MasterCard renewed its commitment to The Bahamas ‘Find Your Way’ promotion last week with a re-launch of the campaign maximizing value for visitors and locals alike by allowing MasterCard card holders armed with a MasterCard booklet or map and their card to take advantage of specials offered by participating attractions, excursions, restaurants, hotels and stores.
The program has grown by nearly 50% since its inception in 2009 with some 47 partners participating this year. The launch, held at the British Colonial Hilton February 2, drew the Minister of Tourism & Aviation Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, President of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce Khaalis Rolle, President of the Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA) Stuart Bowe, Executive Vice President of the BHA Frank Comito, MasterCard Vice President Strategic Partnerships Latin America and the Caribbean Patricio Rubalcaba and leading merchants, restaurateurs and media.
CREATING VALUE – Minister of Tourism & Aviation Sen. Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, right, speaks with MasterCard VP Strategic Partnerships for Latin America and the Caribbean Patricio Rubalcaba, left, and MasterCard Director of Acceptance Rafael Fuentes during the launch of the Find Your Way program.
This is the third year MasterCard and Tourism have partnered in the campaign that the Minister said added value, helping to give The Bahamas a competitive edge in an environment where savvy vacation shoppers are searching for a difference.
Rubalcaba told the crowd gathered for the event at the British Colonial Hilton that in addition to an increase in the number of participating merchants — up 57% since inception in 2009 — the program boosted actual spend by 5% while spend in the industry as a whole declined and most importantly, he noted, showed a customer satisfaction rating of 90%.
