The newly formed Bermuda Tourism Authority has accepted Bermuda Hospitality Institute CEO Karla Lacey as its chief operating officer.

Ms Lacey, who is stepping down from her current post, formally joins the BTA on April 7.

Yesterday’s announcement came as the BTA said it was in “final employment discussions” with 15 members of staff from the Bermuda Department of Tourism (BDOT) — the Government agency formerly charged with running the industry.

Ms Lacey will head the authority’s financial, technical and administrative matters, as well as overseeing local communications, training and service standards and human relations.

Ms Lacey, who has led the BHI since its founding in 2010, called the new job “an exciting opportunity to help ensure Bermuda’s tourism product regains its footing — internationally and economically”.

“It also continues the work that brought me back to Bermuda four years ago, helping to make a long term difference to the land of my birth.”

She will report to the authority’s chief executive officer, Bill Hanbury, who called the role “pivotal to our success in implementing the National Tourism Plan and running our organisation”.

“Ms Lacey’s background and range of expertise fits well with the dynamic and results-oriented character of the BTA,” Mr Hanbury added.

Ms Lacey sits on the board of governors for the Bermuda College and chairs the academic and student affairs subcommittee.

She is also a National Training Board member, and co-chair of the Hospitality, Hotels, Transport and Communications Workforce Development subcommittee, as well as a member of the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers.

The BTA also announced that ten members of the Bermuda Department of Tourism (BDOT) team had applied for positions at the BTA’s Bermuda office.

Three have been offered positions, while two employees withdrew their applications. Unsuccessful candidates were directed to Government’s human resources department.

“Most if not all” have found work elsewhere, the statement said.

The authority also received applications from 15 staff at the New York office, 12 of whom have job offers. The remaining three have also been referred to Government.

Welcoming the new staff, Mr Hanbury said it wouldn’t be appropriate to comment on individual cases.

Interviews have also begun for positions that weren’t offered to BDOT staff — with Mr Hanbury declaring himself “pleased with the number and quality of Bermudian applicants”.