Tourism Ministers from Caribbean nations met last week in Cuba and called for the sustainable development of the leisure industry as a key factor in the need to make economic headway in the region. Luis Simon, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainable Tourism of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), held a news conference in Havana’s National Hotel in which he praised the significance of the event.

Online registration is now available for the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) and Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) Caribbean Finance and Technology Professionals Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, slated for December 11 and 12 at the Westin Rio Mar Beach Golf Resort & Spa. This first-time conference is a two-day educational event that will focus on the most recent topics of interest in the finance and technology fields.

Premium Travel 2007 will be the host to America’s leading travel agents when the Travel & Leisure’s Travel Agent Advisory Board (TAAB) coincides its biannual meeting in London with a visit to the show. Created over ten years ago, the Board consists of 14 of the most senior independent travel agents in the United States. To be a member individuals have to be an owner, principal or senior executive of their company. The Board normally meets twice a year and in the last few years it has met in London, Delhi, New York and Los Angeles.

Big Business, Big Fun and Big Opportunities to learn and grow the attractions business is the theme of Euro Attractions Show (EAS) 2007 to be held from January 30 to February 1 in Seville, Spain at the FIBES Convention Center. Seville is also the home of Isla Magica amusement park which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2007. As the primary gathering place for attractions owners and operators in Europe, the three-day event features product exhibits, keynote sessions, educational sessions, and social and networking events.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has amassed an impressive lineup of knowledgeable and experienced speakers to deliver insight on timely travel industry issues as part of the program for the 29th Annual Caribbean Tourism Conference (CTC-29) taking place from October 22 to 25 in the Bahamas. The roster of boldface names includes the comprehensive program relating to the conference theme, “Cooperation, Innovation, Rejuvenation: Creating a Brand New Caribbean.”

The Latin American Air Transport Association (ALTA) announced it has confirmed twenty CEO speakers for the ALTA Latin American Airline Leaders Forum, which will be held from November 29 to December 1 in Cancun, Mexico, at the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Resort & Spa. Featured CEO speakers include the leaders of Aeromexico, Aeropostal, Air Jamaica, ASUR, Avianca, Caribbean Sun, Cayman Airways, Copa Airlines, GOL, Iberia, LAN, Mexicana, TACA, TAM and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta. The directors of civil aviation of several Latin American countries will attend as well.