The President of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), Berthia Perle, has called on Jamaica´s Prime Minister, Percival J. Patterson, himself a former minister of tourism, to use his influence in persuading the rest of his CARICOM colleagues to convene a tourism summit to seriously look at the sector. Perle believes there are a number of obstacles, which, in her view are seriously affecting the further development of the tourism industry in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and they must be removed, reported Caribbean Net News.

Expedia and the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) have signed an agreement to become strategic partners. The GDS will highlight the group´s 849 hotels, and will work with those hotels to help them improve market themselves. Expedia will start this month to help educate CHA members about online distribution. Laura Veglia, regional director at Expedia and Hotels.com, said, "Expanding our relationship with the CHA will benefit the organization, its member hotels, and in turn help to drive increased tourism in the Caribbean", the Travel Agent magazine reported.

The Caribbean Hotel Foundation (CHF), a member of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), is summoning employees, professors and students linked to the region’s tourist industry to take a look at its 2005 scholarship program. Forms are available on the organization’s website at www.caribbeanhotelfoundation.org and at national hotel associations in each and every Caribbean country. Applications will start on January 1 through March 15. “The Caribbean hospitality industry is proud of making this contribution to the professional development of the Caribbean people. The scholarship program provides young professionals and students with a well-deserved opportunity to hone their skills and knowledge,” CHF Coordinator Gill Titcombe said.

Berthia M. Parle, MBE, President of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), praised the Caribbean Hotel Environmental Management Initiative (CHEMI) as an “example of the practical assistance needed by the small hotel sector to reduce their burdensome overhead costs.” Through the CHEMI project, the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) provides tools, assessment, and technical guidance to hoteliers in Anguilla, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent & the Grenadines.

The Puerto Rico Convention Bureau announced that is the proud recipient of several top industry awards, including Meetings & Conventions’ Gold Service Award, Successful Meetings’ 2004 Pinnacle Award and the 2004 Award of Excellence from Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine. This is the 15th consecutive year that the Bureau has received the prestigious Gold Service award, which honors Convention & Visitors Bureaus that have excelled in professionalism and dedication in their service to meeting professionals. This year also represents the 14th consecutive year that the Bureau won Successful Meetings’ Pinnacle Award. The Bureau has been recognized by Corporate & Incentive for seven consecutive years.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CHA) took time at the bustling London World Travel Market last week to dish out the Crystal Palm Award among those European partners that have made the most contribution to the development of the Caribbean travel industry. Four companies, one government and two individuals were presented with the high distinction. The awards, doled out at the fancy Renaissance Chancery Hotel in London, went to the government of St. Lucia, Air Jamaica, British tour operator Virgin Holidays, Irish travel agency Tropical Places Ireland, TTG Press & Publicity and to Sir Richard Branson. The Crystal Palm Awards were created in 1997.