No.7 - July 11th, 2008

 

In this edition
Monthly Luncheon
 
News from Germany
 
Antigua Carnival
 
Book sale at Woods
 
National Economic Symposium
 
AHTA website updates
  
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New Members July 2008
 
None.
 
On the Move
 
We would like to welcome
Bill Hoffman as the new General Manager of the Grand Royal  Antiguan Resort. Bill arrives in Antigua from the Hilton in Key Largo.
  
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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
 
National Economic Symposium,
Multi-Purpose Centre
- 16th July
 
Magic Mango Menu Cook-Off
A.B.H.T.I.
- 26th July
 
Antigua Carnival
-26th July - 5th August
 
AHTA Monthly Luncheon
Vyvien's Restaurant,
Blue Waters
- 14th August
 
Christian Valley Magic Mango Fest
- 16th & 17th August
 
Small Hotels Retreat
Marriott St Kitts
- 1st - 3rd October
 
Caribbean Marketplace 2009
Saint Lucia
- 18 - 20th January
 
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Welcome to the  Newsletter of the Antigua Hotels & Tourist Association.
This will be the last newsletter this month as I will be on vacation until after Carnival

Monthly Luncheon

 

 
On Thursday 10th July nearly 30 members of the A.H.T.A met for a luncheon at the Vyvien's Restaurant at Blue Waters.

The guest speaker was Commissioner Gary Nelson who updated the gathering on the latest developments regarding the Police Force. The Commissioner outlined many of his projects for the future improvements of the Force and some of the challenges that he is facing.
 
One of the ventures that the Commissioner would like to introduce is a programme called Crime Stoppers involving a "Tips Line" where members of the community could give information to the Police via an anomymous help line. The Commissioner requested assistance from the A.H.T.A. in making this programme a reality. After his presentation the Commissioner answered many questions from the members.
 
The presentation was followed by a very pleasant lunch which was much appreciated by all.
 
The luncheon was followed by a meeting of the A.H.T.A. Board.
 
The next luncheon will be once again at Vyvien's Restaurant on August 14th and the guest speaker will be Mario Bento who will address us on the Rotary Recycling Project and how we can do our part in helping the environment. Put this date in your diaries now.
NEWS from Germany
Antigua and Barbuda was exclusively presented to the European Directors of Condor during their twice-yearly meeting at the airlines´ head office near Frankfurt on June 27th. The presentation was followed by an open discussion. It is planned to implement diverse activities with Condor in these source markets in order to substantially increase the flight figures with Condor from Frankfurt to our destination. 

Antigua and Barbuda participated in the Roadshow of CTO Chapter Central Europe in Munich and Frankfurt, on June 25th & 26th. The events were held in City Beach Clubs and attracted in total almost 200 travel agents who were up-dated with relevant sales information on the destination. Anguilla, Aruba, The Dominican Republic and Guadeloupe were the other islands present at this venue.

A 30 minutes film about Antigua and Barbuda was broadcast on German non-profit public television ARD on June 14, 2008 at 4.00 pm and rebroadcast on June 19, 2008 at 4.15 am. Mrs. Susie McMaster, being an excellent presenter of her country, guided through the film which dealt with the islands´ personality, its influence on people, role and function. A presentation on Barbuda, including the frigate birds and Caribana, was part of the film, produced by the ARD overseas studio Latin America based in Mexico City. .
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Let's get our hotel guests to  Carnival
 

 

Carnival is nearly upon us. Only two weeks to the opening of Carnival.
 
The Carnival Development Committee would like to work with hoteliers to promote the Carnival activities to our hotel guests. They would like to see more of our visitors at the Carnival events. A meeting is being arranged for next Tuesday July 15th at 3pm in the Ministry of Tourism Conference Room to discuss the organization of transport and the escort of guests from the hotels to the Carnival Shows and parades in the best possible conditions to ensure that our visitors really experience carnival.
 
Carnival show tickets will be on sale at the A.H.T.A office on Newgate Street
Book Sale on 
Saturday July 5th
 
On Saturday July 5th the AHTA organized a book sale outside the Epicurean Supermarket at Woods Mall.
 
The sales raised EC$700.00 and this will be used to buy reference books for the ABHTI library.
National Economic Symposium
The Ministry of Finance and the Economy will convene its third annual National Economic Symposium on Wednesday 16th July 2008 at the Multipurpose Centre. The symposium is a critical aspect of the Government's ongoing initiatives aimed at engaging key stakeholders and the general public in discussions on issues of importance to economic and social development in Antigua and Barbuda. The Symposium will focus on, inter alia, fiscal performance and prospects, the Government's debt strategy, the impact of rising international prices and economic growth prospects for antigua and Barbuda.
 
Further details are available from the AHTA office.
           
 
 
New Information on AHTA Website

 
From this week more information is available on the AHTA website www.antiguahotels.org. The website should become your number one resource when you need information on member hotels, restaurants and other associate members.
 
The newly opened "member services" section contains copies of all the weekly newsletters, information on hotel occupancies, visitor arrivals to Antigua and the wider Caribbean, airline schedules and hotel closures.
 
Please check the information regarding your business on the website and let us know if anything needs updating.  
 
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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