The Tourism Development Corporation of The Bahamas

Rafique Symonette

Mr. Rafique Symonette has a long-standing passion for entrepreneurship. Having spent over twenty years, working with businesses of a range of sizes: from investing and supporting entrepreneurs to grow their businesses to helping guide corporate strategy for publicly listed companies. He’s done this with ethos to generate long-term returns in a socially responsible way which he now applies in his own businesses after becoming an entrepreneur himself. Mr. Symonette Currently as Managing Director, Rafique is an owner/ operator of a transportation holdings group of companies in the hospitality industry and oversees the group operations. Bahamas Experience Holdings operates several multi-generational ground transportation businesses with over 40 years of operations in Bahamian tourism sector.

The Group’s focus is transportation/ logistics and offers a full suite of luxury transportation solutions to hotel resorts from VIP/Casino transfers to staff shuttle services business. In addition, Rafique is an Investor and Director of Lighthouse Security Solutions, a technology enabled integrated guarding security company.

Prior to returning home to the Bahamas, he worked as an emerging market private equity investor throughout Southern and Eastern Africa for 12 years with a particular focus on investing in operating growth companies. In addition, he held a number of non-executive directorships a variety sectors from fast moving consumer goods manufacturers to financial services firms. Early in his career, he spent some time as a trade lobbyist in Washington DC with a focus on the Western African oil trade. He began his career as a strategic consultant throughout North America, and Europe.

Rafique serves on the Board of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) of the Bahamas Chapter with roles including Chapter Chair; Learning Officer; Member Engagement and Forum Officer. He also serves on the Board of the Rotary Club of East Nassau as Membership & Vocational Director. He was formerly appointed a member Local Organizing Committee – FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 where he served as Transportation Coordinator for the event.