Business View Caribbean | September 2019

25 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN SEPTEMBER 2019 to review. We’ll also be weaving in a component on that at our Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF).” BVC: How will CHTA continue to be a viable voice in the future? Comito: “We are fortunate to have commitments by many in our industry to help make a positive difference. CHTA is the vehicle for doing that. We are guided by a strategic plan which reflects the interests and needs of our industry and the region. “We need to continue to drive tourism’s development and its importance in the region through collaboration and engagement with all stakeholders. Making the connection between our industry’s performance and how it helps to create jobs, upward mobility, spin-off entrepreneurial activity, and a multiplier tax revenue affect which helps to build infrastructure, schools, roads, hospitals, etc.– that’s the steady guiding hand and counseling voice we need to exert. “While focusing on this, we also must be stronger advocates for our strength of product. We need to help build demand, enticing more people to discover the diversity of the Caribbean, the foods, the culture, and the incredible natural environment, and want to experience more of it. We play into that with our Tastes of the Caribbean event and our recently-added Caribbean 305 event. It’s a celebration of our incredible culinary and libation offerings in the region, set up as a party in a village environment where people can come and taste over 50 Caribbean tapas items and a variety of drinks and enjoy the music. This year, it was hosted at the Mana Wynwood Convention Center in Miami. We also hosted CHIEF at that time - three great activities going on in South Florida in the 3rd week of June. “We also hold a B2B event every January called Caribbean Travel Marketplace that attracts buyers from around the world – over 1000 attendees, this year. It’s a great opportunity to showcase destinations and hotels and attractions throughout the region. Next January, it will be held in the Bahamas at the Baha Mar Resort. CAR I BBEAN HOTEL & TOUR I SM ASSOC I AT ION (CHTA)