[Fwd: New Agreement between CAST and Green Globe Asia Pacific to enhance marketing of certified Caribbean properties]

From: jayne@sidsnet.org
To: tourism-newswire@sidsnet.org

NEWS FROM THE CARIBBEAN ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM,
THE ENVIRONMENTAL ARM OF THE CARIBBEAN HOTEL ASSOCIATION

For Immediate Publication
Contact: Lorraine Ortiz-Valcárcel
E: lortiz@caribbeanhotels.org
T: 787-725-9139

COLOR PHOTOS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

New Agreement between CAST and Green Globe Asia Pacific to enhance
marketing of certified Caribbean properties

Christ Church, Barbados (October 18, 2003) - The Caribbean Alliance for
Sustainable Tourism (CAST) and Green Globe Asia Pacific (GGAP) signed a
new Green Globe 21 Regional Alliance Agreement at the Casuarina Beach
Club, Barbados on Saturday October 18th 2003. This agreement will allow
CAST to promote and recognize the achievements and performance of
properties and provide information and support to travel and tourism
businesses in the region pursuing Green Globe 21 Benchmarking and Green
Globe 21 Certification. Green Globe 21 Benchmarking and Certification
are open to all hotels and businesses in the travel and tourism sector,
including small and micro properties that are willing to commit to
achieving environmental and social responsibility and sustainability in
their operations.

"CAST is truly proud of the hotels in the Caribbean that have made the
commitment to be Green Globe 21 certified and that have invested heavily
in the development of systems and infrastructure for more responsible
operations," says Royston O. Hopkin C.M.G. Chairman of CAST who signed
the Alliance Agreement. He went on to say that "...the region deserves
the highest level of promotion and recognition for its achievement of
containing over 40% of all the hotels in the world that are Green Globe
21-certified."

Cathy Parsons, Chief Executive Officer of Green Globe Asia Pacific who
co-signed the Alliance Agreement congratulated the Caribbean region and
its Green Globe 21 certified hotels for their achievements and added
that "...the Caribbean is important to the Green Globe family" and cited
the recent appointment of CAST to the International Advisory Council of
Green Globe as testament to this statement. She added that "...the
views and experiences of the Caribbean are important to improving the
Green Globe 21 Benchmarking process and Standard."

Under the new Agreement, CAST will market the achievements of the
certified properties regionally, as well as in conjunction with GGAP
under their global marketing program and at international events such as
World Travel Market in London.

The Casuarina Beach Hotel - a Green Globe 21 certified property since
1999 - provided the perfect backdrop for the signing and the brunch that
followed. According to Deirdre Shurland, Director of CAST, "...the
Casuarina Beach Hotel is one of CAST's most recognized and accomplished
leaders and an exemplar in what is possible through enlightened and
committed leadership and a passion for the Caribbean environment."

The signing took place immediately following CAST's last Quarterly
Executive Committee meeting of the year, held from 8:30 to 11:00am.

SOURCE: Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST)
www.cha-cast.com
Received on Mon Oct 20 15:41:42 2003