The Week at the SLHTA – SLHTA Gears Up for 54th Annual General Meeting.

SLHTA Gears Up for 54th Annual General Meeting.
The 54th Annual General Meeting of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) will be held Friday, July 20th, 2018 at the Harbor Club Resort, Rodney Bay at 9:00 a.m. under the theme:
People, Passion, Purpose and Linkages; The Pathway to a Resilient Future.
The past year has been marked by record-breaking achievements in our industry and a spirit of optimism and excitement among the membership. There has also been a concerted drive by the Association and member hotels to provide increased training and educational opportunities for hospitality staff to keep them fired up and motivated. Our linkages with other sectors and the communities have also been growing stronger. The SLHTA believes the chosen theme speaks to all of these exciting developments.
Our Annual Report for 2017/2018 is already being compiled. It is our pleasure to extend to you an invitation to advertise with us.
The Annual General Report will be distributed to approximately 200 companies and professionals, including top-level company managers and directors, government officials and other invited guests at the Annual General Meeting. Copies are also shared with consultants, potential and new SLHTA members, as well as industry partners, throughout the year.
This year the AGM will, once again, feature a more enhanced Tourism Linkages Tradeshow at which copies of the report will also be distributed.
SLHTA Appeals for Inclusion in the Drive to Develop Renewable Energy
Press Release : The St. Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association wants to play a greater role in helping St. Lucia meet its renewable energy targets under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Paris Agreement.
Saint Lucia is one of more than 130 countries that signed on to the historic climate change agreement in Paris in December 2016.
In June 2017, Sustainable Development Minister, Dr. Gale Rigobert reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the Paris Agreement following the announcement by the United States of its decision to pull out of the treaty.
As part of its commitments, the government has vowed to work at reducing St. Lucia’s carbon emissions, improve grid distribution and transmission, and also aim for a 35 percent renewable energy target by 2025, and 50 percent by 2030, using a mix of geothermal, wind and solar energy sources. Focus is also being placed on promoting energy efficiencies in buildings, appliances, water distribution and network systems and public and private transportation.
LUCELEC , meanwhile, has embarked on the construction of a 3 megawatt (MW) solar farm, located at La Tourney, Vieux Fort. The project is currently generating about four percent of the grid’s total output, or approximately 10 percent of the 35 percent renewable energy 2025 target total.
In a letter to the government, the SLHTA expressed concern about St. Lucia’s ability to achieve its 35 percent renewable energy target by 2025. While commending LUCELEC’s continuing efforts at ramping up the use of renewable energies by means of wind and geothermal power generation, the SLHTA feels more needs to be done and has declared its willingness to partner with LUCELEC to step up the pace of St. Lucia’s renewable energy generation.
Currently the amount of grid-tied renewable energy that commercial enterprises are allowed to produce is capped at 25 kilowatts (kWh). The SLHTA believes this is too low and has urged the government to give strong consideration to removing the 25 kWh limit and allowing hotels and other businesses to generate up to 20 percent of their electrical needs via renewable energy systems.
“The SLHTA sees these climate change commitments as a major opportunity for St. Lucia that must not be allowed to slip away,” said SLHTA CEO, Roderick Cherry. “We think this is an opportune time for the SLHTA to build a strategic partnership with LUCELEC that will enable hotels and other tourism service providers to play their part by investing in renewable energy technologies,” he added.
He said there is strong support for the adoption of renewable energy systems throughout the tourism sector, and the hotels are eager to demonstrate their commitment to the development of a sustainable energy culture in St. Lucia.
“While we understand that the majority of hospitality facilities would not have the carbon footprint or the capability of installing a huge renewable energy photovoltaic system, there is still strong desire within our industry to embrace renewable energy and have it as a part of the energy mix,” said Roderick.
He added, “Moreover, we believe that by removing the 25 kWh cap and permitting the hotels to generate a 20-percent ratio of their power by renewable energy systems, this will allow them to become more marketable to environmentally-conscious travellers and organizations, and gain them international recognition and environmental accolades. The value to our industry of being recognized internationally as having met sustainability goals cannot be understated. It would raise St. Lucia’s tourism profile phenomenally and open the way to the rebranding of the island as a true sustainable green destination.”
The SLHTA would also like to see the introduction of an energy billing system whereby consumers can purchase renewable energy as a power source under a standardised Green Certification program. when renewable energy becomes more abundant within the electrical grid.
“This would greatly benefit consumers and be especially viable when St. Lucia has met the initial target of 35 percent renewable energy by 2025. Furthermore, the purchase of ‘green energy’ under a green energy certification program would give businesses a boost by enabling them to market their facility as powered by renewable energy,” said Roderick.
Given that wind and geothermal generation projects are fraught with complexities, such as the difficulties associated with land acquisitions and obtaining consensus on land usage, this places added pressure on St. Lucia’s lone power company to close the gap in the race to achieve 35 percent renewable energy use in Saint Lucia within the next seven years.
As a result, the SLHTA believes the need for a collaborative approach in addressing St. Lucia’s renewable energy needs by involving all stakeholders, including the hospitality sector, has become more critical than ever.
“Considering how long it’s going to take to develop the other energy options, the most pragmatic pathway to meeting St. Lucia’s UNFCCC commitments is via the integration of a mix of renewable energy sources. The hospitality industry can play a vital role in helping to meet these targets and we look forward to doing so in collaboration with all the key players and the people of St. Lucia,” said Roderick.
St. Lucia’s Culinary Team Ready to Head for Miami for Taste of the Caribbean
Preparations for Taste of The Caribbean 2018 continued with the SLHTA’s hosting of a farewell dinner in support of the National culinary Team at the Sandals Golf and Country Club, Cap Estate on Friday (June 8).
It was the latest in a series of preparatory dinners organised by the SLHTA which served as practice sessions and public culinary demonstrations in order to allow the team to receive critical feedback from invited guests. The attendees included members of the SLHTA and the local business community.
Last Friday’s fine dining event featured another stellar performance by the 8-member team who showcased their best dishes, appetizers and desserts, featuring a mouth-watering mix of creative styles and flavours.
The offerings went down well with the guests, many of whom lauded the team for going the extra mile in crafting original and sumptuous culinary creations that displayed their innovative skills and fertile imaginations. The team’s bartender also wowed the diners with his masterful mix of cocktails and their signature taste.
During the dinner the SLHTA provided each guest with comment cards to provide feedback on the various dishes and cocktails, which were later presented to the team members to help them hone their skills further in preparation for the big day. The dinner was rated as the best in the series.
On Thursday, June 21, Team St. Lucia leaves for Miami where the competition will be held at the Hyatt Regency Miami from June 22 – 26.
The Team comprises of seven chefs and one bar tender:
Germain Sydney – Bartender – The Body Holiday Saint Lucia
Niguel Gerald –  Chef of the Year – Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort
Kisha Prosper – Chocolate Competition – Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort
Klent Abel – Seafood Competition – Marigot Bay Resort & Marina by Capella
Nissa Paul – Beef Competition – Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort & Spa
Billy Mauricette – Junior Chef Competition – Cap Maison
Robert McDonald – Pastry Competition – Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort
Richard Skinner -Team Manager – Coco Resorts
Main Sponsor – SLHTA’s Tourism Enhancement Fund
Other sponsors:
LUCELEC
DILLY’S SUPERMARKET
Massy Stores
Trans Caribbean
Saint Lucia Distillers Limited
Crown Foods
RJB Hotel Supplies
CPJ Saint Lucia Limited
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