The National Hotel & Restaurant Association of the Dominican Republic (ASONAHORES) and the Tourism Promotion Council (CPT) are making preparations for the upcoming sixth edition of the Dominican Annual Travel Exchange (DATE), scheduled to unfold from April 6 to 8 at the Intercontinental V Centenario Hotel in Santo Domingo. DATE operates as a network to foster meetings between buyers and salespeople through a prearranged appointment format that guarantees attendance of those interested in signing up for the event, not to mention the fact that it maxes out its possibilities.

The 24th edition of ANATO, Colombia´s number-one tourism marketplace, will get cracking on February 28 at the Corferias Fairgrounds in Bogota, featuring the debut attendance of Trinidad & Tobago. The event is planned on a yearly basis with the participation of several countries and welcomes entrepreneurs willing to cash in on this opportunity to enhance business contacts among themselves. For the first time ever, this year´s edition will have an official delegation from Trinidad & Tobago, the neighboring islands that will flaunt a broad array of travel destinations.

Acapulco will be home to the 30th edition of the Mexico Travel Marketplace, Tianguis 2005, the most important fair of its kind in the Aztec nation, from April 10 to 13 with a record-breaking attendance. The event consists of a highly specialized business powwow that brings together buyers and service providers for two and a half days of working sessions.

Argentina´s Tourism Department is sponsoring the National Winter Travel Exposition with the help of the Argentine Federation of Tourism Chambers (FEDECATUR is the Spanish acronym). The exhibit is scheduled to take place from May 20 to 22. The three-day event will unfold at the La Rural compound in Buenos Aires, the country´s largest fairgrounds, and promises to foster numerous promotions, business contacts and negotiations between premier tour operators from around the globe and local impresarios.

Starting February 28, the Mexico Travel Marketplace takes to the road in the U.S., bringing the latest Mexican travel products to retailers in a dozen American cities. Major sponsors exhibiting at the event include Cozumel, Loreto Bay, Puerto Vallarta and Vallarta; the Mexico Tourism Board; and airlines Aeromexico, Alaska Airlines and Mexicana.

Preparations are in full swing in Port of Spain, Trinidad-Tobago, for the February 25th CMExPress, the successful Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism that has been held across the region for the past three years. Organised by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), in collaboration with the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, the gathering has as its overall motto Keeping the Right Balance, acknowledging that the sustainability of tourism in the Caribbean requires proper co-ordination and the co-operation.