Karen Whitt | 
02 19th, 2009| 
“TCI Hotel Association Makes Plans for 2009″
Turks and Caicos Free Press
January 31, 2009
On January 13, 2009, the Turks and Caicos Islands Hotel & Tourism Association (TCHTA) assembled for their first annual general meeting. Among the topics discussed were the occurrences that affected the islands tourism in 2008, such as the high fuel prices, global economic crisis, and the repercussions from both hurricane Hanna and Ike.
Chief Executive Officer, Caesar Campbell also discussed the plans and activities for 2009 to increase the island’s visibility in its major market sources and potential new markets. Topics included how to address and improve the island’s occupancy rate, to include an advertising and marketing co-operative effort in conjunction with hoteliers and major international publications. The association will also conduct a sales blitz in North America and attend various international industry trade shows throughout the year.
Karen Whitt, incoming President of the TCHTA stressed the importance of the membership and tourist organizations working closely together “to strengthen the Turks & Caicos Islands brand and to combat the current challenges facing the industry.”
Education and Training is an important arm of the association. In 2008, the Association made scholarship contributions to three students at the Community College to aid in their study of Hospitality and Tourism. The Committee will continue its work at improving Human Resource Management education and advise the association on related matters throughout 2009.
At the meeting, the newly elected board members were announced.
- Karen Whitt – President; General Manager, The Somerset Resort on Grace Bay
- Don Dajenais – Vice President; General Manager, Beaches Resort
- Butch Clare – Director; Resident Manager, Royal West Indies
- Monica Neumann – Director; General Manager, The Regent Palms
- Nikheel Advanti – Director; Managing Director, Grace Bay Resorts
- Stacy Cox – Director; Resort Manager, Royal West Indies
- Beverly Williams –Director; General Manager, Regent Village
- Eugene Burns – Director; General Manager, Comfort Suites
- Alvin Maier – Director; Representing Allied Members
- Caesar Campbell – Association Executive, Turks & Caicos Hotel & Tourism Association
- Nerdin St. Rose – Secretary, Bornewell Marketing Ltd
For the full online article, visit:
http://www.tcfreepress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=268:tci-hotel-association-makes-plans-for-2009&catid=13:featured-news&Itemid=69
You can also download it here:
http://www.thesomerset.com/portals/7/docs/Mediaclip/TCFreePress_Jan31-09.pdf
