CORAL GABLES, FLA.—Building on the momentum achieved in recent years with a growing interest in Caribbean tourism development, the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), in conjunction with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), have announced the dates for the 14th Annual Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (CHTIC). It will be held May 4 to 6, 2010 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center.
“This will be the fourteenth year of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association and the Caribbean Tourism Organization co-managing the region’s most successful and longest-standing tourism investment event and we anticipate a very well attended and supported conference hosted by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC), the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association (PRHTA) and the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau (PRCB),” said Enrique De Marchena Kaluche, president of CHTA.
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference brings together hoteliers, tourism officials, developers, bankers and other lenders as well as others interested in Caribbean tourism, to discuss and plan investment strategies for the region.
Funds Reinvested in Region
CHTIC, the official tourism investment conference of the Caribbean, is managed by the region’s public and private sector organizations—CHTA (the regional hotel association) and CTO (the public sector tourism body)—and is the only event of its kind which is staged by the region’s not-for-profit organizations, with all funds being reinvested in the region for the benefit of the Caribbean tourism industry.
“While these difficult economic times have to some extent slowed the flow of capital, it was evident from our recent conference in April that there is strong interest in Caribbean tourism development and it is absolutely crucial that the Caribbean look ahead in order to ensure our sustainability for the future,” De Marchena Kaluche said.
“The 2010 investment conference next May will play a pivotal role in determining the nature and trajectory of tourism-related investments in the region,” he added.
“The Puerto Rico Tourism Company is hosting CHTIC to showcase opportunities Puerto Rico offers as an investment and business destination,” stated Mr. Jaime López Díaz, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.
Building a Stronger Caribbean Product
“This conference provides the venue and opportunities to create ties among all Caribbean tourism industry elements and build a stronger and more unified Caribbean destination product for Puerto Rico and the region as a whole,” added López Díaz.
“CHTIC 2009 marked a major development in our approach to Caribbean investment with greater emphasis placed on the ‘greening’ of our tourism product in response to the rising cost of energy, climate change and the rapidly emerging environmentally conscious segment of the global tourism market,” noted De Marchena Kaluche. “Several major organizations have already confirmed their sponsorship support for Caribbean Marketplace which is indicative of the importance of the 2010 event being held in Puerto Rico.”
CHTIC was founded by CHTA and CTO in 1997 with the specific objectives of improving the tourism investment and operating climate in the Caribbean, raising awareness of development opportunities and stimulating a continuing flow of equity and loan capital into the region.
Click here for more information on CHTIC 2010.
