The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association announced that Alec Sanguinetti is retiring as director general after 19 years in executive positions with the organisation and 52 years as one of the tourism industry’s top airline and hotel executives.

Richard Doumeng, President of CHTA, said that a search committee is being formed to find a replacement for Sanguinetti who will step down as of January 31st, 2013 following Caribbean Travel Marketplace.

“October 1st, 2012 marked 52 years for me in the travel and tourism industry and the last 19 years with CHTA have been among the most enjoyable,” said Sanguinetti.

“I have had the opportunity in working with CHTA to be involved with the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry which is a far more encompassing and broader playing field than working with any single entity such as an airline or destination,” he said.

He added, “I had the opportunity to meet and work with wonderful and dedicated individuals from whom I have learned such a great deal.”

Sanguinetti was only the second chief executive for CHTA in the association’s 50-year history.

He originally joined CHTA as deputy director general in 1993 working closely with John Bell, the association’s first chief executive.

He was named director general and chief executive in 2003.

Sanguinetti’s career began in the airline industry in 1960, with British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and British West Indian Airways (BWIA).

He was responsible for the start up and running of Jamaica Air Service and then involved in the start up of Air Jamaica in 1969 where he served as vice president marketing until 1976.

In 1977, Sanguinetti joined the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism as Director of International Sales & Marketing and in 1980 was appointed Managing Director of Cayman Airways.

“We are indebted to Alec Sanguinetti for his tireless dedication to the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association and tourism in general in the Caribbean,” said Richard Doumeng.

“He has led our organization through some very difficult times and enabled us to remain a strong and viable force in Caribbean tourism and he has done it with empathy, wit, style and grace,” Doumeng said.

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