BMOTA looking at launching a Women’s Bahamas Pilots program
FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA — Captains Valerie Talbot and Eric Larson of Delray Beach, Florida, have officially been inducted as flying ambassadors for The Islands of The Bahamas.
The historic induction ceremony, complete with an airplane water salute and issuance of certificates, credentials and Bahamas-branded gift items, was conducted on August 25, 2021 by executives of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation (BMOTA) at Grand Bahama International Airport and Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach Resort on Grand Bahama.
The husband and wife team, who are major aviation and social media influencers, have been flying to The Bahamas as often at three times per week for years, sometimes as vacationers or fly-out leaders and at other times, to render hurricane and disaster relief aid to Bahamians on Abaco, Grand Bahama and Bimini.
The duo will now work alongside the BMOTA to further grow general aviation business to the destination. In their new role, they will also promote the Islands of The Bahamas to their social media networks, in the marketplace and at trade shows.
Captain Valerie, whose aviation videos on YouTube total almost three million viewers, becomes the second female pilot to be named a flying ambassador for The Bahamas; Captain Terry Carbonell was its first.
According to Greg Rolle, senior director, BMOTA verticals market, with Captain Valerie’s induction, the BMOTA will now look at launching a Women’s Bahamas Pilots program.
“The Bahamas is the leader for general aviation in the Caribbean region, and the induction of Captains Valerie and Eric was also critical to the success of our destination and longevity of our flying ambassador program, particularly at this juncture when several of our current senior ambassadors are getting older,” he said.
Talbot said: “We are humbled and incredibly grateful for this prestigious recognition and to be a part of this elite group. The people in The Bahamas are absolutely wonderful and truly make us feel like we are family. The pristine nature, clear water and wildlife separate The Bahamas from other destinations, and the opportunity for my husband and me to continue to promote the beautiful islands of The Bahamas with this title makes it even more special.”
