Caribbean Hotel, Travel Industries to Tackle Global Tourism Challenges at CHIC 2006

The members of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) will convene at the annual Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference, better known as CHIC 2006, to be held from June 25 to 28 at the Hyatt Regency Miami, in Florida, in association with American Express.

The agenda of the four-day conference will be in tune with CHA´s mission to max out the full potential of the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry. To that end, sessions will focus on strategic approaches for the Caribbean hotel sector to respond to the global tourism challenge.

The CHIC 2006 Opening General Session will set the stage with a discussion on global competition, the world traveler, and where the Caribbean fits. The audience-interactive session will set out the success of competing global destinations, such as Las Vegas, Macau, and Dubai, and determine the comparable values in the Caribbean brand.

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is teaming up with CHA, as sponsor of two high-level discussions: “Winning in a Branded World – Case Studies in Innovation and Creativity” and “Change, Change, Change – the Reality of Consumers.”

“The HSMAI track at CHIC 2006 will open the eyes of our industry to new techniques that capitalize on innovation and creativity to grow market share, turn guest experience into a unique competitive advantage, and ultimately compete successfully against the growing global marketplace,” said Alec Sanguinetti, director general and CEO of CHA.

Caribbean cuisine is a showcase of our region´s character that offers a genuine Caribbean experience to our visitors, while strengthening and expanding other economic sectors, such as agriculture. Once again, national teams of Caribbean chefs, pastry chefs and bartenders will put the spotlight on Caribbean cuisine and tourism at the regional culinary competition Taste of the Caribbean 2006 at CHIC.

CHIC 2006 will culminate with a closing gala black-tie gala dinner to honor the “2006 Caribbean Hotelier of the Year” and the Caribbean Food and Beverage Awards of Excellence, highest honors conferred on members of the Caribbean food and beverage industry.

In addition, CHA President-Elect Peter Odle, from Barbados, will officially assume the reins of the association for the 2006-2008 term.