Meet Christine Noel-Horsford | Director of Sales & Marketing, Grenada Tourism Authority – Responsible for the Sales & Marketing for Destination Grenada in the US

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine Noel-Horsford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Pure Grenada – The Spice of the Caribbean is a brand that speaks to sustainability and authenticity. The fact that we remain true to the brand has contributed significantly to its success. We have been able to maintain the reputation of the brand through consistency and message control. As a company we ensure that all our promotional programs and activities are in alignment with the brand image and identity. Our ultimate goal is to reach a target audience who are looking to have a truly immersive and memorable experience on their vacation. The mission of the Ministry of Tourism is to ensure that all investors are in alignment with our overall plan of sustainability. The brand strategy that we adapt is carefully planned, tested and ultimately optimized. We first had to get the buy-in of the local community before exposing the brand in the international market. As locals we live the brand! We have ongoing radio and TV campaigns reminding our locals of the brand. We have also introduced programs in schools both at primary and secondary levels to ensure that kids and young adults as well live the brand. The government and stakeholders are engaged in a number of sustainability programs/projects, including the restoration and protection of marine and coral reefs. The preservation of our cultural heritage is also of critical importance to the brand as well. As a destination we have very strong USPs and customers have to feel aligned with their benefits. We have built brand loyalty and we need to stay extremely consistent with the value of the product. Overall we have had a very successful brand with very strong marketing strategies.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started my career as a Manager of a boutique hotel in Grenada, which was followed by a position in the UK during which I represented Grenada as the Director for the the UK and Continental Europe. After being posted in the UK for approximately 6 years I was then transferred to the US to represent the destination here as Director of Sales & Marketing. My responsibilities including liaising with the airlines, tour operators, media, travel related organizations, retail agents and the consumer in genera. I was responsible for the inauguration of several airlines both in the UK and the USA. Throughout my career in the travel industry I have been the recipient of several prestigious awards and accolades, including “The Most Powerful Woman In Travel”, which I won for 2 consecutive years. My passion and dedication for the industry certainly sets me apart from others. I am known to be dependable, reliable and offer customers top notch service. I love talking to people about my beautiful island of Grenada and sharing my life experience growing up in Grenada.

I would not say that it was an easy journey for me. I needed to prove to the government and people of Grenada that I was capable of taking on such a BIG ROLE. To start I came from a very humble beginning, but I had BIG DREAMS. My parents ensured that I had a very good education which allowed me the opportunity to explore limitless opportunities. Their teaching also gave me the confidence to never sell myself short.

I love travelling. I am a foodie and I love exploring and learning about different cultures.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Lake Worth is know to have some neat, cool places to visit. My friend’s itinerary would include a visit to the following: – Downtown Lake Worth. Take a trolley ride for a tour around downtown
– Downtown Delray Beach
– Boca Raton History Museum
– Flagler Museum
– Municipal Park
– Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
– Butterfly World
– Visit the Lake Worth Playhouse
– Street Painting Festival
– Take a bike ride or run on Flagler Drive
– A stroll or bike ride on Flagler Drive
– Visit the Breakers Hotel
– Fours Seasons Hotel
– Two of my favorite restaurants are Table 26 and Buccan
– Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa
–

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost I would like to give special thanks to my dear mom who is now deceased. She is the one that encouraged me to venture into the hospitality industry, and for this I am grateful. At the time she said that she felt that I had a passion for dealing with people. She then made the decision to send me abroad to further my studies in that field. I will also like to thank the government and people of Grenada for affording me the opportunity to represent Grenada in the global market. To the various Ministers of Tourism who I have worked with over the many years, I am very grateful. To the members of the private sector within the Hotel & Tourism Association in Grenada, I say thank you. To the members of my colleague within the Grenada Tourism Authority, thank you so much for your inspiration and the support you extend to me on a daily basis. To the members of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) who have contributed to my overall development through training, workshops, seminars and conferences, I say a special thank you. Additional persons that I would like to name here include Sir Paul Scoon, Sir Royston Hopkin, Dr. Roy Hastick, Sr (all deceased.); Hon. Clarice Modeste-Curwen, Hon.. Yolande Bain-Horsford, Ms. Brenda Hood, Ms. Shadel Nyack-Compton, Mr. Richard Strachan, Mr. Russell Antoine, Mr. Jude Bernard, Alexandra Otway-Noel and Ms. Sylma Brown-Bramble. The many travel advisors who have trusted me for so many years, calling on me when they want to book their clients to Grenada. Not forgetting the members of the media here in the US and home in Grenada. The diaspora at large here in the US. And to my mentor Ms. Carole Guntley of the Jamaica Tourist Board whose steps I followed and mirrored throughout my journey.

And finally to my dear family and circle of friends who have always been there as my cheerleaders, I owe a great deal of gratitude to you all

Website: www.puregrenada.com

Instagram: @discovergrenada

Facebook: Christine Horsford