Press Release

The Valley, Anguilla (January 14, 2004) AHTA President Sherille Hughes and Executive Director Mimi Gratton were among a large delegation attending last week’s Caribbean Society of Hotel Assoication Executives (CSHAE) Leadership Conference in San Juan Puerto Rico.
Sponsored each year by Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) and American Express the Leadership Conference is a two day management seminar for the Elected Presidents and the chief paid executive of the member hotel associations of the CHA Fedreation. A record attendance was achieved this year as 42 delegates representing 22 National Associations participated in the conference.

This year’s conference focused on improved association management skills through the participation of guest speakers and group discussions. AHTA President Sherille Hughes expressed her satisfaction with the conference and applauded the efforts of each national hotel association in the region: “This was my first Leadership Conference so I went primarily as an observer” explained Hughes.” I am amazed at how many similarities there were between the various hotel associations in the region despite our difference in size and financial support.”
“We all have the same issues when it comes to access to funding and our ability to do all the things we do on a limited budget.” Hughes continued. “Most of the associations also mentioned the need for greater private-public sector partnerships in an effort to drive both the local and regional tourism product. I think everyone came away from the conference with a renewed sense of commitment and I know that we at the AHTA already have several initiatives that we are eager to launch.”
CSHAE’s annual general meeting and elections to the Board of Directors also took place during the Conference. AHTA Executive Director Mimi Gratton was re-elected to her sixth term as a member of the CSHAE Executive and retained her post as Secretary to the Board. Executive Director of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association Sue Springer was elected to her first term as President of CSHAE replacing Horace Hord who terminated his term a the head of CSHAE following his resignation as Executive Vice President of the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association.
The Caribbean Society of Hotel Association Executives is an independent organization for the professional development of national hotel association executives of all member countries of the Caribbean Hotel Association. The society is dedicated to advancing the value of tourism associations in the Caribbean and supporting the professionalism of the individuals who lead them. Founded in 1977, CSHAE has 33 individual members serving more than 10,000 tourism related companies region wide.

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