Berthia Parle, president of the Caribbean Tourism Association (CHA), delivered a keynote speech last week during the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Marketplace 2006 in Puerto Rico´s San Juan. Her remarks sent a clear-cut message about the spirit and devotion that both her association and the Caribbean Tourism Organization are committed to taking even further in coming years.

As many as 12,000 companies and nearly 850 exhibitors have confirmed attendance at the 26th edition of the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) scheduled from January 25 to 29 in Madrid. This massive turnout of both companies and exhibitors accounts for a 1 percent and 4.3 percent increments, respectively, from 2005.

IPK International, one of the research organizations and consultancies in the tourism sector, will present an analysis of 2005 market trends for the first time at the ITB Berlin 2006, as well as 2006 forecasts for all the key tourism markets. The ITB World Travel Trend Report will be presented exclusively and for the first time at the ITB Convention Market Trends & Innovations on March 10. The extensive data will provide a detailed basis for gauging market trends. The press service by the ITB Berlin 2006 will issue brief reports on the most important trends in the run up to this year´s fair.

The new Puerto Rico Convention Center is hosting this week the Caribbean Marketplace 2006, and event that´s slated to come to a close on January 17. Hosted by the Caribbean Hotel Association, this is the first international meeting being held at the Center and has already drawn 1,500 delegates to the new state-of-the-art facility which opened November 17 last year.

The Dominican Republic´s Tourism Desk in Spain and Portugal will roll out a heavy promotional blitz of the country during the upcoming 26th edition of the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) to be held at the Madrid´s IFEMA Fairgrounds from January 25 to 29. Authorities are planning to throw most of the limelight on the provinces of Samana and Puerto Plata, a couple of breathtaking locations perched on the north coast that Dominican officials are bent on making two of the Caribbean´s finest travel destinations.

Members of the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry have arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the 26th edition of Caribbean Marketplace 2006, which kicked off Sunday, January 15, through Tuesday, January 17th, at the newly-inaugurated Puerto Rico Convention Center. The event is presented by the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) and American Express, with the support of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.