N°5 - June 24th, 2008

In this edition
Enrique de Marchena Kaluche assumes CHA Presidency
 
Monthly Breakfast Meeting
 
First CaribCert candidates to sit exams
 
JetBlue to increase flights to Puerto Rico
 
Learn to Swim with swalings
  
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New Members June 2008
 
Associate
-Swalings Antigua Ltd.
  
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 Hotel closures Summer 2008
Grand Royal - 12th May - 11th August
Sunsail Colonna - May - October 17th
Jumby Bay - June 6th - 2009
Carlisle Bay - August 30th - October 10th
Curtain Bluff - August 23rd - November 1st
Admiral's Inn
Galleon Beach - May 31st -
Long Bay - May 6th - November 1st
Hermitage Bay - September 1st - October 6th
The Inn - May 1st - November 1st
AYCM Resort - September 1st - November 1st.
 
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Average Hotel occupancies 2008
 
January - 74.1%
February - 81.1%
March - 72.7%
April - 72.4%
May - 63.7%
 
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 Upcoming Events
 
Golden Eye Calypso Tent sponsored by the AHTA.
Palm Restaurant, Fort Rd
 
Friday 27th 9.30pm
featuring:
Zacarie, The Bear, Blade, Krokus, Kaseba, Bike, Velto, Scorpion and many more
 
Sunday 29th
Clash of the Tents
Golden Eye v Pepperpot
 
AHTA Book Sale, Woods Mall
- 5th July (see below)
 
Magic Mango Menu Cook-Off
- 6th July
 
National Economic Symposium, Multi-Purpose Centre - 16th July
 
Christian Valley Magic Mango Fest - 16th & 17th August
 
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 Books for Books
 
 
Guests regularly leave their read paperback books in their hotel rooms. Every Housekeeping office has piles of these books laying around. We are asking for your help by donating these books to the AHTA.
 
In every school the library plays a key role in the students education. This is no different at the Antigua & Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute but the library is sorely lacking in up-to-date literature on our industry.
 
We will be holding a book sale at Woods Mall on Saturday July 5th to raise money towards new books for our future young hotel workers.
 
Please help us to help them, drop of any books you can at the AHTA office on Newgate Street. 
 
 

Welcome to the fifth Newsletter of the Antigua Hotels & Tourist Association.

Enrique de Marchena Kaluche assumes Presidency of CHA

 

 
Enrique De Marchena Kaluche, from the Dominican Republic, has become President of the Caribbean Hotel Association for 2008-2010 with a platform that includes goals to raise the level of awareness and respect for the hospitality and tourism industry by collaborating with governments and the people of the Caribbean, focusing on human resource development of Caribbean nationals working in both hospitality and tourism, improving the marketing of the hotel industry throughout the region, dealing with the impact of airline service cutbacks, integrating tourism into the economic chain on the islands, and reinvigorating both the Board of Directors and the national hotel association executives across the Caribbean.

 

De Marchena took the stage and the presidency of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) praising the past presidents of CHA vowing “to listen to my constituents and get the best advice possible from the past presidents based on their own experience, their knowledge of the history of this association and the tourism sector in the Caribbean.”

 

De Marchena is creating a Council of Past Presidents of CHA to meet twice a year “to assist me to make this association stronger, because together we can.”

 

He acknowledges that “the 21st Century brings new challenges for the world, the Caribbean, and tourism in the Caribbean.  “I have always addressed challenges as opportunities, De Marchena said, adding:  “The first challenge will be the integration of the private sector for the success of the tourism industry in the Caribbean. At CHA we are going to address this issue and thereby ensure that CHA maintains its position as the leading private sector tourism institution in the Caribbean.
 
His goal is to continue to set the tone, to raise the awareness level and critical role that the entire hotel and tourism industry contributes to the economy of the Caribbean and also tourism’s role as the major provider of jobs and the alleviation of poverty.
more....

       Monthly Breakfast Meeting

Last Thursday June 19th, hoteliers gathered in the Great House at Hawkbill by rex resorts for the monthly meeting with Minister Harold Lovell.
 
The main topic of discussion centred around the decision by American Airlines to reduce flights to the Caribbean. Minister Lovell informed the meeting that he is in discussion with American Airlines to put back a second Eagle flight from September and also with LIAT to see how the regional carrier can fill the gap left by American.
 
The hoteliers present congratulated the Minister on the Romantic Rhythms Festival. Early indications show that the Festival was succesful in generating additional business for the hotel sector. With over 100 foreign journalists covering the show, Antigua has received great exposure in the overseas media. The next Romantic Rhythms Festival is scheduled for 5th-7th June 2009.
 
The hoteliers present once again stressed to the Minister that they would like to see the relationship with the Ministry of Tourism strengthen with more collaboration between the private and public sectors.
First CaribCert Candidates to sit exams
   

CARIBCERT is a professional recognition program that was developed by the CHA. The certification programme is designed to be started and completed on the job and does not require schooling outside the business. As an advocate for professional development,  the AHTA re-introduced the programme in 2007.

The AHTA encourages members to certify their staff and by so doing improve the attitudes of their workers, reduce staff turnover, and increase their sales and more specifically customer satisfaction. Consequently, staff will benefit from CARIBCERT by becoming certified  tourism professionals, improving and developing their skills and making themselves more marketable within their workplace and the industry.

To date, 17 persons have registered for this programme representing a cross section of the industry such as Front Desk Agents, Bartender, Chef de Partie, etc.  Four persons have completed the first three steps of the programme: 1) Register, 2) Track Progress,  3) Complete the Perfomance Checklist and are now set to sit the written exam on Thursday 26th June, 2008 at the AHTA office.            

For additional information on CARIBCERT, please contact Anthea in the AHTA Office.     

JetBlue to increase flights to Puerto Rico

 
JetBlue said this week that it will bolster its schedule to Puerto Rico this winter with additional service from Boston, New York and Orlando, and Puerto Rico officials hope it’s a sign of a payoff for their efforts to maintain or even increase airline service with fee breaks and marketing support to counter higher fuel prices.
 
The island was stung by American’s decision, announced in late May, to reduce service to San Juan this September. But a Puerto Rico Tourism Co. spokesman told The DAILY the authority is reminding all carriers that serve the island that it offers joint marketing to help sell service on routes and is talking to all of the carriers serving the island about potential agreements. The tourism agency has $4 million in its budget specifically to attract and keep airline service.
 
   
Learn to swim with Swalings
Are you missing out on all the fun of our great island tours because you can’t swim? Are you sitting on the side of the cool refreshing pool whilst the rest of the family is enjoying the water because you have been too scared to learn to swim? Is it time your children learnt to swim so they can enjoy the fun of the water and be safer? Don’t waste another holiday come and learn to swim with us, so you too can enjoy the snorkeling trips and crystal blue waters as much as everyone else. No matter your age or swimming ability come and learn to swim with us today. We can arrange group and private lessons at your hotel or you can come and join one of our classes in Jolly Harbour.
           

 Children and adult classes available for beginners, intermediates and advanced swimmers. Take the plunge and come get wet with us!! For more information call: ,  or  or email info@swalings.com 

 

 
 
"Antigua Like a Local" now on
Caribbean Travel & Life's  Online Site 
 
Click on image below to see the article
  
 
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Our website www.antiguahoteljobs.com  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
 
 

 

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