Above: the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The island of Puerto Rico will play host to the 2015 edition of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace next year.

The CHTA announced the move on Monday; last year’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace was held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

“We have chosen Puerto Rico as the host country for Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2015 because of the world-class facilities offered at the Puerto Rico Convention Center as well as the accessibility of the destination for the CHTA membership and the international delegates that will be in attendance,” said Jeffrey Vasser, director general and CEO of the CHTA.

The event will be organized by the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and Meet Puerto Rico.

“Puerto Rico is honored to have been chosen by the CHTA as host of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2015, an event vital for the hotel and tourism industries of the entire CHTA membership,” said Ingrid Rivera Rocafort, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. “”As host country, we can showcase our five-star destination to delegates so they can experience our excellent accommodations, attractions, meeting venues, and sample our unique culture first-hand.”

Last year’s Marketplace event saw 11,560 prescheduled appointments and wholesaler companies from 20 different countries.

Puerto Rico last hosted the conference in 2010.

“We are very excited to host the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association’s premier tourism marketing event, Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2015,” said Clarisa Jiménez, president and CEO of the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association.  “In the five years since Puerto Rico hosted Caribbean Travel Marketplace there have been many changes to our tourism product in that time.  We anticipate a high participation rate from our local association who will share the latest developments at their respective properties.”