Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2026: Dominica's Gregor Nassief Elected New CHTA President
During the Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2026, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) announced the election of Dominican hotelier Gregor Nassief as its new president.
Nassief, a prominent figure in the luxury and ecotourism sectors, takes the helm following a voting process that underscores the industry's focus on sustainability and resilience.
The new president assumes leadership at a pivotal moment for global mobility, characterized by the need for deeper regional integration and adaptation to climate challenges. Nassief is widely recognized for his work leading Secret Bay and Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort in Dominica, properties that serve as blueprints for high-quality, low-impact hospitality development in the Caribbean.
A Mandate Focused on Resilience and Innovation
In his acceptance speech, Nassief outlined several strategic priorities intended to bolster the region's competitiveness and economic prosperity:
Advocacy: Strengthening the private sector's voice in dialogues with regional governments.
Connectivity: Improving inter-island air connectivity to facilitate easier travel across the archipelago.
Technology: Utilizing innovation to optimize the performance of small and medium-sized tourism enterprises.
Community Impact: Ensuring that the financial benefits of the sector filter effectively down to local communities.
Immediate Challenges and Regional Agenda
Nassief’s leadership begins with the urgent task of coordinating the sector’s response to the upcoming hurricane season. He will also address recent energy supply disruptions that have impacted several Caribbean destinations. Furthermore, he intends to spearhead efforts for multi-destination tourism, a strategy aimed at allowing travelers to visit multiple Caribbean nations under a single itinerary.
His election has been met with optimism by ministers and industry leaders in Antigua, who see his appointment as a vital step toward advancing a regenerative tourism agenda. Nassief has long championed the protection of natural resources as a primary economic asset, a philosophy he now aims to scale across the CHTA’s strategic regional network.
