May 27, 2022
Caribbean tourism leaders had a spirited discussion at the Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) in Florida last week about how their nations and territories survived the pandemic and their plans to woo investors in the future. We summarize the discussion below.
Minister Ernest Hilaire, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information, St. Lucia
- Need to construct a tourism industry that is sustainable with citizens and communities driving and promoting authentic experiences for visitors; communities must benefit
- In April, St. Lucia’s arrivals from the U.S. increased by 12% compared with April 2019; U.K. arrivals are up similarly by 14%
- The ease of doing business must be clearly established
- Greater, transparent communication between governments and investment community is important
- With global supply chain issues, increasing local linkages and addressing issues of dependence on imports and fossil fuels is key
- Need to build resilience, greater adaptation and more mitigation
- Training is key
Minister Erwin Saunders, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, Trade and Investment, Turks and Caicos
- TCI is among the top 5 tourism-dependent countries in the world
- The consumer is king and the tourist is king; improving customer service is key
- Long-term plans to replace airport – to be the best in the region
- Ministers should be available to help drive home investment deals
- Governments should not overtax tourism; win-win relationships are important; governments should be lean and efficient
- The private sector is our partner; working together is critical
- “We are going to best our best.”
Commissioner Joseph Boschulte, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism
- Sixty percent of GDP is based on tourism
- USVI fine-tuned tourism strategy during the COVID period with a focus on overnight visitors
- Cruise tourism is returning; both sectors will work well once managed efficiently
- Managing expectations and understanding local government policies and culture are key for investors
- The realities of a successful product are predicated on a strong infrastructure
- The Caribbean’s resilience during the pandemic was admirable
Working with Caribbean destinations can be a catalyst for growth within the region
Tourism legend John Bell receives coveted Lifetime Achievement Award at CHRIS
- In a fitting tribute to an industry icon, organizers of the Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) bestowed upon John Bell the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award
- Bell launched a Caribbean investment conference (the precursor to CHRIS) that was instrumental in driving the region’s strong investment growth over the past several decades
- Bell managed hotel properties in St. Vincent and Trinidad
- The veteran tourism executive was named the first CEO of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) in 1974
- Bell served as President of the Paris-based International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IH&RA)
Former CHTA CEO and Director General Alec Sanguinetti accepted the award on behalf of Bell.
MPE on the Move
The Marketplace Excellence (MPE) team of President Bevan Springer (right) and Vice President – Operations Greta Andzenge (center), pictured here with Bill Clegg, Regional Director, Franchise Development, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, attended CHRIS in Hollywood, Florida last week where stakeholders gathered for two days of meetings and networking as they explored tourism investment challenges and opportunities.
Park Hyatt St. Kitts welcomes new GM
- Veteran hotelier Richard Elliott has been appointed General Manager of Park Hyatt St. Kitts
- Elliott will oversee the resort’s operations, including its 126 guest rooms and suites, five restaurants and bars, and 7,000 square feet of event space
- Elliott’s Hyatt career spans 17 years, and he has held leadership positions with properties across four brands, including Hyatt Centric, Hyatt Regency, Grand Hyatt and Andaz
- Most recently, he was the General Manager of the Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach, where he drove RevPAR growth and enhanced sustainability initiatives and programming
Park Hyatt St. Kitts is set within Christophe Harbor on Banana Bay with unobstructed views of the Caribbean Sea and neighboring Nevis.