Tourism Officials discuss media coverage of Holloway disappearance
by Susan Mann
Caribbean Net News Correspondent
Friday, October 28, 2005
ST THOMAS, USVI: Former CNN anchor Andria Hall, moderated a discussion with a panel of experts on the subject of "Crisis Communications for the Tourism Industry" before a packed room of delegates attending the annual Caribbean Tourism Conference on St. Thomas.
Panel members included; Andy Cooper, CEO, Federation of Tour Operators, UK, Barry Pitegoff, Vice President of Research, VISIT FLORIDA, the private-public partnership which is the official tourism board for the state of Florida, and Alan Parker, Deputy Managing Editor, Toronto Sun newspaper.
A key point made by the presenters was the need for the tourism industry to take the lead with both the media and the public when a crisis event takes place. Having a plan in place to thoroughly address how information about a crisis event is made available to the public was stressed.
Pitegoff said research indicates that once a period of three to seven days passes after a crisis event begins,
people form a definite opinion about the associated facts, no matter what the
source of is, or what they actually know to be accurate.
Cooper discussed the nature of crisis
events, which he described as being either manmade, such as a crime against a
person, or natural, such as a hurricane.
Andria Hall, who now runs her own consulting company, Speakeasy M.E.D.I.A.,
Inc., stressed the "Relationship Principle." The concept has three components.
The need for tourism business owners to establish a solid relationship with
the media before a crisis takes place, the need to share a sense mutual
accountability for events, and for full public disclosure at all times.
When the media, and thus the public, is not
given the facts to the fullest extent when a crisis event occurs, it often has
a negative impact on media reporting, the public perception, and ultimately
the tourism industry.
Delegates had numerous questions for the panelists. Among those coming to the microphone was the Director of Tourism for Aruba, who described the disappearance of Natalee Holloway as "the perfect storm".
The official also indicated that the Holloway family "had connections" and the media had arrived on the island of Aruba within two days of Holloway's disappearance. One result of this was that the ratings for FOX news, and the Nancy Grace show had doubled.
Aruban authorities had very little information to report since the investigation into Holloway's disappearance was on going. However, the public (still) watched the news stories about the missing young woman to hear what the media's discussion about it. The victim's mother was available for frequent media appearances and comments, seemingly taking control of the investigation.
Panelist Pitegoff, who oversees grief and
bereavement services for traveling family members in Florida, pointed out how
difficult it was for the Holloway family that the victim's body was not
recovered.
The training event concluded with a mandate
for delegates to take put in writing, their vision for how to handle crisis
events relating to the tourism community.
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