Kingston, Jamaica – Ways to bolster the Caribbean’s position as a preferred vacation destination and other major issues facing regional tourism will be high on the agenda when major players in the global tourism sector gather for the Caribbean Tourism Summit and Outlook Seminar 2012, which begins today (June 15, 2012), at the Ritz Carlton Golf and Spa Resort, Montego Bay.
Jamaica’s Tourism and Entertainment Minister, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill heads the slate of high-profile speakers and panelists for the event, which will run from June 15 – 16. Other notable speakers include President of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), David Scowsill and Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Taleb Rifai, who will be the Keynote Speaker at the Official Opening Ceremony.
The panelists for the event include President and CEO of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, Robert Gilbert, CEO of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professional, Frank Wolfe, and Former President and CEO of Air Jamaica, Bruce Nobles. Former Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation for St. Lucia, Allen Chastanet, will also participate in crucial discussions along with Secretary General and CEO, of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Hugh Riley and Regional Vice President of Brand Performance and Programs at Choice Hotels International, Bill Clegg.
Minister McNeill, who will officially open the Summit later today, believes the excellent cadre of presenters will help stimulate debate. Minister McNeill said “the speakers and panelists for this highly anticipated event are among the leading experts in the industry and the topics to be covered are very relevant to our tourism partners. I am convinced that this Summit will aid significantly in our quest to find solutions to the problems facing tourism within the Caribbean.”
The Summit is jointly organized by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) in partnership with the UNWTO and the WTTC. Among the other key topics to be examined are airlift, travel facilitation policies and the competitiveness of the Caribbean vacation experience.
