Aruba to Host 28th Annual Caribbean Hotel Association Marketplace in 2007

The Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) along with its private sector partners in the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association (AHATA), announced that the island has been picked as host for the 28th Annual Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) Marketplace 2007 to be held from January 14 to 16.

The choice of Aruba as the host nation for next year´s Caribbean Marketplace marks the first time ever a destination has been unanimously chosen by all CHA members and the first time that the host country has been handpicked more than six months prior to the event.

Widely recognized as the largest and single most important marketing event for the region, the Caribbean Marketplace attracts nearly 2000 industry professionals including noteworthy hoteliers from the Caribbean region, representatives from nearly 200 tour operators from around the world, Ministers and Directors of Tourism from other Caribbean destinations and nearly 50 members from the international travel press, all of whom are pre-qualified before receiving invitations.

It has been nearly 15 years since Aruba was home to this conference (1992) and the island is gearing up for an extremely productive Caribbean Marketplace filled with intense business transactions.

“The government of Aruba fully supports this event and will contribute extensively to guarantee that it becomes another successful event for Aruba, the local community and the tourism industry”, said Minister of Tourism and Transportation, Edison Briesen. “This conference will ensure that Aruba stays in the forefront of the international tourism industry.”

The Marketplace is held every year in January and it sets the tone for travel packaging in the Caribbean. The event is comprised of pre-qualified members in good standing only who come together for two days of prescheduled business appointments where buyers and suppliers meet face-to-face to discuss existing contracts, develop packages, and contract for future business.

Buyers are wholesalers, incentive buyers, meeting planners, group buyers and dive shop owners from all over the world. A range of suppliers from 36 different national hotel associations from the entire Caribbean will also be on hand for appointments with buyers.