The Cruise Association of Newfoundland and Labrador ratified a new constitution at its Annual General Meeting held in Gander on February 14.

The incoming board structure means that four new Marketing Partners: Destination St. John’s, Destination Labrador, Nunatsiavut Tourism and Western NL “Trail to the Vikings” will join existing Partners: City of St. John’s, St. John’s Port Authority, Corner Brook Port Corporation, and Parks Canada Eastern and Western Divisions. Two additional individuals will each represent the Small Ports and Industry sectors.   This group, along with funding support from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation as well as the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, will provide the basis for the ongoing growth and development of provincial cruise tourism.

The following officers were elected to the Executive Committee:

Dennis O’Keefe, City of St. John’s – Chair
Randy Letto, Destination Labrador – Vice-Chair
Jackie Chow, Corner Brook Port Corporation – Secretary/Treasurer
Stelman Flynn will now serve as Past-Chair

New Chair, Dennis O’Keefe has served on the Board of Directors since the Association was formed in 2003.  O’Keefe said that although the board was streamlined from 17 to 12 directors, the addition of representation from the province’s destination marketing organizations means that there will be a broader province-wide representation.  “The intent of the revised constitution is to create a more equitable structure, one that represents all regions of the province by having each marketing partner hold a board seat.”  Parks Canada and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation serve on the board in ex-officio positions.

Each year Cruise NL holds its annual general meeting in conjunction with Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador’s conference.  The 2008 Cruise Vision Award was presented at the Gala Awards dinner to David Snow, Wildland Tours, a longtime operator in the provincial cruise industry.