Business View Caribbean - October 2016 11
Exchange Forum (CHIEF) in Puerto Rico, defines
the joint actions to be taken to effectively address
the sector’s needs primarily in the areas of energy
policy reform, research, and capacity development.
This initiative is largely directed at beneficiary coun-
tries under USAID CARCEP’s mandate – Antigua
and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamai-
ca, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and
the Grenadines. Hotel owners in these nations will
be equipped with access to technical tools, training
and other resources to help them understand and
adopt energy efficiency best-practices to reduce
their energy consumption.
Director general and CEO of CHTA, Frank Comito,
pledged, through the signing of this agreement, to
work closely with USAID CARCEP to advance the
work done under the Caribbean Hotel Energy Effi-
ciency and Renewable Energy Action (CHENACT)
program funded by the Inter-American Development
Bank (IDB) and conducted through CHTA and its re-
gional public sector counterpart organization the Ca-
ribbean Tourism Organization.
The agreement underscores CHTA’s commitment
to providing program-specific support to USAID
CARCEP, regionally and with designated countries,
hotels, hotel associations and public sector tourism
stakeholders.
“CHTA welcomes the support by the United States
government through its clean energy program, to
assist Caribbean hotels and countries in becoming
more energy efficient. The program brings to the
table new tools, resources and training, building
upon the foundational work undertaken with hotels
through the CHENACT program,” Comito stated.
This agreement symbolizes the start of what will
become a wider catalytic benefit for sustainable
growth in the region as reductions in energy con-
sumption will deliver environmental benefits as well
as improve regional economic competitiveness.
There are approximately 2,500 hotels that can profit
from this initiative.
“CHENACT touched more than 150 hotels in the re-
gion. Through USAID CARCEP, we will be able to
significantly expand the number of hotels and coun-
tries which can benefit from the program’s resourc-
es. Working with CHTA’s network of national hotel
and tourism associations throughout the region,
and with USAID CARCEP’s team, we look forward
to advancing new opportunities for our industry and
