Stars in their eyes

They travel a lot for business and do so in style so travel businesses’ use of celebrity for promote their products was on the increase this year as the World Travel Market played host to hundreds of tourism and destination products in Excel, London. United Arab Emirates’ Abu Dhabi based national airline Etihad Airways with flights to over 55 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa, Australia and Asia called upon Dannii Minogue, X Factor judge, to assist with the prize draw for tickets to the X Factor Final on the 12 December, which were donated by Etihad.

While this was going on, two world-renowned sports personalities from Trinidad and Tobago – footballer Dwight Yorke and cricketer Brian Lara joined a delegation of tourism officials from the dual destination to reveal what will be happening on the Caribbean islands during 2010. The sportsmen were joined by senior tourism officials from Trinidad & Tobago, including Oswald Williams, Secretary of Tourism at the Tobago House of Assembly; Ernest Littles, President of the TDC of Trinidad & Tobago and Warren Solomon, new Director of Tourism for The Tobago House of Assembly. Beautiful carnival girls were also on the stand, bringing to life the vibrancy of Trinidad & Tobago’s festivals as well as some of the Island’s renowned calypso musicians.

Dwight Yorke: Well, it is time to give back and I am hoping that with the spirit of tourism, I will be able to create something with sports that will put Trinidad and Tobago on the map in the same way that Usain Bolt has put Jamaica on the map. Executive Traveller: Tobago has already honoured you with the Dwight Yorke stadium in Bacolet where the under-17 World cup was held so what will your new vision be? Dwight Yorke: The idea is to create a sports learning centre, seek some coaching opportunities but primarily, I aim to promote Trinidad and Tobago proudly and to highlight its qualities in both sports and as a destination.

Face to Face with Brian Lara:
Brian Lara, former West Indies Cricket Test Match captain, all-time leading run scorer in Test cricket until October 2008, when he surpassed by Sachin Tendulkar and arguably the greatest batsman of all time is delighted to join pal Dwight Yorke to promote Trinidad and Tobago.
Executive Traveller: Trinidad or better still the West Indies cannot mention cricket and not cite Brian Lara what does this new role mean to you?
Brian Lara: It is an honour and I am looking forward to being available to tourism officials to promote the destination.