WILLIAM GRIFFITH
William Griffith is Managing Director of WCG Consulting Ltd, which was formed in March 2014. The company provides specialist services in strategic management, marketing and sales for tourism and hotel industry clients.
An Honors graduate in Hotel Management from the University of the West Indies, Griffith started his career in 1979, as a management trainee at Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados. During his nine years at Sandy Lane, Griffith rose quickly through the ranks and held positions of Front Office Manager, Assistant Food and Beverage Manager, Food and Beverage Director and Director of Sales and Marketing.
Mr. Griffith was promoted by UK hotel chain, Forte Hotels, as General Manager of the Harmony Club in Bermuda in 1988, and was subsequently promoted to Executive Director in 1991, managing both the Harmony Club and the Belmont Hotel. In recognition of his outstanding work, he was voted Bermuda’s Hotelier of the Year in 1997.
He subsequently created the Bermuda Resort Hotels Group and, as President, was responsible for the management of four hotel properties: Harmony Club, Surfside Beach Club, Grape Bay Beach Hotel, and the Wharf Executive Suites Hotel.
He served as President of the Bermuda Hotel Association; President of the Hotel Employers of Bermuda; Chairman of the Bermuda Hotel Association, served on the Board of Governors of the Bermuda College, the Board of Tourism, as well as the Board of Trustees of the Government Golf Courses.
Mr Griffith was appointed Director of Tourism of Bermuda in August 2008 and served in this capacity until March 2014. During his tenure as Director, he also served as Member of the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC); Vice President of British Overseas Territories Committee of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) as well as on the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).
Griffith was appointed CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI) in October 2014, the position he held until December 2019. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CTO between 2014 and 2016. He was elected Chairman of the Allied Members of the CTO in October 2022, serves on its Board of Directors as well as on its Executive Committee. He was also re-elected by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) as Chairman for its Allied Non – Government Group for a two-year period in September 2022.
Mr Griffith was also one of two Barbadians honored in the November 2016 special 50th Anniversary Independence festivities with a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by the Barbados Association in Bermuda for outstanding contribution to the tourism industry on that island.
In December 2018 Griffith received further outstanding recognition as ‘Tourism Director of the Year’ by Carib Journal in their annual Caribbean Travel Awards.
A sampling of his major achievements during the five years as CEO of Barbados Tourism:
- Growth in total visitor expenditure, or spend, (according to the CTO) from US$836 million in 2014 to US$1,122 billion in 2018 or 34 percent in the corresponding period.
- 30 percent increase in visitor arrivals to Barbados to a record of 680,000 in 2018 from 520,000 in 2014. The destination surpassed 700,000 stay-over visitors for the very first time in 2019.
- Growth in air capacity to the island by 22 percent during the same period. Gains in all three major markets of USA, UK and Canada. Oversaw high profile partnerships on behalf of the BTMI that led to the introduction of new flights to the island including COPA Airlines from Panama and Lufthansa direct service from Frankfurt.
- Designated successful themed Year of Sports, Year of Culinary Experiences, and Year of Wellness and Soft Adventure.
- Barbados Food and Rum Festival was rebranded in 2017 and celebrated its 10th year in 2017.
- Establishment of a new European division.
- DDSI – Destination Satisfaction Index Best Destination in the World in 2017 for overall satisfaction
- Barbados consistently rated in the #5 most popular tourist destinations by visitor survey on TripAdvisor.
- Travel Bulletin Star Awards – Best Winter Destination 2017
- Carib Journal Destination of the Year 2015
- Expedia Caribbean Destination of the Year 2015
Since 2020 WCG Consulting has achieved remarkable success through its strategic positioning and diverse client portfolio, which have significantly bolstered its brand reputation.
Client Diversity – WCG Consulting has attracted a wide range of clients from various industries, showcasing its ability to adapt and provide valuable services across different sectors.
Brand Enhancement – Through its diverse series of clients, WCG Consulting has enhanced its brand recognition and credibility in the market, establishing itself as a trusted partner for businesses seeking consulting services.
Market Leadership – WCG Consulting’s ability to continuously attract diverse clients and deliver exceptional results has solidified its position as a leader in the consulting industry, setting it apart from competitors.
Overall, WCG Consulting’s successes to date are a testament to its strategic vision, commitment to excellence, and ability to forge and leverage strong partnerships with clients across various sectors.
Our Team
Why do we exist?
Our team exists to help owners and operators of all areas of the tourism and hospitality industry to realize true success/profitability to their tourism-related businesses while being memorable and sustainable.
How do we do it?
Our professional and creative team of culturally diverse tourism experts across the globe bring their years of industry knowledge together to deliver the best in strategic planning, management, marketing and sales.
What do we do?
Our team works with our clients individually to customize their needs. We provide the right and timely solutions for your tourism marketing and development business requirements with a focus on generating new sources of revenue without large capital expenses. We believe in building long term client relationships to keep our clients informed of industry changes and potential improvements.