The bond between Carnival Cruise Line and Grand Bahama was further solidified this week. Christine Duffy, president of the line, and members of the senior leadership team visited to tour their project, which will significantly impact the island’s economy. Duffy then had the honor of hosting GirlCON’s third annual conference aboard the Carnival Glory.
Moving On After Disaster Strikes
Appropriately enough, the theme of the third annual GirlCON conference, where Duffy was keynote speaker, was “When Your World Changes.” That was certainly the case for the 350 Grand Bahama high school juniors and seniors who took part in the event, all impacted by Hurricane Dorian’s recent assault on their homes. Rather than focus on the negative, the uplifting event was specifically designed to inspire and empower the area’s young women.
Also speaking at the event was Bettina Deynes, Carnival’s Chief Human Resources Officer. Like other panelists, she spoke of the challenges that women can often find themselves running up against when working in fields that are traditionally considered to be male-dominated.
“GirlCON’s mission is to shape the future leaders of Grand Bahama, so I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this meaningful conversation and to help inspire the young women,” admitted Deynes.
READ MORE: Carnival Moves Forward On Two Big Projects
GirlCON founder and president Katherine Smith-Forbes, who also happens to be head of the Bahamian senate, knows the importance of inspiring young women. “When I started this organization,” she said, “my mission was to create an empowerment tool that the young Bahamian women could use to grow their personal success and, in turn, create strong futures. For the past two years, I’ve seen this vision transform into a reality impacting the lives of more than 700 women.”
She added, ” Carnival’s support this year, following Hurricane Dorian, has made our annual GirlCON event even more special.”
Carnival’s Next Big Investment In The Area’s Future
While there, Duffy and her team also carved out time to tour the site Carnival is currently developing on the island’s south side. “We are looking forward to getting our project started in the near future,” said Duffy, noting that the development will have numerous positive impacts on the island.
Once completed, the site will not only provide Carnival passengers with what’s being called a “uniquely Bahamian destination”. Still, long before it is open, it will provide economic stimulus to the area in both the long- and short-term. This is an extension of the long-existing symbiotic relationship between Grand Bahama and Carnival, which brings over 400,000 guests to the island each year.
Construction on the Grand Bahama Island project will begin sometime in the first half of 2020. In announcing the new destination, the Orlando Weekly reported that the plans are to ensure the area can withstand a Category 5 hurricane. The Grand Bahama destination will cost somewhere in the ballpark of $100 million.