[Fwd: [CAST] Re: CHA, CAST RECEIVE 2002 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PIONEER AWARD]

>2002 IHIF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PIONEER AWARD HONORS
>CHA'S 40 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP, CAST'S GREEN PRACTICES.
>Prestigious International Tourism Award Given for Safeguarding and
>Implementing Environmentally Healthy Policies.
>
>SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (April, 2002) -- Green Globe 21 and the
>International Hotels Environment Initiative (IHEI) have honored the
>Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) and its environmental arm, the
>Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST), with the IHIF
>Sustainable Tourism Pioneer Award 2002 for their longstanding commitment
>to the sustainable development of Caribbean Tourism. The recognition was
>presented to CHA and CAST during the International Hotel Investment
>Forum (IHIF) held in Berlin, Germany.
>
>"CHA and CAST accept the IHIF award on behalf of all the members of our
>Caribbean hospitality family, with the commitment to continue supporting
>and working to maintain the Caribbean as one of the most sustainable,
>highly regarded and sought-after destinations in the world," declared
>John Bell, Director General and CEO of CHA. "Now more than ever, the
>members of the Caribbean hospitality industry have to pursue an
>increasingly higher level of competitiveness through sustainable
>development, so that the Caribbean economies are able to realize their
>fair share of the changing macro economy."
>
>Caribbean Hotel Association
>CHA was established 40 years ago as a body to represent the common
>interests of the Caribbean hotel sector. Over the years, the
>association has embraced a wide range of issues critical to enhance the
>Caribbean experience and the industry's competitiveness, such as human
>resource development, advocacy, and sustainable tourism development. To
>drive these efforts, CHA established a host of programs, including:
>Caribbean Tourism Credentialing Program (CTCP), Caribbean Culinary
>Federation (CCF), Caribbean Hospitality Training Institute (CHTI), and
>Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST). As a result of this
>whole range of initiatives, CHA has become over time the recognized
>representative of the Caribbean hospitality industry, as well as THE
>private sector developmental partner by international agencies active in
>the region, such as the European Union, IDB, OAS, and USAID.
>
>Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism
>Through CAST, CHA is able to manage the necessary environmental
>activities required for the region's success. CAST is a non-profit
>organization born of the CHA Environmental Committee in 1997. It
>undertakes collaborative environmental activities and initiatives within
>the hotel and tourism sector, promotes effective management of natural
>resources and provides access to expertise in operational efficiencies
>and sustainable tourism. CAST is committed to preventing the degradation
>of the environment and ensuring the continued prosperity of the
>Caribbean region through the appropriate use of water, energy, land
>and
>marine resources. CAST is also the link to the private sector in
>communicating challenges which impact the Caribbean, by identifying and
>promoting solutions to these challenges to owners and operators of
>hotels and tourism businesses.
>
>CAST offers practical training, seminars, publications and technical
>services to Caribbean hoteliers. For its immense success in promoting a
>higher and healthier Caribbean experience, year after year CAST is voted
>by CHA members as one of CHA=92s most valuable resources.
>
>For more information about the CHA and CAST, please contact Lorraine J.
>Ortiz or Mabel Sanabria, CHA/CAST, 1000 Ponce de Le=F3n Ave., 5th =
>Floor, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907; T 787.725.9139 / Fax
>787.725.9108; email: lortiz@caribbeanhotels.org
><mailto:lortiz@caribbeanhotels.org> or
>msanabria@caribbeanhotels.org <mailto:msanabria@caribbeanhotels.org>
>
># # #
>
>About Green Globe 21
>Green Globe 21 is an organization that specializes in developing
>environmental management and awareness for the Travel & Tourism industry
>and provides practical means through which companies can improve their
>environmental performance.
>
>About IHEI
>The International Hotel Environment Initiative (IHEI), sponsored by the
>Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum, is an educational charity that
>functions to encourage continuous improvement in the environmental
>performance of the entire hotel industry.
>
>About IHIF
>The International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) has become Europe's
>largest and most important annual gathering of the hotel investment
>community. The event covers three days and is held immediately after
>ITB, the massive hospitality travel trade show in Berlin, Germany.
Received on Wed Apr 24 09:33:36 2002