Looking for energy efficient, centrally located and green oriented hotel that caters to the corporate client, then think Sonesta Hotel in downtown Orlando. This less than one year old recently purchased ex-Sheraton is undergoing a green evolution according to General Manager Mark Moravec. Located on Lake Ivanhoe, with 341 spacious and contemporary decorated guest rooms it offers comfort in an urban environment with easy access to shopping, downtown businesses, entertainment and cultural attractions. Only blocks away is Interstate-4 (cross town expressway) ensuring rapid access to local and more distant tourism attractions?

Situated on 500 acres along a mile-long section of tropical beach adjacent to the Caribbean National Rain Forest of El Yunque and the Mameyes River, Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa, a Wyndham Grand Resort, is going to be hosting two important events of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association in September. Those are the “Taste of the Caribbean”, and “Small Hotels Retreat”.

This is a man who built on himself by forging one of Europe’s most competitive travel companies with each passing day –the only vertical-integrated company left in Spain- and who shattered the old saying that says that “no man is a prophet in his own land. With an overwhelming personality, rock-solid character and –as his aides put it- tremendous humaneness, he’s a heck of a good friend and an implacable tiger for his foes. Smart, brisk, bold, accessible, knowledgeable of what the market has to offer, a lover of soccer and above all a hardworking man who’s always open to suggestions and new ideas, this man has built an empire from the ground up.

DFASS is a duty-free company that has been providing airport services and onboard airline services for over 20 years. However, it has also branched out into other areas of the travel retail segment, giving passengers the chance to make catalog purchases with pre-order and mail order conveniences. Its full-fledged infrastructure and logistics –two issues broached briefly by Mr. Perez in this interview- allows the company to be one of the World’s most efficient and recognized companies.

San Juan de Puerto Rico (Special for Caribbean News Digital) – Wrapping up the last day (May 7, 2010) of the CHTIC, we have the input of the Secretary General of the CTO, Mr. Hugh Riley, commenting that this was an “extremely stimulating conference with excellent information, views, opinions and overall very encouraging for us.”

We have interview Mrs. Nicole Alleynen, Chief Development Officer of BTA, about the upcoming Sustainable Development Tourism Conference, (STC), to be held on the Island of Barbados, May 9-12, 2010.