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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
Marketing and branding innovator, Lisa Tenner is no stranger to the
island of Grand Bahama. Being a local homeowner, a community socialite,
and the producer of one of the largest celebrity concerts on the island,
she says she believes she has what it takes to assist in successfully
branding Grand Bahama and giving the island the much needed exposure it
deserves.
Tenner, who owns the global branding and marketing firm specializing
in entertainment, Tenner and Associates, Inc, started from humble
beginnings in Los Angeles and traveled often to New York before working
her way up the marketing ladder. “I actually started in the
New York City Ballet which most people don’t know, and I loved being in
the theatre and studying with the Ballet Master Balenchine. My father,
Morrie Ratner, insisted that I would be better studying and working in
business than attempting to be a prima Ballerina so I took him up on his
offer and really started at a very young age in the food business," she recalls. "I
knew that was not my calling and went into the fashion business which I
loved. Music called me
and that call created the opportunity for me to become an accountant and
start a business management practice that serviced the entertainment
industry, from recording artists to TV studios and their owners, and a
few film industry professionals and actors.”
In 1994, she then moved to Las Vegas where she says she found her life’s purpose. “When I moved to Las
Vegas from Los Angeles, the industry of music was changing and I decided
to create a music festival and conference called Emerging Artists and
Technology in Music. I am proud to say that was a calling and a very
special moment in my life. The ability to bring so many influential
Music professionals from the Russell Simmons Hip Hop summit and combine
that with a formatted Rock , Pop, Country music conference and festival
is a crowning achievement for anyone and it took an entire team to make
this happen. I just saw what it should look like and what it should
offer and I was fortunate to have great partner and staff that could
execute this and launch many careers of new artists” she said.
Tenner has received many
awards and achievements extending as high as the Governor of the State
of Nevada. “If you ask me what I think my major accomplishments would be
I would eagerly say winning the Governors Award for tourism in Las
Vegas, as no single individual had ever been able to do that before I
brought in EAT"M to the city." She also formed the Queen of Hearts which was a team of famed women
poker players who played the ladies event at the World Series of Poker
and who committed to donate winnings to charities for both the Heart
Foundation and for the Cancer Foundations.
Tenner then decided to bring her skills
and expertise to Grand Bahama Island at a time when the largest hotel
on the island, then known as Our Lucaya, was in the process of
re-branding. This exercise she noted, was her first major project in
the country and she says that while it was successful, it could have
been even better. “When we moved part time to The Bahamas I knew I had
some knowledge to share and I was very fortunate to work on the
rebranding and marketing of the Grand Lucayan. I think with proper
advertising, the event that took place in November 2011 could have had a much larger turn out. It’s not often we have headliners from Las
Vegas, coupled with a few finalists from American Idol, and the runner up
of Americas got talent.”
In addition to the Grand Lucayan, Tenner noted
that she’s also worked with other companies that have a presence on
Grand Bahama and last year she met a client in Freeport who runs a US based online social
play site company and she was hired to be their marketing consultant. “I
very much enjoyed that work and they sponsored one of my clients on
ESPN. I do think they got a lot of branding exposure for a good
price,” she said.
Moving forward, Tenner noted that she would love to get even more active
in the marketing and branding of Grand Bahama and thinks that the
island and it’s people makes it the perfect hub for “fun signature turnkey events.” She said, “We did the best we could given our short window of
time and I only wish I could have continued, as I know what that
property could be used for as a backdrop for many high end as well as signature events. Feedback from the community here has been
mixed. People are aware of my background. I think some appreciated the
efforts a new person has had to work through to accommodate and bring a
project to excellence in this country. I pride myself on my work and my
events, and I know those who were in attendance at the Grand Lucayan
event wish we could have more entertainment here on Grand Bahama Island.
If I could have the ears of the decision makers for The Bahamas, there
is no doubt in my mind I could increase the tourism here. I recently
visited the new build out at the port and I know the Ministry of Tourism
is doing as much as they can to create Freeport as a must stop port. I
am proud that this expansion is happening as its a jewel of a stop in
the Caribbean.”
Among her many ideas, she said that she believes a Music Festival would
be perfect to enhance the island’s tourism product and put Grand Bahama
on the map. “One thing I would love to bring here
would be a music festival, not only to showcase artists but to also have
workshops and panels so these local artists, who are so very talented, can
land on a tour that gives them a taste of appreciation for their
talents.
She also noted that a televised gaming event would also be
perfect for the island “We have a very nice casino here, and since I am from Las Vegas, I
do have the experience to know that the hotels can feed the casino, and
the casino can drive occupancy, and that combination drives down the
unemployment rate.”
Moving forward she said she wants to create a partnership with the
Ministry of Tourism in hopes of facilitating bigger and better events, as
well as fostering a long-term relationships with the businesses and
residents of the Grand Bahama community. “One has to be accepted by the
community and it takes a lot of determination and persistence to break
the barriers. Let's hope the Ministry of Tourism will take a meeting. If I
can make a contribution, someone will call upon me.. I love it here and
the community.”
Lisa Tenner maybe contacted at www.tennerandassoc.com and or 242 374 2979 and 702 496 3286
© Copyright 2013 by thebahamasweekly.com
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