The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), together with the St. Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association and the St. Lucia Tourist Board, are preparing to host Caribbean Marketplace 2009 for the first time in the Eastern Caribbean, Jan. 18-20, 2009 in Gros Islet, St. Lucia.

The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) has unveiled its new website –http://www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com/– designed to streamline pertinent information to the organization’s hotel and affiliate members, while allowing for new capabilities such as an online membership directory, access to CHTA publications, and the ability to register online for conferences and events.

The Caribbean Hotels Retreat, hosted by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) in conjunction with the St. Kitts & Nevis Hotel & Tourism Association and the St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino, took place last week and counted on St. Kitts & Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, who received a standing ovation for his energizing speech on the “need for governments in the Caribbean region to do more to support the small hotel group.” The prime minister’s address drew from his own efforts to improve “small hotel properties through an incentive system that would be tied into qualitative conditions” –a policy his government expects to have in place shortly.

The Caribbean Hotel Association has expanded its mandate and changed the name of the organization to reflect a broader constituency that represents the hospitality and tourism industry in the region and to accommodate the growing number of non-hotel members either joining or seeking to join the association.

Enrique De Marchena Kaluche, from the Dominican Republic, has become President of the Caribbean Hotel Association for 2008-2010 with a platform that includes goals to raise the level of awareness and respect for the hospitality and tourism industry by collaborating with governments and the people of the Caribbean.

Always a popular destination, Bermuda has laid low for the last year or two. But all signs are pointing to a major marketing push that could put this vacation spot in the forefront of beach destinations.