabinet Ministers will participate in the Forum, which is open to Chamber members. All events will take place at Sandals Royal Bahamian.
