One of the displays at the Barbados Conference Services Limited’s first ever open day and showcase forum at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre. (S.Forde-Craigg/BGIS)
The Barbados Conference Services Limited (BCSL) held its first ever open day and showcase forum, under the theme: Together Again, last Friday at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC).
The event was a collaboration between the BCSL and some of its strategic industry partners to culminate its 25th anniversary celebrations, and also to highlight the various types of events that can be hosted there.
On display were baby showers, weddings, conferences and Christmas setups. Also included was a lighting display by IGM Stage Lighting Inc., which is celebrating 30 years in business.
Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Lisa Cummins, congratulated the board, management and staff of the LESC “on having the foresight to conceptualise Together Again, and for committing to working with its partners to execute the various events held at the LESC over the years”.
She noted that there is an “all-encompassing element of fear and uncertainty” around the world as a result of COVID-19, and explained why she believes that now is a great opportunity for Government and local businesses to re-strategise and to reinvent the way in which they do business.
“This is a challenging time, but it is also an exciting time. It is a time where we get to dig deep; it is a time where we get to be at our most creative, our most innovative. It is a time where we get to think about exactly what we’re going to do, how we’re going to do it, why we need to do it, and to get it done in the most innovative way,” Senator Cummins stated.
In his remarks, Chairman of the BCSL’s Board of Directors, Dean Straker, revealed that “the board had started the process of reinventing the LESC, by reshaping some of its departments, and launching a marketing campaign to the companies and people of Barbados”. This, he said, was to let people know that the LESC was much more than the home of Ross University.
Mr. Straker stated that the board and management agreed to a “significant” refurbishment programme for 2020, in order to position the Centre for another 25 years of service.
He noted that although the board and management had to reduce its budget, upgrading of the facility would resume, as the LESC prepared to host the rescheduled UNCTAD conference in April 2021.
The Chairman complimented the staff for its service over the years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which he noted had “allowed staff to create and innovate in a way which has truly showcased their versatility and capabilities”.
Also speaking at the event was BCSL’s CEO, Charmaine London, who took the opportunity to point out that the LESC was open for business.
She thanked all of the participating partners for joining with the agency to create what she described, as “a truly amazing and wow experience”, as expressed by some of the attendees to the open day and showcase forum.
The BCSL is the management company for LESC and was established in August 1994. It is the largest stand-alone conference facility on the island, and offers premium event management services both remotely and offsite.
sheena.forde-craigg@barbados.gov.bb
