PROFILE – (Ministry of Tourism)
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Suzan Gail Mohammed
Tour Operator
Managing Director
Suzan grew up in Charlo Village and Syne Village in Penal / Siparia, she attended the Holy Faith Convent in Penal, where she was successful in her examinations and then served as a Secondary School Teacher for five years at the said School. Her areas of strength are Geography, West Indian History and Agricultural Science. She continued teaching at the following schools for the next twelve years Saint Charles High School, Malick Senior Comprehensive School, San Juan Private Secondary and the Trinidad Muslim League.
Suzan left the teaching profession and continued her Education in Tourism and Hospitality as her focus is really “Excellent Quality Service”
She furthered her education and during her Teaching career she also held the position of an Educational Field Trip Coordinator in all schools she taught. Suzan was chosen for two years by the University of the West Indies in Trinidad / St Augustine Campus to serve as a ‘Mentor’ in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry of Trinidad and Tobago.
She then entered into the International Student Exchange Program in Amsterdam / Holland, where she represented her country at the I.S.I.C. Conference. She performed her duties as an Ambassador for our twin island state. There she was employed as an International Tour Coordinator for (43) forty-three countries worldwide.
She then aspired to the highest position in the (T.T.T.G.A.) – Trinidad and Tobago Tour Guide Association where she served as the President.
A very experienced people person, she was well suited for the Tourism and Hospitality Industry of Trinidad and Tobago. She is also a Sports Tourism Project Officer who has worked on the pioneering team for the Merging of the first Sports and Tourism Project in Trinidad and Tobago –‘SOCA GAMES FEST / 2002’
Suzan is now the Managing Director and proud owner of a Tour Operating/Destination Management Company in Trinidad and Tobago located in San Juan. From here she conducts Tours to destinations on both islands as well as the Caribbean and Latin American region for the Local, Regional and International visitors.
She also lectures as an adjunct instructor in Tour Guiding, Front Desk Management and Quality Customer Service for the (T.T.H.T.I.) Trinidad and Tobago Hotel and Tourism Institute Campus in Chaguaramas
Suzan is also a Lecturer for the Ministry of Tourism in the Port of Entry Program with Mr. Hamilton Padmore who is a senior Lecturer/ consultant with the Service Quality Institute of Minneapolis in the USA in 2007 and 2008. Lectures and workshops were conducted on both islands with Customs & Excise, Airports Authority, Airline Employees and Immigration.
The name of her Company is:
G.E.T.S. LTD. – GAIL’S EXCLUSIVE TOUR SERVICES LIMITED
Her aim in life is: ‘To make a difference in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry of our country and the Caribbean Region, delivering “QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE” from a positive and productive perspective’.
Suzan is a professional TTTIC Tour Guide and also a bonafide Tour Operator representing Trinidad and Tobago; over the last three years GETS LTD. has evolved into a Destination Management Company and has created employment opportunities through her company for other Tour Guides and Drivers from the TTTTSA- (Trinidad & Tobago Tourist Transport Service Association). Tour Guides in both islands have benefited through her company to share with clients worldwide, their knowledge and expertise of Trinidad and Tobago.
She is heavily involved with Educational Tours with various Institutions locally and internationally. She is optimistic that more Educational Tours for the youths of the nation will be a plus to our Industry. This will help them to appreciate and protect their environment thus giving them that sense of pride for their country.
Accomplishments:
- In October 2006 the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago held the Annual Conference of Presidents / Governor General of the Caricom Region. Suzan was chosen to direct all Tours for the Spouse’s Program.
- Suzan served s the president of t he TTTGA – Trinidad & Tobago Tour Guide Association in 2002.
- Suzan served on the Executive of the TTITOA – Trinidad & Tobago Incoming Tour Operators Association 2005 to 2006.
- GETS LTD. Was affiliated with the renowned Volunteer Travel Organization in the United Kingdom – www.i-to-i.com where two projects were exposed to the world from Trinidad / one is involved in conservation in Grande Riviere Turtle Watching and a Sports Tourism Project at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Football Coaching for youths in collaboration with the TTAYSO Trinidad and Tobago American Youth Soccer Organization.
- As an Operator she felt the need to give back to her community in Siparia, where she is now a resident judge for Siparia Fete annual Queen Show. She has been a judge for the past (5) five years. Her company gives a prize of an Educational Tour each year at the show and she also hosts the Queens in a separate Complimentary Educational Tour every year exposing the sites and attractions throughout Trinidad.
- In July 2007 through her creativity she launched with Julius Ceaser Entertainment the first Children Travel Camp in Trinidad –“THE EXPLORERS” which turned out to be a great success for children that summer. This is now a signature product for Trinidad and will be held yearly to facilitate children from all points of the island. This camp is to sensitize parents and children about Domestic Tourism and will be held during the summer vacation.
- Through the TDC – Tourism Development Company Marketing Department she worked closely with two media groups and Travel Writers from the UK and North America and showcased our Carnival 2007 and related activities. The professional presentation from her staff was well received and excellent evaluations were credited to her services.
- Suzan worked closely with Island Magazine’s Travel Writer, Ted Alan Stedman and German Photographer Michael Grimm on the aspects of Divali Celebrations and is now featured in the article, which is currently in circulation throughout the world from 1st of October 2007.
- Under the OAS (Organization of American States) the Journalist –Suzanne Murphy-Larronde did a piece in the Americas Issue August 2008. The feature “Demographic Diversity” where Suzan again used her Ground Touring Skills to make this a reality for our country.
Major Accomplishment:
- On the 28th September 2007 Suzan was one of the recipients of the “Women of Excellence in Tourism” in Trinidad and Tobago Award for World Tourism day under the United Nations theme of “TOURISM OPEN DOORS FOR WOMEN” and was presented with this award by the Minister of the Ministry of Tourism Senator the Honorable Howard Chin Lee at the Hilton Hotel and Conference Center.
- The recently concluded Fifth Summit of the Americas held in Port of Spain / Trinidad / April 2009, Suzan through her company presented to the International Media a showcase of the Indian Culture through Religion, Cuisine and a featured Hindu Wedding Ceremony.
- On July 6th 2009 Gail’s Exclusive Tour Services Limited was granted the privilege to have their first physical Tour Desk at the Kapok Hotel in Port of Spain.
Zyra Selina Mohammed
Director / Shareholder
Zyra Selina Mohammed was born in the southern city of San Fernando. Two years later her family moved to the northern region of the island, Trinidad, where, to this day, she still resides and work in the historic, first capital, ST. Joseph.
Zyra attended various schools throughout her informative years which consisted of:
- ST. Joseph Kindergarten School.
- ST. Joseph TML Muslim League Primary School.
- ST. Joseph College.
She furthered her studies in Canada at Alma College and then across to England where she attended Irwin Academy. Overall, Zyra successfully aquired certificates in Accounts, Economics, Mathematics, English, Advanced English, Literature, West Indian and Caribbean History, West Indian and Caribbean Geography, Pure Biology, Human and Social Biology, Chemistry, Canadian Studies, Family Studies, Guidance, Physical Education and Vocal Music. Zyra later successfully completed Diploma Courses in Language Skills and Communications through an Extra Mural Program at the University of the West Indies (U.W.I.) then continued with a Vocational
Course in: Developing Supervisory Skills in Small Business.
Zyra worked as an Assistant Supervisor at Cosmic Book Services. She also managed Aleem's Variety Store, both situated at Westmall, Westmoorings. In 1992 her father, Basha Ghany Mohammed, opened a Land Development Company, B.S.M. Family Company Limited, where, to this day, she holds multiple positions of Director, Marketing Manager and
Company Secretary.
Zyra's cousin, Suzan Gail Mohammed, the Managing Director of Gail's Exclusive Tour Services Limited, invited her to join the company, so in 2005 Zyra officially became a Director and Shareholder bringing to the company nine years of intense global travel experiences which catered to tours by car, streetcar, bus, amphibious bus, train, airplane, cruise ship, river boat, canoe, horse drawn trolley, horse back, elephant and camel.
Her travels took her to North America where she visited several areas in Florida and other states such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Fort Myers, Sarasota, ST. Petersburg, Crystal River, Clear Creek, Tallahassee onto Biloxi in Mississippi, New Orleans, Knoxville in Tennessee, the Smokey Mountains, Kentucky, Georgia and South Carolina. She then traveled north to New York, North Carolina, Washington D.C., flying west to California, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Las Vegas, visited the Grand
Canyon, Hoover Dam and Seattle.
Her adventures continued in Canada with stops in Toronto (Niagara Falls), Guelph, ST. Thomas, Vancouva, Banff (walked on glacier), continued further north to Prince Rupert, Ketchekan (The Great Lumberjack Show, Outdoor Salmon Bake), Juneau and Skagway.
Zyra's travels closer to home in the West Indies included ST. Vincent, Union Island, Palm Island, Young Island, Bequia, Barbados, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios in Jamaica.
She continued to Mexico where she visited Mexico City, Acapulco, the pyramids at Teotihuacan and Taxco (City of Silver) where she toured a silver mine. South America was next with visits to Caracas, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. During her visits she travelled fifty miles down river by boat to Explorama Lodge in Yanamono on the banks of the Amazon River where she was rescued from a sinking raft and survived a crocodile night hunt in the Pirahna infested waters. She also visited small, very primitive indian villages in the jungle, Machu Picchu and Iguassu Falls.
Zyra's travel adventures continued with two cruises, a Mediterranean and a Caribbean cruise. The Mediterranean cruise sailed to Italy, Spain, France, Cairo in Egypt, Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in Israel, Kusadasi and Istanbul in Turkey, Piraeus, Athens and Acropolis in Greece. On these trips she visited the Ifil Tower, Pyramids, Sphinxs, experienced a wine festival and got lost in Italy. The Caribbean cruise sailed to ST. Thomas and the Bahamas. England was next with visits to London, Cambridge, Leicester, Wales and Penketh. Drove into Scotland to places such as Edinburgh, Dalkeith, Lochry, Inverness, Altbea, Sarron, Glen Albyn, Glasgow, East Kilbridge, Carshaire and Carlite. On these travels she visited numerous castles and churches, saw Bag Pipers but, unfortunately, no Leprechauns or Nessy, the Lochness Monster.
Zyra's first hand travel adventures, business experiences and all around support has helped Gail's Exclusive Tour Services Limited to the next level of even greater EXCLUSIVE QUALITY SERVICE.
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