Almost 80 people have applied to become the next chief executive of the Bermuda Tourism Authority.

The BTA’s board of directors announced today that the application window was closed.

Initial interviews are scheduled to start next week and final interviews are expected to take place between late September and early October, with the goal of appointing the successful candidate by the end of next month.

The board said: “The global search, launched earlier this summer, attracted close to 80 applications from across six continents, reflecting broad international interest in the opportunity to lead Bermuda’s national tourism organisation.

“Applicants came from Bermuda, throughout the Caribbean, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and the United Arab Emirates.”

William Griffith, the acting chairman, said the level of interest shown demonstrated Bermuda’s reputation as a premier tourism destination.

“We are committed to a transparent and rigorous process to identify a dynamic leader who will drive our strategic vision forward,” he said.

In June, the BTA confirmed the resignation of Tracy Berkeley, who had worked with the authority since 2020 and served as chief executive since March 2023.

Ms Berkeley had reportedly cleared her office two months earlier in the wake of a damning culture review launched after an exodus of staff from the organisation.

Mr Griffith said in July that the BTA had “confronted difficult truths and taken clear action” and was now focused on moving forward to strengthen the quango and deliver results for the island.