A Course Change on Nassau Paradise Island

In a year of significant change in Caribbean tourism, the naming of Joy Jibrilu as CEO of the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board (NPIPB) ranks among the most notable developments.

Assuming the position following the retirement of Fred Lounsberry, who served as the NIPIPB's CEO since 2005, Jibrilu is the first woman and the first Bahamas native to hold the position.

A consortium of 18 hotels in Nassau's Cable Beach and Paradise Island districts, the group's members range from eight-room, family-run guesthouses up to mega-resorts accommodating thousands of guests.

NPIPB works closely with tour operators, strategic partners and travel marketing organizations to promote Bahamas travel. NPIPB also coordinates travel agent training, tactical advertising and public relations activity.

Jibrilu has served as the Bahamas' Ministry of Tourism's director general since May 2014 after serving as director of investments in the Bahamas prime minister's Investment Authority office since July 2008.

Jibrilu brings significant Bahamas tourism and public-sector experience to her new role. She previously served in the Bahamas' Ministry of Finance as a legal advisor with primary responsibility for international agreements after starting with the agency as an independent consultant.

An attorney by profession, Jibrilu is certified by the English and Bahamian bars. She discussed her plans with TravelPulse at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Conference in Puerto Rico last week.