THE CARIBBEAN (March 12, 2012) - The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year and to mark the momentous occasion, CHTA, in conjunction with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and Jamaica, is hosting a Caribbean Tourism Summit June 15-16, 2012 at the Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall in Jamaica.

The Caribbean Tourism Summit is open to all tourism and hospitality industry personnel in the region and will feature general sessions that will focus on the following topics:

• International Aviation Policy - Its Impact on Caribbean Tourism
• A Review of Existing Airlift Into and Within the Caribbean and Projections for Future Development
• How Competitive is the Caribbean Vacation Experience?
• Caribbean Hotels - Are They Being Upstaged by Competitors from the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia?
• People to People: The Importance of Service, Not Only in Hotels and Restaurants, but with Taxis, Shopping and in Government Services

"CHTA's Golden Jubilee marks a historic occasion in the Caribbean hospitality and tourism industry," said Josef Forstmayr, president of CHTA. "The Caribbean Tourism Summit brings to the forefront those discussions and topics that are crucial to our development as we begin our next 50 years," he added.

"This is an exciting time for the Caribbean as we celebrate this golden milestone and, at the same time, turn a page in our strategy for developing the Caribbean brand as we embark on new public and private sector cooperation in marketing our region," said Richard "Ricky" Skerritt, Minister of Tourism for St. Kitts and Chairman of CTO.

"This is Jamaica's 50th year of independence," says John Lynch, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism, "which is a perfect backdrop for hosting this historic Caribbean Tourism Summit. There are several 50th anniversary activities which will enhance the experience for participants of the summit. We look forward to showcasing our unique culture at this prestigious event."

The Caribbean Tourism Summit will also feature the presentation of coveted industry awards including Caribbean Employee of the Year, Caribbean Supervisor of the Year, Caribbean Allied Member of the Year, Caribbean Association Executive of the Year and Caribbean Hotelier of the Year.

The Caribbean Tourism Summit culminates with a 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee Gala Dinner at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on June 16, 2012 at 7 pm.

Registration for the Caribbean Tourism Summit includes all educational sessions, two coffee breaks, one lunch and the Golden Jubilee Dinner.

CHTA Member Hotels and Government Representatives
• Regular registration: US$350 per person (until May 4, 2012)
• Late registration: US$400 per person (after May 4, 2012)

Non-Members
• Regular registration: US$500 per person (until May 4, 2012)
• Late registration: US$550 per person (after May 4, 2012)

Individual tickets for the Golden Jubilee Gala Dinner
• Regular registration: US$150 per person (until May 4, 2012)
• Late registration: US$175 (after May 4, 2012)

Hotel Accommodations
CHTA has secured a group rate of US$135 per night at the Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort and Half Moon, a Rock Resort, both located in Rose Hall, Jamaica. Taxes and service charges are additional. The rate is available on bookings made by May 13, 2012.

Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsorship opportunities are available at US$5,000.00 for companies seeking to elevate their presence at this prestigious event. Sponsors will be highlighted throughout the conference, as well as in CHTA's marketing and public relations activities leading up to and following the event. For information about sponsoring the Caribbean Tourism Summit, contact Gabi Doria at 305-443-3040 or email: [email protected].

Individuals looking to attend the event can contact CHTA Conferences and Events, 305-443-3040 or email: [email protected].

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. Celebrating its Golden Jubilee in 2012, CHTA 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 375 allied members.