On April 9, 2026, key players across Dominica’s booming tourism sector gathered for the Dominica Hotel & Tourism Association (DHTA) Annual General Meeting, an event designed to reflect on 12 months of progress and lay out a bold strategic roadmap for the industry’s future. Held under the theme “Innovation & Impact Driven Tourism – Shaping the Future of the Industry,” the meeting featured opening remarks from two senior tourism leaders, as outlined in an official media release published by the DHTA following the event.
Claudius Lestrade, Permanent Secretary for Dominica’s Ministry of Tourism, International Transport and Maritime Initiatives, and Marva Williams, CEO and Director of Tourism at the Discover Dominica Authority, both took the stage to address attendees. In their addresses, the pair drew attention to the consistent, steady expansion Dominica’s tourism sector has recorded in recent years, while underlining that sustained growth and transformative innovation can only be achieved through deeper, more intentional cooperation between government and private industry stakeholders.
DHTA President Kitwani Ferreira delivered a comprehensive year-in-review address, walking attendees through the association’s key accomplishments and member support initiatives rolled out over the previous 12 months. Ferreira also laid out the organization’s formal strategic agenda for the 2026–2027 term, centering five core priorities: building a clear, purpose-driven framework for balanced tourism development, deepening productive public-private sector partnerships, securing long-term sustainable financing for tourism projects, addressing critical energy infrastructure needs to support industry operations, and boosting the global competitiveness of Dominica as a premium travel destination.
One of the most anticipated moments of the gathering was the official introduction of the DHTA’s newly seated Board of Directors for the 2026–2027 term. The full leadership roster includes returning President Kitwani Ferreira, Vice President Gregor Nassief, Director of Accommodation Avril Coipel, Director of Finance & Fundraising Delwin James, Director of Membership Hubert Winston, Director of Public Relations Jael Joseph, Director of Tourism Services Michael Eugene, Director of Related Services Alice James, and ex-officio board member Marva Williams, who serves concurrently as CEO and Director of Tourism at the Discover Dominica Authority.
Closing out the meeting, the DHTA reaffirmed its long-standing core commitment to building a tourism ecosystem that is resilient to external shocks, rooted in innovative practices, and aligned with global sustainable development standards. The association emphasized that its ultimate goal is to ensure the tourism sector delivers tangible, widespread economic benefits and meaningful social progress across the island nation of Dominica.