CHTA Engages On Recovery Plans at Clinton Global Initiative

Miami, Florida – The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) was out in full force recently for the second formal meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery.

As this year's hurricane season approached its peak months, a number of the Association's senior officials were among more than 350 leaders from government, business, and civil society who participated in the important discussions convened by President Bill Clinton on August 7 amid various Caribbean nations' continued revival from hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.

CHTA President Patricia Affonso-Dass led a delegation that included CHTA Immediate Past President Karolin Troubetzkoy; Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Ledesma; Chief Marketing Officer Matt Cooper; Director of Membership Development, Martha Valdivia; and Director of Communications, Adriana Serna to the CGI forum at the University of Miami. 

As part of CHTA's multi-pronged and ongoing efforts to help islands recover from last year's devastating hurricane season, the Association's representatives contributed to many executive sessions which focused on continuing preparations for this year's storm activity and on addressing long-term recovery needs. Various sessions aligned with CHTA's strategic vision, including Being Prepared for Quicker Assistance, Building Long-Term Resilient Energy Systems and Investing in Workforce Development.

"This second meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative was extremely beneficial and we were pleased to engage with diverse partners as CHTA continues to actively participate in the recovery of hurricane-hit Caribbean destinations," said CHTA President Patricia Affonso-Dass.

"We are now assessing potential opportunities for collaboration to support our strategic focus areas and member needs and, over the coming months, CHTA looks forward to further outreaches to connections made during this important event," she added.

CHTA's involvement in CGI's deliberations followed closely on the heels of its announcement with nonprofit organisation, Tourism Cares, that their joint initiative - the Caribbean Tourism Recovery Fund - has raised more than US$275,000 in charitable donations to build long-term recovery and enhance the ability of hurricane-impacted destinations to rebound as quickly as possible. Donors' generosity has facilitated assistance to Caribbean nationals for training and education, restoring destination capacity, the physical restoration of tourism-related infrastructure, social enterprise development, job creation, hotel training, voluntourism, marketing and public relations support, and the environment.

Meanwhile, CHTA has produced a Disaster Preparedness Manual, which is in the process of being released to industry stakeholders. The purpose of the guide, financed by both the Caribbean Tourism Recovery Fund and Expedia, is to supplement local efforts to develop communications preparedness and the response and recovery process for CHTA members, national tourism organizations, and public and private sector industry stakeholders before, during and after a potential disaster. 

About the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is the Caribbean's leading association representing the interests of national hotel and tourism associations. For more than 50 years, CHTA has been the backbone of the Caribbean hospitality industry. Working with some 1,000 hotel and allied members, and 32 National Hotel Associations, CHTA is shaping the Caribbean's future and helping members to grow their businesses. Whether navigating new worlds like social media, sustainability, legislative issues, emerging technologies, climate change, data and intelligence or, looking for avenues and ideas to better market and manage businesses, CHTA is helping members on issues which matter most.

For further information, visit www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.

Greta Andzenge

Marketplace Excellence, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association

OECS Communications Unit

Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

Get updates in your mailbox

By clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy.

About The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

Back to www.oecs.int

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is an International Organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration, protection of human and legal rights, and the encouragement of good governance among independent and non-independent countries in the Eastern Caribbean. The OECS came into being on June 18th 1981, when seven Eastern Caribbean countries signed a treaty agreeing to cooperate with each other while promoting unity and solidarity among its Members. The Treaty became known as the Treaty of Basseterre, so named in honour of the capital city of St. Kitts and Nevis where it was signed. The OECS today, currently has eleven members, spread across the Eastern Caribbean comprising Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Martinique and Guadeloupe. 

Contact

Morne Fortune Castries Saint Lucia

+1758-455-6377

media@oecs.int

www.oecs.int