Bahamas Tourist Office Florida Hosts a Toast to 50 Years of Independence
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (13 July 2023) – In celebration of The Bahamas’ Golden Jubilee, the Bahamas Tourist Office (BTO) Plantation Sales Team hosted an immersive and interactive evening of Bahamian fine art, culture and cuisine to commemorate the 50th Independence anniversary and celebrate the historic partnership between its trade, travel and media partners. The recent event was held at the Island SPACE Caribbean Museum in the Broward Mall.
The event welcomed Curt Hollingsworth, Bahamas Counsel General in Miami, and staff members at the Consulate Office, as well as members of the National Association of The Bahamas (NAB) to take part in the celebrations. The “Toast to 50” featured a cultural explosion of Bahamian food, music and art. Some 20 partners were given a special opportunity to participate in a private paint and sip highlighting the beauty of the country with renowned Bahamian artist Preston Hanna.
A special Bahamian exhibit at the museum was also launched during the celebration. The exhibit featured an art showcase by Preston Hanna entitled “Kollide-O-Scope”; a fashion showcase by Bahamian designer David Rolle entitled “House of Raphelita x Harl Taylor” and several Junkanoo pieces specially commissioned for the exhibit.
Jennifer Gardiner-Bannister, BTO General Manager Global Sales & Marketing, said: “We are bringing the renaissance of The Bahamas back to Florida. Many of these small communities started with Bahamians, and we want to make sure that future generations know about the heritage of The Bahamas.”
“We hope to facilitate the process of adding more Bahamian focused pieces at the museum in order to give visitors a stroll down memory lane on the history of The Bahamas over the period of 50 years and beyond.”
Added Clifford Adderley, BTO District Sales Manager: “We have invited our Bahamas Specialists, airline partners, cruise partners and media partners to come and celebrate our Golden Jubilee with us. We want to say a special thank you to all who have continued to support the Islands of The Bahamas over the years and echo that The Bahamas is still the number one tourist destination in the Caribbean.”
“We encourage everyone in the Broward and surrounding areas to visit the museum to view our dynamic Bahamian exhibits, take photos, share and celebrate The Bahamas and our rich culture.”
The night ended with an explosive Junkanoo performance by Florida based group Island Groove. The museum’s Bahamas showcase which opened on 1 June is expected to run until 30 July. Friends of The Bahamas can continue to support the art and culture of Bahamian talent through our various partnerships with Island SPACE Caribbean Museum and the upcoming “Sip & Splash” on 14 July and “Artist Talk” on 15 July with Preston Hanna.
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ABOUT THE BAHAMAS
The Bahamas has over 700 islands and cays, as well as 16 unique island destinations. Located only 50 miles off the coast of Florida, it offers a quick and easy way for travellers to escape their everyday. The island nation also boasts world-class fishing, diving, boating and thousands of miles of the Earth’s most spectacular beaches for families, couples and adventurers to explore. See why It’s Better in The Bahamas at www.bahamas.com or on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram.
PRESS INQUIRIES
Anita Johnson-Patty
Director, Global Communications
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation