The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association has elected a new president, the regional tourism body announced this week. 

The CHTA has elected Pablo Jose Torres Sojo as its next president, succeeding Barbados hotelier Patricia Affonso-Dass. 

Torres is currently the general manager of the Caribe Hilton hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“I want to thank Pablo for taking on this important leadership role at this critical time for the industry. His experience and understanding of tourism’s challenges are what we need during these difficult times,” Affonso-Dass said. “I know I join our leadership team at CHTA in committing our full support for his presidency.”

Torres’ career has included roles with brands including Starwood, InterContinental, Four Seasons and Hilton. 

Prior to serving as GM of the Caribe Hilton, he was the general manager of the British Colonial Hilton in Nassau, The Bahamas. 

“It is a great honor to receive the support of such an eminent group of highly experienced professionals who, with CHTA and their companies and organizations, will be at the very forefront of the Caribbean’s post-pandemic economic recovery,” Torres said in a statement. “I am confident that working collectively as one, we will see our sector and the region’s main economic driver emerge from this crisis much stronger, much like we saw Puerto Rico’s tourism industry make a dramatic comeback following Hurricane Maria.”

Torres will serve in the role for the next two years. 

— CJ