Virgin Island residents play key tourism roles
Supporting initiatives to increase regional tourism
virginvoices.com staff
The U.S. Virgin Islands is assuming a more visible role in regional tourism, with the election of two Virgin Islanders to prominent posts in Caribbean tourism.
Richard Doumeng, owner of Bolongo Beach Resort in St. Thomas, will become president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) in June. Lisa Hamilton, president, United States Virgin Islands Hotel and Tourism Association was elected President of the Caribbean Society of Hotel Association Executives (CSHAE) for a two-year term at Caribbean Travel Marketplace held at Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas January 22 to 24.
Doumeng calls it “extraordinary” that two Virgin Islanders would simultaneously serve in these pivotal roles.
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA will celebrate its. Golden Jubilee in 2012, CHTA is the voice of the Caribbean hospitality industry for the development of the region’ in the competitive environment of international tourism, CHTA represents all facets of the hospitality industry with more than 725 member hotels and 525 allied members. Doumeng, who is currently first vice president, will succeed current CHTA president Josef Forstmayr, general manager of Round Hill Resort and Villas in Jamaica.
Lisa Hamilton, succeeds Frank Comito, executive vice president of the, Bahamas Hotel Association as president of CSHAE. Other newly y elected officials of the CSHAE include vice president Gilda Gumbs-Samuel, executive director, Anguilla Hotel & Tourism Association, treasurer Neil Forrester, general manager, Antigua Hotels & Tourism Association and secretary Noorani Azeez, St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association. Hamilton in her capacity as president of CSHAE will serve as a member of CHTA’s executive committee
The United States Virgin Islands has always been actively involved in CHTA activities and made a strong presence at 30th anniversary of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association's (CHTA) Marketplace in the Bahamas, the annual business networking event, sponsored by CHTA.
The USVI delegation to Caribbean Travel Marketplace was led by Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty who attended pre-convention meetings with Caribbean ministers and commissioners of tourism.
Deputy Tourism commissioner Chantal Figueroa and the Department of Tourism’s marketing coordinator Chantel Hoheb scheduled over 40 appointments with those interested in doing business in the Virgin Islands. Representatives from a number of the US Virgin Islands' leading hotels and resorts, including Buccaneer Hotel in St. Croix, Best Western Emerald Beach and Best Western Carib Beach Resorts, Bolongo Bay Resort, Sugar Bay Resort and Spa Windward Passage Hotel in St. Thomas. Caneel Bay and Gallows Point Resort in St. John also promoted their properties and the Virgin Islands while in the Bahamas.
Photos: Top Lisa Hamilton and Richard Doumeng at a CHTA event, Caribbean Travel Marketplace opening ceremony tribute to the USVI, Chantal Hoheb and Chantal Figueroa at the USVI booth, Karla Shatzer and Akhil Deshwal representing Gallows Point Resort in St. John.
All Caribbean Travel Marketplace photos by Maura Curley
Print this Article
Click Here to Add a Comment