THE CARIBBEAN (July 22, 2011) - The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) have announced that the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino in San Juan, Puerto Rico will be the host venue for the Annual Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (CHTIC) in 2012 and 2013. CHTIC 2012 will take place April 24-26, 2012, while CHTIC 2013 is scheduled for May 7-9, 2013.

"We have chosen Puerto Rico as the host destination for these crucial investment focused events for the next two years because of increased airlift options available to potential delegates traveling from the Caribbean as well as internationally," said Josef Forstmayr, president of CHTA. "We expect the number of representatives from the Caribbean's leading public and private sector tourism industries will increase as a result thereby creating what is anticipated to be the biggest showing of potential lenders, investors, developers and design firms ever assembled in one place," he added.

"Investment in the Caribbean tourism industry is paramount to the local economies across the region. During my tenure as CHTA President, I have expressed that a successful tourism development program requires Caribbean tourism leaders come together to attract the necessary investments which are needed to allow the region to maintain its attractiveness and visibility in a highly competitive industry. The CHTIC event provides a forum for these discussions," noted Forstmayr.

"The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference is a valuable event for all Caribbean government and private sector officials" said Minister Ricky Skerritt, CTO Chairman. "This important conference focuses on the need for Caribbean governments to work closely with the private sector to promote investment and maximize the earnings potential of Tourism for our region and our people."

Sponsorship opportunities are available for companies seeking to elevate their presence at these prestigious events. Sponsors will be highlighted throughout the conferences, as well as in CHTA's marketing and public relations activities leading up to and following the event. The Sponsors' Exhibit will also afford direct contact with representatives of sponsoring companies and will be open throughout the conference.

Immediately following the conference, CHTA will host its committee meetings, Board of Directors meeting and the Annual General Meeting.

Building on the momentum achieved in recent years with a growing interest in Caribbean tourism development, CHTIC is staged by two not-for-profit organizations - CHTA and the CTO. CHTA represents the regional hotel and tourism associations and CTO is the public sector tourism body which represents the countries of the region. All funds from the conference are reinvested in the region for the benefit of the Caribbean tourism industry. 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.

For more information about CHTIC 2012 and CHTIC 2013 - including sponsorship opportunities - contact CHTA at 305-443-3040, e-mail [email protected] or visit http://www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.

Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) facilitates 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 marshaling the resources of the active and allied members to devise solutions. CHTA represents all facets of the hospitality industry with more than 725 member hotels and 525 allied members.

For more information, visit http://www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.

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