CHTA Keen on Helping the Region Prepare for Post-Coronavirus Future
The Caribbean tourism industry has a proven track record of bouncing back from crisis, often better and stronger, which is a message that resonated throughout the first in a series of online training programs being conducted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) aimed at equipping the industry to cope with its immediate challenges while preparing for the eventual return of tourists to the world’s leading tropical playground.
The first phase of the program, dubbed “CHTA Live: The Resilience Series,” was held on Friday, April 3, provided historical facts and measured forecasts to assist tourism stakeholders as they develop endurance strategies in response to COVID-19.
Representatives from the World Travel and Tourism Council, STR, ADARA and Tourism Analytics shared data and experiences, all of which point to a slow but steady recovery and provide a glimpse into the future. The session attracted nearly 500 attendees and was later uploaded to CHTA’s COVID-19 Resource Center at www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com/covid-19.
The first edition of “CHTA Live: The Resilience Series” featured a wealth of data to assist tourism stakeholders.
The week of April 6-10, the series session focused on debt restructuring, a topic of great interest to hotels and tourism-related businesses. It is estimated that over 70 percent of Caribbean hotels are carrying some form of debt. Attendees were guided on how to effectively plan and manage the restructuring of debt to bridge both short- and long-term operational challenges.
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF) will provide short-course professional development and skills training, allowing participants to sharpen their skills in the online environment.
The “CHTA Live” training sessions help to fill the void created by the postponement of the highly anticipated Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), which had originally been slated for June 26-28 in Miami.
