caribbean people investment
News

CHTA President: It’s Time for Investment in Caribbean People

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - November 28, 2018 - 3:13 pm

By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

It’s time for the region to make a greater investment in Caribbean people, according to Patricia Affonso-Dass, the new president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.

Affonso-Dass, who will address this week’s 9th Tourism Human Resources Conference hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, applauded the work of CTO, CHTA and many companies and destinations in the region which are developing and recognizing tourism industry talent.

“In spite of our small size, we have produced some of the most creative and talented people in the worlds of music, sports, arts, business and education,” said Affonso-Dass, who grew up in Dominica, Trinidad, Antigua and Guyana, before moving to Barbados where she has worked for the past 20 years.  

Speaking ahead of this week’s conference, she challenged regional leaders to build on this foundation with a greater commitment to investing in education and training, sharing and recognizing best practices, and shaping meaningful partnerships between business, education, training institutions, labor unions and governments. 

“A new level of commitment and engagement towards the development of our people must be commensurate with our recognition that our people are our greatest resource and we must challenge ourselves, our businesses, and institutions to recognize and develop not just our general workforce but most especially our young leaders,” she said.

Affonso-Dass, who is the Group General Manager of Ocean Hotels in Barbados, said Caribbean people must “believe in one another and invest in each other so that we can elevate our delivery of world-class experiences for those who invest their hard-earned dollars in a vacation experience in the region.”

During the conference, themed “Building a Resilient, High-performing and Sustainable Caribbean Tourism Workforce for Global Competitiveness,” the veteran hotelier will address the importance of harnessing the energy and passion of the region’s tourism workforce to innovate.  

“Now is not the time to be complacent on this issue, but to reflect on the accomplishments of our people and build on them,” she said. “We are a world-class region with a rich heritage and legacy — so we must continue to embed excellence and innovation within our culture and across our industry to stay ahead of our competition.”

  

Popular Posts antigua long bay

25 Perfect Caribbean Beaches to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

There’s nothing like a Caribbean beach in summer. The crowds thin out, the winds relax, and the islands start breathing in a different way. The beaches you thought you knew feel new again— stretches of sand once packed with winter […]


Royal Caribbean’s New Cruise Ship Has a Rooftop Bar, a Waterpark and the Largest Pool at Sea

star of the seas

You step into a glass dome floating high above the ocean. To your right, divers plunge from platforms. Above, aerialists twist through light. Somewhere behind you, a DJ is spinning beside a suspended infinity pool. This isn’t a dream — […]


The 15 Best Hotels in Trinidad and Tobago, From Hidden Eco-Retreats to Luxury Towers

trinidad and tobago hotels where to stay

From Port of Spain to Tobago’s quiet coasts, these are the places to check in now No two Caribbean islands are quite like Trinidad and Tobago—and no two hotels here feel the same. This is a destination of contrast: Carnival […]


Related Posts best barbados resorts

The CHTA IS Bringing CHIEF and Taste of the Caribbean to Barbados

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association has officially announced the return of two of the region’s most anticipated hospitality events: the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) and Taste of the Caribbean. Both events will take place from November 16–18, […]


Cayman Brac Is the Caribbean Island Where Adventure Comes Naturally

cayman brac beach resort

There’s a different kind of quiet on Cayman Brac. Not the hush of a sleepy island beach, but the stillness that comes right before the drop — the kind that lives between jagged bluff edges and jungle caves, between rope-assisted […]


This All-Inclusive Caribbean Vacation Is the Ultimate Solo Travel Experience

all-inclusive caribbean vacation solo

You arrive alone, but you’re not on your own. That’s the quiet magic of this four-night all-inclusive escape designed specifically for solo travelers — a curated experience at a breezy, beachfront Caribbean resort that knows what it means to travel […]