CHTA Monthly Newsletter – September 2014

Meet With International Wholesalers Selling The Caribbean At Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2015 CHTA-member hotels, destinations, attractions and transportation companies who attend Caribbean Travel Marketplace are afforded the opportunity to meet face-to-face with international wholesalers selling Caribbean vacation travel. Last year, tour operator reps from 20 countries participated in over 12,000 appointments with CHTA members. Supplier registration packages start at $1,339 (by Sept. 6 and $1,419 by Oct. 17) for a small booth, one delegate and one schedule. Buyers interested in registering are charged $299 per person (after the third buyer delegate, the fee is reduced to $129 per additional delegate). Registration is accessible here. Log-in codes for online registration have been sent to all previous qualified participants. Those who have not received a log-in code should contact CHTA. If a log-in code or password is lost or forgotten, there is a feature located on the registration page which can assist delegates with accessing registered accounts. Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the region’s largest and most important marketing event, will be held Jan. 28-30, 2015 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan. It is organized by CHTA and the Puerto Rico Destination Team, comprised of the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association (PRHTA), the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) and Meet Puerto Rico, along with Host Sponsors and Strategic Partners Interval International, MasterCard and TravelZoo. Full event details can be accessed here. Companies interested in sponsoring Caribbean Travel Marketplace should email Deborah Sas or call 305-443-3040. CHTA Membership Renewals To Be Sent By Oct. 1 Read More CHICOS Program Focuses On Key Subjects Impacting Caribbean Investment Climate Read More CHTA Promotes The Caribbean Through Media Outreach Read More CAST Corner Consider A Green Roof For Your Next Hotel Development They have been proven to: • Provide storm water management through reduction of runoff and stored water by plants is returned to the atmosphere through transpiration • Prolong service life of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems through reduced usage • They beautify and create new amenities such as gardens, terraces and recreational space To learn more, contact K. Denaye Hinds, Technical Director of CAST: dhinds@obmi.com New in the CHTA Data Center • CTO Tourism Executive Brief – August 2014 • Anguilla Tourism Summary Report – July 2014 • Antigua Tourism Update – July 2014 • US Virgin Islands Forecasted Occupancy Report – September – November, 2014 The above reports and more can be found in the CHTA Data Center. National Hotel Association News Come Meet With Us! CHTA Executives To Attend Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association’s Annual Convention, Sept. 8-10 CHTA representatives are attending the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association’s (PRHTA) annual convention and trade show and would love to meet with those in attendance. Send an email to George deMercado at george@caribbeanhotelandtourism.com to schedule something in advance or look for us at the show. PRHTA’s 27th Annual Convention & Trade Show, themed “Window of Opportunity,” will take place Sept. 8-10 at the Condado Plaza Hilton. The event is for anyone who owns or works in a hotel, restaurant, casino, transportation provider, food distributor, and any other business that provides a service or product in the tourism industry. For event details click here. To become a member of PRHTA, click here. CHTA Congratulates John Harvey on Distinguished Career, Welcomes Stephen Todd JP as New BHA Chief Read More Industry Information Caribbean Hotels See 18.6% Increase In Net Operating Income Net operating income for the average Caribbean hotel increased 18.6% in 2013, according to a report by PKF Consulting USA. The 2014 edition of PKF’s Caribbean Trends in the Hotel Industry reported that last year marked the third in a row that the region’s hotels saw double-digit percentage growth in net operating income, and it was the highest annual growth in operating profits since 2008. For more, click here (Source: Travel Weekly). The Business of Tourism: Bi-Partisan Approach Supports Tourism Read More WTM 2014 Puts Women In The Spotlight Read More UNSIDS Conference Outcome Important for CARICOM Read More Citizens of the OECS Economic Union Who Travel to Saint Lucia Can Now Stay There Indefinitely Read More CHTA Education Foundation CHTA Education Foundation Awards US$136,308 In Scholarships To 29 Caribbean Nationals The CHTA Education Foundation (CHTAEF) has awarded US$136,308 in scholarships to 29 Caribbean nationals pursuing a higher education or professional development in hospitality and tourism after receiving more than 60 applications.“This year’s applicant pool was comprised of a talented group, all of whom deserve to receive funds towards their education so that they may become productive individuals working in the vital Caribbean hospitality industry,” said Richard S. Kahn, chairman of CHTAEF. “We are only limited by the funds we’ve been able to generate from corporate donors such as Interval International, Virgin Holidays and CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank as well as The New York Times Travel Show auction where hotel stays are donated from across the Caribbean,” Kahn said, adding: “We congratulate all of our scholarship recipients and thank our generours sponsoring companies, hotels and resorts and individuals without whose support the scholarships would not be possible.” For the complete list of scholarship recipients, click here (Source: press release). Help CHTAEF Continue Funding Scholarships By Donating to Silent AuctionRead More Strategic Partners CHTA Strategic Partner, Interval International, Extends Discounted Registration for CHTA Members at Shared Ownership Investment Conference in Miami Beach, Florida, Oct. 13 – 14 Discover why shared ownership improves occupancy and generates revenue, learn about vacation trends in the current economy and meet valuable industry contacts, including developers, lenders and timeshare experts at the 16th annual Shared Ownership Investment Conference (SOIC) at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach in Florida, from Oct. 13 – 14. SOIC will feature “The Caribbean and Latin America,” a panel highlighting the shared ownership opportunities that exist in those markets. Participants will share insights and make valuable contacts with developers, hoteliers, lenders and investors, vacation ownership experts and government tourism officials. CHTA Members enjoy a preferential registration fee of 20% off the standard rate per delegate when using promotional code “CHTA”. Additional discounts may apply for international attendees. Click here or more information about the conference, call toll-free 877-700-1153 (outside toll-free limits, call 305-668-3495), email information@sharedownershipinvestment.com, or visit www.sharedownershipInvestment.com and enter the promotional code “CHTA” when registering online. 6 Sales And Marketing Metrics Every Hotel Owner Cares About Read More Hotel Design Principal #217 Read More #CashlessWeekend Challenge in PuntaCana Read More Interval International Renews Agreement with Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort & Spa in St. Lucia Read More CHTA Monthly News is produced by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association for its members and stakeholders. Please submit all comments tocommunication@caribbeanhotelandtourism.com Changes in your email address or membership information should be addressed tomembership@caribbeanhotelandtourism.com CHTA Monthly News may contain advertisements.