San Juan, September 20, 2001-- The Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) has taken a proactive advocacy role in support of the Caribbean hospitality industry in the wake of the tragic incidents of September 11th.  In reaction to the damaging impact on Caribbean tourism of the airline crisis that has ensued, CHA President Ralph Taylor has sent a letter to the President of the United States George Bush, on behalf of CHA�s membership in 35 Caribbean jurisdictions.

The letter offers CHA�s full support to the airline industry�s request for financial assistance by the US Government.  �The airline and hospitality industries are very much interdependent,� explained John Bell, director general and CEO of CHA.  �Because the airlines� stability impacts the hotel sector directly, it is our duty to support their plea in this continuing crisis,� he added.

The missive to President Bush conveys solidarity with the United States and appeals to the special circumstances currently impacting the US
airlines.  �While even limited failure of the US airline industry would have devastating effects on an already sensitive American economy, for us
in the Caribbean it would be terminal, dependent as we are on tourism for one in every four jobs and a contribution to GDP of more than 70% in some countries,� said Taylor in his letter to President Bush.  �Mr. President, against this background, we strongly petition your support for the US airline industry�s plea for financial assistance to tide them over this catastrophic period, so that we can all prosper in the medium to long term, when the global war against terrorism has been won,� he concluded. 

Since the tragic events of September 11th, the Association has made its response to the emergency at hand a priority in support the Caribbean
hospitality industry.  �CHA has been on alert around the clock since the tragic events of last week,� said Lorraine J. Ortiz-Valcárcel, director of
communications of CHA.  �We have served as a conduit between all stakeholders, constantly interacting with our members, the national hotel
associations and tourist boards, the airline carriers, and other international travel and tourism-related organizations � and we will continue to do
so for as long as necessary,� she added.

CHA is dedicated to excellence in hospitality, leadership in marketing, and sustainable growth in tourism, to the benefit of its membership and that of the wider Caribbean community.  The members of CHA represent the entire spectrum of hospitality industry�s private sector, from over 1,100 member hotels in 35 national hotel associations, to allied members including airline executives, tour operators, travel agents, trade and consumer press, hotel and restaurant suppliers, and others.  CHA is headquartered is in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and maintains an office in Miami, Florida.