DOMINICAN REPUBLIC—In its 2010-2011 election, the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association’s (CHTA) environmental arm, the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST), recently re-elected Sir Royston O. Hopkin, KCMG, owner and chairman of Grenada’s award-winning Spice Island Beach Resort, as chairman of CAST for the fourth consecutive, two-year term.
“CHTA is delighted that Sir Royston has been re-elected as the chairman of CAST by the CAST Governing Council,” said Alec Sanguinetti, CD—director general & CEO of CHTA. “Sir Royston has been at the forefront of sustainable tourism issues from the very beginning working tirelessly to ensure the sustainability of the Caribbean hospitality industry, and has always exhibited the necessary dedication, perseverance and professionalism.”
“It has been a true pleasure to serve on a council that understands the importance of not only implementing environmentally friendly practices, but encouraging the entire region to engage in these initiatives,” Hopkin said. “With climate change set to be the major issue of the next decade, global attention will be on the Caribbean, as our region will be one of the most adversely affected. What we do today will set the stage for much wider global initiatives and we are prepared to face these environmental challenges with great resolve and ingenuity.”
Other Elected Participants
Haydée Raineri, senior vice president of hospitality and human resources for Group Punta Cana, was elected as deputy chairman. Other Governing Council members elected to serve for the next two years include Bill Meade, vice president and partner of PA Consulting Group; Tim Peck, CEO Caribbean of OBM International; Frank Comito, president of the Caribbean Society of Hotel Association Executives (CSHAE), and Enrique De Marchena Kaluche, president of CHTA.
During the Annual Governing Council meeting, sessions were held to discuss issues relating to the initiatives that the institution is implementing, with special focus on the Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency Action project (CHENACT), which is currently being executed in Barbados in conjunction with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). The goal of the $2 million CHENACT project is to drive Caribbean hotels to implement energy efficient practices and to generate their own renewable energy. This, in turn, is expected to enhance their competitiveness through improved energy use.
CAST is a nonprofit entity established in 1997 to promote responsible environmental and social management of natural and heritage resources respectively within the hotel and tourism sector.
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