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Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Sets Speakers and Agenda
for Investment Conference

Will Bring Together Tourism Officials, Hoteliers, Developers,
Lenders at Bermuda Conference, April 14�16, 2009
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CORAL GABLES, FL (March 24, 2009) � The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) has announced the lineup of speakers and industry experts presenting at the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (CHTIC), taking place at the Fairmont Southampton in Bermuda, April 14�16, 2009.  The Opening Ceremony will start at 6 p.m. on April 14, with a welcome address from Bermuda Premier, Dr. the Hon. Ewart F. Brown, JP, MP, followed by the Welcome Reception which will feature a delightful sampling of the island's unique flavor of hospitality.

The most important investment conference in Caribbean history, CHTIC will feature keynote addresses from CHTA President Enrique De Marchena Kaluche and Humberto Rivero, Regional Director, International Air Transport Association (IATA).

�It is a pleasure to be holding this years' Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference on the shores of Bermuda,� said Dr. the Hon. Ewart F. Brown, JP, MP, Bermuda's Premier and Minister of Tourism and Transport. �There has been no time quite like the present for the Caribbean region to come together to stimulate tourism products with new investment.�

�The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference is the perfect forum to seek out and explore the opportunities that will improve and expand the Caribbean tourism infrastructure,� said Enrique De Marchena Kaluche, president of CHTA.

�This important and significant conference enables tourism officials, hoteliers, developers, lenders and other parties involved in the hospitality industry the opportunities to network, discuss and explore new strategies to bolster the momentum of growth we have achieved in the past few years,� added De Marchena Kaluche.

CHTA has lined up a comprehensive program of workshops and sessions focusing on pertinent developments which are completely changing the playing field in Caribbean hospitality investment and development.

The highly anticipated plenary session � The Outlook For The Caribbean: Where Are Things Headed? �  will address the current economic crisis and how it effects investment and development in the Caribbean hotel industry.  Moderated by James Burba, President, Burba Hotel Network, the panel feature experts including Avery Shenfield, Managing Director and Senior Economist, CIBC World Markets Inc.; Simon Townend, Partner, KPMG Corporate Finance; David F. Larone, Director, PKF Consulting; and Dwane T. Vinson, Vice President, Smith Travel Research.

A special panel led by Sutherland Partner, Victor Haley � The Equity Capital Markets: Who Will Lead In 2009 And Beyond? � will provide insight into the equities markets, focusing specifically on where and how new players will emerge as capital markets adjust.  Panelists will include Charles S. Henry, President, Hotel Capital Advisors, Inc.; Daniel C. Peek, Senior Managing Director, HFF; Bernie Siegel, Principal, KSL Capital Partners; and Al Young, Managing Director, Hospitality Acquisitions/Developments, Caribbean Property Group.

Delegates will also benefit from an extremely pertinent presentation by Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), who will discuss The Global Travel & Tourism Outlook & How The Caribbean Measures Up.
In addition, CHTA has planned 15 Breakout Sessions in order to provide strategic insights specific to the needs of members with varying backgrounds, however, one crucial session no one should miss will be Tourism Demand For The Caribbean: Which Way Is It Headed?  Moderated by Fernando Garcia-Chacon, Senior Vice President, Advisory Services, Jones Land LaSalle Hotels, the panel will include Cosimo Bruzzese, Director of Sales, Briggs and Head, Young Leaders SITE; and John S. Fareed, Partner, Fareed Zapala Koepke.

With global tourism expected to decrease by 2% in 2009 according to the U.N. World Tourism Organization there is much uncertainty in the industry, however one thing is abundantly certain: tourism investment in the Caribbean is absolutely crucial in order for the region to compete on a global scale.

While competition, capacity cuts and other obstacles have dealt a blow to Caribbean tourism, a good number of hoteliers and destinations are reporting high occupancy levels even during this crisis.  This proves that there are lucrative opportunities to be seized with those that possess the savvy � and financial backing � to do it.

After seeing more than $100 billion in investment in the Caribbean and breaking attendance records and at the 2008 convention, the 13th Annual Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference is the most crucially anticipated investment event in the region.
For more information on the program, or to register, please visit www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com/InvestmentConference.php, contact CHTA at 305-443-3040, or e-mail: [email protected].

CHTIC 2009

CHTIC was founded by CHA 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.

CHTIC 2009 is sponsored on the Patron level by FirstCaribbean International Bank, Interval International, and KPMG, and on the Platinum level by OBM International and The Registry Collection.

Gold Sponsors of CHTIC 2009 include: ARDA; ARDA Developments Magazine; Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP; Best Western International; Boyken International, Inc.; Carlson Hotels Worldwide; Choice Hotels International; Eventstar; GlobalHotelNetwork.com; Greenberg Traurig, LLP; Hilton Hotels Corporation; Hospitality Design; Invest SVG; Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels; Marriott International; PKF Consulting; Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP; WATG; and Wyndham Hotel Group.
Other organizations supporting CHTIC 2009 include the Caribbean-Central American Action (CCAA); International Finance Corporation (IFC); International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC); International Tourism Partnership (ITP); and World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) aims to facilitate the full potential of the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry by serving members' needs and building partnerships in a socially responsible and sustainable manner.  CHTA was founded in 1962; it is the voice of the Caribbean hospitality industry for the development of the region in the highly competitive and sophisticated environment of international tourism. Today, tourism is widely recognized as a pivotal industry in the economy of the region � and CHTA functions as the common denominator for this industry in a region of diverse nationalities, languages and styles, identifying mutual problems and marshalling the resources of the active and allied members to devise solutions. CHTA represents all facets of the hospitality industry with more than 800 member hotels and 750 allied members.
 

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Contact:

Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association
http://www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com
 

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Also See: The Caribbean Hotels and Tourism Association Names David Callaghan the Allied Member of the Year; Recognized for Ongoing Support of the Caribbean Hospitality Industry / January 2009
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