Caribbean Activities Round Up
April 23, 2008
When I read the announcement of the 19th Annual St. Croix Triathlon early this morning, my thoughts went back to the first one, just before Hurricane Hugo hit the island in 1989. I had been on St.Croix for almost a year and got actively involved in the organization of the event. Excitement all around.
Something important was happening to St.Croix after all the misery of the Fountain Valley episode. TV deals were being made, exposure was being arranged and many athletes flocked in.
Great organization, great exposure and good cameraderie. I remember us serving the high carbo hydrate dinners to a row of young and strong athletes at the resort I was managing. There was excitement. The event went as planned and we sat down after it was all over to make the next one for 1990 bigger and better. But then Hurricane Hugo hit the island back into the canvas. There was no Triathlon in that year, hence it is not the 20th anniversary.
That will be next year….and I’m getting old. Anyway the 19th annual St. Croix Ironman 70.3 Triathlon, will be held on May 4, an island-wide event that includes a 1.24-mile swim around Christiansted harbor, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run. For details, visit St. Croix thristhlon
Also pencil down SMART, the St. Maarten/St. Martin Regional Tradeshow, scheduled for May 20 to 22, Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino, St. Maarten. It showcases the islands of the northeastern Caribbean and provides buyers and sellers the venue in which to network and negotiate business. For details, visit SHTA.
I noticed that this is the first one where organizers realized that having the event on Mother’s Day for so many years was not promoting traffic or participation. I think I pointed that out 3 years ago. Okay so now the event coincides with the big Memorial Day Weekend here in the States. Poor SMART, they can’t get a break.
On another note, as I pointed out not long ago, in this down shifted economy you’d better learn to start hitting your competitors rather than trying to attract new markets, is taking hold. At least in Jamaica it is.
Jamaica’s prime minister Bruce Golding yesterday announced that Casino gambling will soon become a reality in Jamaica. The government’s decision for a go-ahead was announced during his presentation in the budget debate. The pie is getting smaller and more of us need to eat from it. My only question now is: who is going to keep crime out.
On a positive note, I would like to share a keynote speaker observation from the course Profits In Paradise I went to last week. I thought it was an eye opener. You judge.
“Leadership begins with recognizing that everybody needs four things,” said one speaker, “something to do, someone to love, something to hope for, and something to believe in. Strategic plans don’t excite anybody. Dreams excite people… And every employee, every team member, wants to know the same thing: Do you really care about me? Every successful organization shows its people they genuinely matter.”
How do you live up to those standards?
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[...] Caribbean Activities Round UpWhen I read the announcement of the 19th Annual St. Croix Triathlon early this morning, my thoughts went back to the first one, just before Hurricane Hugo hit the island in 1989. I had been on St.Croix for almost a year and got actively … [...]
[...] Caribbean Activities Round UpWhen I read the announcement of the 19th Annual St. Croix Triathlon early this morning, my thoughts went back to the first one, just before Hurricane Hugo hit the island in 1989. I had been on St.Croix for almost a year and got actively … [...]
[...] Caribbean Activities Round UpWhen I read the announcement of the 19th Annual St. Croix Triathlon early this morning, my thoughts went back to the first one, just before Hurricane Hugo hit the island in 1989. I had been on St.Croix for almost a year and got actively … [...]