No.02/2009 - 2nd March, 2009

 

In this edition
Sailing Week loses title sponsor
 
Training opportunities offered by MoT
 
Corum becomes Gold Sponsor of Sailing Week
 
Monthly Membership Luncheon
 
Indian Creek Executive Suites
 
Sustainable Tourism is good for business 
 
New Members  2009
 
- Wadadli Film Studios
 
- Indian Creek Executive Suites
 
- Pelican Isle Villas
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On the Move
 
Stefano Morandi is the new General Manager at Cocos
  
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Average Hotel occupancies 2009 & 2008
 
                         2009            2008
January -    62.4%  -     74.1%
 
2008
February - 81.1%
March - 72.7%
April - 72.4%
May - 63.7%
June - 57.3%
July - 58.2%
August - 57.8%
September - 42.1%
October - 50.9%
November - 63.8%
December - 58.1%
Total year 2008 - 63.1%
 
 
For more detailed information
click here
 
For the latest CTO statistics on international arrivals to the Caribbean click here.
(last update February 12th)
 
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 Upcoming Events
   
SOME - Puerto Rico Travel
Trade Show
- 6th March 2009
 
ITB Berlin
- 11th - 15th March 2009
 
Antigua Culinary Festival
- 27th - 29th March 2009
 
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is at your service to help you fill those vacant positions. At no cost we will post any vacant positions to the website.
 
Just send in the details to the AHTA Office
 

 
 
 
       
Welcome to the Newsletter of the Antigua Hotels & Tourist Association.  
Antigua Sailing Week loses its title sponsor
 

 

With Stanford International Bank title sponsors of Antigua Sailing Week for the last two years now in receivership, the bank will now longer be a sponsor of this year’s event. As such the event will de dropping the Stanford name with immediate effect and will revert to simply Antigua Sailing Week.

However the organizing committee would like to reassure all the participants and all those planning to attend this year’s Antigua Sailing Week that the regatta will be going ahead as planned.

Despite the financial challenges that this loss of sponsorship will bring, all will be done to ensure that the racing on the water is not compromised in any way by this turn of events. This is a pivotal year for ASW with the introduction of a new format and also the Antigua Ocean Series, setting the vision for the years to come.
 
The regatta will no doubt be financially challenged and will be obliged to adjust its budgets accordingly. However on a positive side it does have a new Gold Sponsor in the form of Corum Watches who have become our official timekeeper and this will partially help to offset the shortfall.

The race Committee will strive in every way to maintain the high standards of racing that Sailing Week has been known for. ASW has contracted this year with GWM Race management who will be coming over to manage the on-water side of the regatta and they will still be coming. Fortunately over the years Sailing Week has built up it's own resources and is able to continue in adverse circumstances such as these.

This year may be missing some of the frills but the regatta will still be providing the thrills !!
Tourism workers invited to take advantage of training opportunities offered by Ministry
The Tourism Education, Training and Awareness Unit within the Ministry of Tourism will continue its series of training programmes with a CHDT Workshop focusing on creating a “Guest Focused Organisation”.
 
The Ministry of Tourism organised and completed two training programmes during the month of February, co-financed by OAS/MoT. To date the programmes have targeted small hotel owners and managers and F&B management staff in a Small Hotel Business and Operation Management and F&B Management Workshop; and F&B employees in a Restaurant Service Skills and F&B Supervisors Workshop. Eleven (11) of the F&B Supervisors wrote the CHDT Exam.
 
This next workshop scheduled for March 16th-20th will target Front Desk and Housekeeping employees. Participants who attend this workshop will learn how to identify guests' needs and expectations and develop a framework for training that emphasises the provision for excellent guest service.
 
 Participants will also be given an opportunity to develop a training strategy using mission and value statements for their departments. These statements will be used to develop knowledge, skills and attitude training for Front Desk and Housekeeping areas. In addition, participants will have an opportunity to sit the CHDT certification exam set and marked by the American Hotel & Learning Educational Institute.
 
For further information on this workshop contact Cynthia Simon at 462.2506 or the AHTA. The deadline for registration is March 5th.
Corum Watches becomes Gold Sponsor of Sailing Week
 

                
 
Since its inception in 1955 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, CORUM has taken pride in being a refreshingly different and forward-thinking Swiss watch manufacturer. Still, today, the focus remains on quality, innovation and precision craftsmanship.

By design, the cardinal models include the Admiral’s Cup, the Romvlvs, the Golden Bridge and the Gold Coin. Through this core collection, CORUM continues to pursue new horizons with the spirit of adventure and distinction that has always been the key to its success. This vitality supports the brand’s invigorating philosophy, “Unlock and Conquer.”

With the announcement of the Gold Sponsorship relationship with Antigua Sailing Week, CORUM is reinforcing its attachment to the world of sailing and signals its commitment to this prestigious sport. 
 
Corum has long been connected with sailing and were the Official Timekeeper to the Admiral's Cup from 1982 until 2005. The winners of this famous event organised by the RORC would receive a prestigious CORUM Admirals Cup watch.
 
We are very happy to have CORUM as a sponsor of this year's event. 

Monthly Membership Luncheon

  
Last Thursday members gathered in the Barrington's Restaurant at Grand Royal Antiguan for the first membership luncheon of 2009. The new General Manager of the property Pat McGeown welcomed the members to the recently refurbished restaurant. Colin James the new CEO of the Antigua Barbuda Tourism authority was also present to say a few words of welcome.
 
After the traditional moments of networking the group listening to a marketing presentation from Debra Anderson of Latitudes Magazine. Debra explained that the magazine is going to feature a special insert on the Caribbean. Latitudes magazine is the inflight magazine for American Eagle and as such is read each year by several milllion pasengers. There will be 25.000 additional copies of the Caribbean insert printed to be distributed with the Miami Herald to selected households.
 
Debra also spoke of other marketing opportunities with US game shows and radio events. Debra is on island this week and will be visiting many of the properties.
New Member
Indian Creek Executive Suites
                        
Named after the Amerindian village further on along the same road in Piccadilly, Indian Creek Executive Suites is a unique blend of cosmopolitan luxury with a touch of West Indian elegance.
 
These Antiguan two bedroom luxury apartments are available for long or short term accommodation rental. Each apartment is fully fitted with king sized beds, a Jacuzzi, flat screen television and is fully air conditioned. We do not spare any detail, so we encourage all of our guests and residents to take advantage of our pool which is located at the Southern side of the complex.

The complex is fully secured by essential security which is the most reputable security firms on the island.
 
For more information visit www.indiancreekexecutivesuites.com
 
 
 
Sustainable Tourism is
good for business
 
In this newsletter we will be giving you each week some simple tips that could make a big difference to your operation. 

1. Have low flow showers

Traditional shower heads have high water flows, wasting both water and energy. It is cheap and easy to restrict the water flow output to 10L per minute. Replace existing units with low flow showerheads or simply install water conservation devises such as flow restrictors or shower flow controllers. Carefully test before implementing to ensure a satisfactory shower flow.

The reduction of water flow from 15L to 10L per minute in a typical 100 bedroom hotel could have the following impact:
- Reduce water consumption by over 700.000 US gals per year
- Reduce LPG consumption by the water heaters by over 6500kg per year
- Significantly reduce your water and LPG bills by the above
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 10.000kg of CO² per year

Restricting water flow as outlined above requires little outlay and can achieve a return on investment in less than one month.

 

Antigua Hotels & Tourist Association
PO Box 454, Island House, Newgate Street
St John's
Antigua
E-mail: neil@antiguahotels.org
http://www.antiguahotels.org