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Antiguan Dream
With lush views and clear water, Antigua is a prototypical island paradise. However, it also has a unique culture all its own
- See more at: http://www.lipulse.com/trends/article/antiguan-dream#sthash.jmTT3ekQ.dpuf
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AHTA leads the charge in Zika preparedness for the nation’s tourism industry
The AHTA is arming the local tourism industry with tools to pre-emptively strike at the Zika virus, hosting the comprehensive Vector Control & Mosquito Eradication Seminar for industry professionals last Friday. AHTA general manager, Neil Forrester, said the workshop was crafted to give tourism and hospitality industry workers the information necessary to better protect tourists and staff from the virus.
“The Zika virus has not yet arrived in Antigua, but we have to work to mitigate the risk of it arriving and if it does arrive, of its spread. To do this we have to fight the Aedes aegypti mosquito,” the general manager said.
He continued, “Prevention, vector control and personal deterrents will go a long way in reducing the amount of Zika outbreaks, should the virus arrive on island.”
Participants—ranging from hotel management to grounds staff— listened intently as local vector control specialist, Brian Edwards, outlined a four-pronged approach to targeting and reducing the mosquito population. Full story here
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Video and Reference material
Be sure to visit the CAST Zika Resource Center for more information, infographics, guides, webinar recording and more regarding the mitigation of the Zika Virus.
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The AHTA is proud to announce its partnership with STR, the hotel industry’s leading data provider.
The AHTA and STR are working together to track the lodging performance of the region so that we may better serve you, our members. STR’s position as an independent, third party data provider makes them the perfect source for historical information. Their work will allow the AHTA to see a clear picture of our region’s performance in the industry.
STR also provides hotels with the marketing intelligence they need to make important decisions. All major chains and thousands of independents already participate with STR, including a growing number of properties in our region. STR’s great customer service and their attention to confidentiality have helped make them the world’s foremost source of lodging industry data for over 20 years.
Participating in STR’s bench-marking reports allows you to compare your hotel’s performance to your local market and selected competitive set on a monthly basis.
Your participation will help us all; you will benefit from the market insight you receive in your STR report, and the data you provide will be used to compile region-wide figures that will help us in our efforts. Please remember, STR always keeps your proprietary data confidential.
We hope you will take advantage of this new AHTA member benefit. If you have any questions about STR’s bench-marking reports, please contact the AHTA office.
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Training Update
Our Italian classes will commence from March 3rd with only Beginners every Thursdays. The classes will run for twelve weeks with a great curriculum that will introduce the students to grammar, phonetics, vocabulary and oral. Signora Cristina Ascarelli, a native of Italy, will return as the facilitator and promises that the class will be fun with sessions of role play and visuals. The cost of the course is EC$ 400.00 per term.
We are bringing back our Wedding Coordinator Certification two day workshop from April 12th to 13th. This two day event will teach you how to be a successful wedding planner. We have partnered with a very credible, and reputable organization called the The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada Inc www.wpic.ca . This course will be facilitated by Ms Sue Morris, certified wedding specialist, and will start from 9 – 5pm (both days) at the Antigua Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute. This certification program has a cost, but we have received a discounted rate that can only be given through our Association. Please see the attached registration form. Our fees are EC$1500 members, and EC$1750.00 for non-members.
Your fee includes the following: course instructions, course manual, notepad, pen, examinations, certificate, tea, coffee, refreshments and three course lunch. Please click on this link for the course curriculum: http://wpic.ca/courses-offered/certificate-in-wedding-planning-and-coordination/
Full payment must be made to ensure your confirmation and can be done with credit card, debit card, cheque or cash. Cheques should be written to the AHTA
For information on any of our training programmes please contact Anthea in the AHTA office.
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Curtain Bluff donates to Old Road Primary School
The owner of Curtain Bluff Resort, Michelle Hulford and Managing Director Robert Sherman recently handed over four shelves and a number of books to add to the library at the Old Road primary School. Curtain Bluff donated US$1,000.00 to Hands Across the Sea towards the purchasing of the gifts. Principal of the school Ryona Joseph aceepted the donation and expressed her appreciation to Curtain Bluff for the partnership it has forged with the school.
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US Travel Shows
On the weekend of 20th and 21st February Antigua & Barbuda will be represented at two major travel shows in the US and we invite you to join with.
Firstly the ABTA New York office with Dean Fenton will be at the Boston Globe Travel Show . This is one of the most important travel shows in the north east and attracts well over 20.000 visitors each year over the three days.
The same weekend sees the Travel & Adventure Show in Washington DC and the AHTA will be partnering with the ABTA to represent the destination at this show. The AHTA attended last year’s edition and this was another well attended show with over 20.000 visitors.
If you would like to attend either of these shows or would like to provide us with promotion material please contact us.
Let’s show our support to the US market.
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Caribbean performance & outlook study shows tourism growth driving increases in employment and investments; 2016 Promising
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) has released the results of its first annual Industry Performance and Outlook survey, indicating a cautious, but positive period as reported by the region’s hospitality and tourism industry stakeholders. The growth in occupancies and revenue stimulated job growth and increased capital expenditures by hoteliers throughout the region.
The majority of respondents indicate a strong to moderate performance throughout 2015 with optimistic forecasts for 2016 despite prevalent concerns over profitability due to increased costs outpacing average daily rate (ADR) growth in a globally competitive industry. Full details here
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Bob Marley Foundation joins the Sandals Foundation to empower women
Iconic Caribbean Brands Join Forces to Introduce Women Helping Others Achieve (WHOA), Providing Opportunities for Marginalized Caribbean Women and Youth
Two of the Caribbean’s most influential brands, the Sandals Foundation and The Bob Marley Foundation, are joining forces to address the chronic issue of gender inequality in the Caribbean with the introduction of Women Helping Others Achieve (WHOA).
WHOA is a multi-year women's empowerment program designed to provide support, mentorship, education and skills training to help marginalized women across Jamaica and the Caribbean find inspiration and strength to transform their lives and, in doing so, positively impact their families and communities for generations to come.
According to Heidi Clarke, Director of Programs for the Sandals Foundation, gender inequality remains a pervasive problem in the developing world and its legacy is poverty, not only for women, but for families and ultimately entire communities. “Through WHOA, we have an opportunity to address and close the gender gap, which is essential to our region’s ability to break the cycle of poverty,” says Clarke. “It’s a paradox…two thirds of the world’s illiterate are female yet studies show that even just one additional year of education for women of reproductive age can reduce child mortality by 9.5%. This fact alone speaks volumes and I believe, together, we can touch so many lives through this wonderful relationship.” Full story here
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Tickets are available from the AHTA Office
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Newsletter 48 -
