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CBET, Choice Hotels to address Barbadian Hoteliers

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The regional entity Caribbean Business Enterprise Trust (CBET), headed by Barbadian management consultant Dr. Basil Springer, reports that it is teaming up with the international lodging company Choice Hotels International, to support hotels in the region.

The CBET Shepherding Model™ promotes seed capital, venture capital and shepherding (consulting) services to local companies, through a partnership with Government and the private sector in each Caribbean sovereign jurisdiction.

CBET is seeking ways of partnering with Choice regionally, starting in Barbados, to introduce state-of-the-art revenue management systems, powerful reservations systems, multi-million dollar marketing campaigns and dedicated performance consultants to help drive business for local properties in a struggling regional market.


Dr. Basil Springer

Dr. Springer, along with the Florida-based Caroline Racine, director of Caribbean Franchise Development for Choice Hotels International, will address members of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) this Thursday, May 14, 2009 at Divi Southwinds in Christ Church at 1 p.m.


Caroline Racine

“The presentation will outline our new and innovative seed and venture Capital Fund concept which has been given robust support from both the government and the private sector,” said Dr. Springer who added that having worked with Choice Hotels at recent editions of the Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx), he was optimistic about the partnership possibilities for Barbados and the region.

Choice Hotels has recently unveiled an attractive Ascend Collection membership program which encompasses Historic, Boutique or Unique hotels that meet well-defined membership criteria and demonstrate a commitment to service excellence. “And we don’t ask you to change a thing,” said Racine, who explained the new member hotels do not have to conform to traditional branding requirements. “You retain your local identity and individuality,” she said, citing Le Consulat hotel in Puerto Rico with its gorgeous vista balconies as a recent inductee of the Ascend Collection.

“These two presentations are new and should be very interesting in the current economic climate,” said Sue Springer, Executive Vice President of the BHTA.

In addition to the new collection program, Choice Hotels International franchises more than 5,300 hotels, representing over 430,000 rooms, in the United States and 40 other countries and territories. Their brands include Cambria Suites, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, MainStay Suites and Suburban Extended Stay Hotels.

For further information, visit www.cbetmodel.org, www.choicehotelsfranchise.com/caribbean and www.choicehotelsfranchise.com/ascend.

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