Discussion panels and workshops at the Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference & Operations Summit (CHICOS) will focus on key subjects impacting the investment climate in the Caribbean including available capital, mixed-use development and other investment opportunities in the region. CHICOS is scheduled Nov. 13-14, 2014 at theHard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

Staged by HVS, the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), CHICOS bring together more than 300 regional and international investors and operators as well as the region’s leading decision makers.

Panelists at CHICOS will examine providing capital to the region, all-inclusive properties, profitability of sustainable hotels and Caribbean nations in which to invest with conference sessions as follows:

The outlook for investors as shared by capital providers and advisors

Examples of successful mixed-use projects

All-Inclusive properties and the impact on European Plan hotels

The success of sustainable hotels and tourism developments in the region

Guidelines to assist you in determining which hotel and market segment to target

Discussion of which countries are now “hot” for investment

Confirmed industry executives speaking at CHICOS include:

Craig Smith, President, Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International

Marco Roca, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer, Hard Rock International

Kenny Blatt, Principal & COO Hospitality, CPG Real Estate

David Callaghan, Vice President, Resort Sales and Service, Interval International

Reynaldo Ramirez, Director, Eastern Mexico/Dominican Republic, Resort Sales and Service, Interval International

Jeffrey S. Vasser, CHA, Director General and CEO, CHTA

Hugh Riley, Secretary General, CTO

“CHICOS is honored to have such distinguished speakers meet and network at our event and bring together representation from throughout the region and beyond,” says Mr. Parris Jordan, Chairman of the CHICOS conference and Managing Director of HVS in the Caribbean. “History has shown us that our attendees represent interests from the U.S. and Canada, South America, Central America, nearly two dozen Caribbean nations, various European countries, China, Hong Kong and countries in the Middle East.”

“CHTA member hoteliers looking to finance developments in order to secure their long-term viability in this competitive marketplace will find CHICOS indispensable,” said Jeffrey S. Vasser, CHA, director general and CEO for CHTA. “From a networking standpoint as well as resource for information with thought-provoking workshops and discussions, the two-day event will offer exceptional content,” Vasser added.

Last year’s 300 attendees included delegates from Anguilla, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Panama, Puerto Rico, Spain, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten/St. Martin, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos, United Kingdom, United States, U.S. Virgin Islands and Venezuela.

CHICOS 2014 will have delegates and speakers from governmental representatives, opinion leaders, developers, bankers and other lenders, tourism officials, investment funds, hotel chain executives, individuals/companies seeking investors for their tourism projects, franchise and operations companies, public and private institutions, consultants, advisors, architects and designers – all to discuss the region’s markets and possibilities.

Registration for CHICOS is US $1,200 per person (by Oct. 31 and US $1,350 after) and is accessible via http://www.hvschicos.com/Register.html. For CHICOS preferred hotel rates, contact the Hard Rock Hotel at 1-877-601-0935. For full event information visit http://www.hvschicos.com/

About CHTA:

The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) facilitates the full potential of the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry by serving members’ needs and building partnerships in a socially responsible and sustainable manner. CHTA is the voice of the Caribbean hospitality industry for the development of the region in the highly competitive and sophisticated environment of international tourism. Today, tourism is widely recognized as a pivotal industry in the economy of the region – and CHTA functions as the common denominator for this industry in a region of diverse nationalities, languages and styles, identifying mutual problems and marshaling the resources of the active and allied members to devise solutions. CHTA represents all facets of the hospitality industry with more than 600 member hotels and over 300 allied members. CHTA, including the events staged by the association, is supported by Strategic Partners MasterCard, Interval International, OBM International, HVS, Tambourine and TravelZoo..www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.

About CTO:

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with the headquarters in Barbados and marketing operations in New York and London, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency and comprises membership of over 30 governments and a myriad of private sector entities.The CTO’s mission is to provide to and through its members, the services and information needed for the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of the Caribbean people. The organization provides specialized support and technical assistance to member countries in the areas of marketing, human resource development, research and statistics, information technology, advocacy and sustainable tourism development. The CTO disseminates information on behalf of its member governments to consumers and the travel trade. www.onecaribbean.org

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