MIAMI – MWM & Associates will host this year’s “Second Annual Haiti Tourism & Economic Development Summit” to be held at the Deauville Beach Resort, 6701 Collins Avenue, in Miami Beach, Florida on June 23-25, 2006.
MWM is committed to encouraging a multi-sector dialogue on Tourism in Haiti, by bringing together both Haitian and foreign tourism experts, as well as members of civil society to discuss the obstacles to tourism and identify sustainable solutions for the short, medium and long term success of tourism in Haiti.
The “Second Annual Haiti Tourism & Economic Development Summit” will focus on rebuilding and developing the tourism industry of Haiti. It will bring together key players in the local and international tourism industry, including the Haitian and foreign private sector, the public sector, and civil society in general, as well as representatives of international financial (donor/investment) organizations to address issues affecting the development and sustainability of Haiti’s tourism industry.
Special emphasis will be placed on innovative marketing tools and strategies that will contribute to the increased awareness of Haiti as a tourism destination and help improve the economic well-being of the Haitian people. Key topics to be addressed at the Summit include: infrastructure needs for the development of tourism activities nationally; the role of the Haitian Diaspora in the marketing and consumption of Haitian tourism products; financing and investment issues; community development opportunities; and security issues affecting tourism.
This year’s collaborating partners, sponsors and invited speakers include the Caribbean-Central American Action (CCAA), World Bank, NOPIN Long Distance, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), International Financial Corp. (IFC), Inter-American Investment Corp (IIC), Villa Creole Hotel, VISIT FLORIDA, Governor of Florida, Greater Miami & Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau, Tourism & Hotel Association of Haiti, Association of Professional Bankers (Haiti), Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce, Florida Association of Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and the Americas (FAVACA), USAID-Haiti, Caribbean Tourism Organization, Caribbean Hotel Association, Haiti Resource Development Foundation, Caribbean Community Development Foundation, Association of Haitian Banks, Island Television, Lakay Magazine, Republic of Haiti, Consul Generals of Haiti in Miami, Chicago and New York, Embassy of Haiti in Washington, DC, as well as other major Haitian-American organizations nationwide.
Last year’s event hosted over 500 professionals, over 30 speakers, exhibit booths and major networking opportunities. Summit results have included: the placement of three prominent billboards in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, monthly ToHaiti.com Getaway groups to Haiti, U.S. and Canada city-by-city tourism forums, feasibility studies conducted by potential hotel chains, sponsored media partnerships, national Haiti tourism associates, University and College Haitian American student spring break partnerships, technical assistance planned by FAVACA and many other positive outcomes.
This year they are expecting over 800 participants to attend the summit, which not only motivates the Haitian Diaspora to strategize in the rebuilding of Haiti’s economy via tourism, but also facilitates a platform for economic development dialogue in the states.
