Feb. 3, 2003 – After stepping into the president's shoes left vacant in June 2002 when Jayne Hillner unexpectedly left St. Thomas, David Yamada has been elected unanimously to a full two-year term as head the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association.
While the association already has a good relationship with the Tourism Department, Yamada said Monday, he expects to strengthen the ties between them during his tenure as president. His goal is to "keep the communication open," he said, and make sure the association and the department work on the same page. He said this includes tying into existing programs sponsored by the Tourism Department and other areas of government.
Yamada also said he plans to implement a marketing plan so the association can take the lead in marketing its member hotels. And he plans to hold hospitality focus group meetings that include representatives of diverse segments of the community.
Meeting on Thursday; the association also elected Ritz-Carlton general manager Jamie Holms, Caneel Bay Resort general manager Brian Young, Crystal Palace and Villa Fairview owner Ronald Lockhart, Coral World president and general manager Trudie Prior, Island Meetings and Incentives owner Judi Nagelberg, and American Airlines St. Thomas station manager Ernesto Quidgley to its board of directors.
Yamada additionally appointed Edward E. Thomas Sr., president and chief executive of The West Indian Co., and Graeme Davis, Westin Resort general manager, to the board.
According to Yamada, the organization plans to work on programs in the coming year that address educational, community, government and economic issues. He said these will include completing the Tommy Starfish signage program on St. Thomas, implementing a sustainable marketing program in the first quarter of this year and starting an internship program.
The Los Angeles-born Yamada, 49, is a career hotelier who started out as a night audit clerk at Marriott's Los Angeles airport property. He worked for Marriott then moved to ITT Sheraton and Interstate Hotel Management before returning to Marriott with his posting to St. Thomas in April 2000.
Having lived all over the country, including stints in Denver; Houston; Dallas; Fort Lauderdale; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Roanoke, Virginia, he said he is glad to be calling St. Thomas home. "I love the lifestyle," he said.
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