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Editor's Note
Another busy couple of weeks at the AHTA. Last week we organized a two day workshop in collaboration with the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (see article below). This workshop was extremely well received by all the participants and all acknowledged that it will help them take the organization of weddings in their respective properties to a new level.
After a delayed start our Supervisory Management training will kick off next Monday 21st July. The current numbers are standing at 22 participants. There are still a couple of places available so any late deciders are still welcome to sign up. This course facilitated by Shirlene Nibbs really helps to improve the quality of our middle management throughout the industry.
This week the AHTA accompanied the Minister of Tourism and the ABTA for meetings with American Airlines and Delta Airlines to discuss airlift to Antigua for the coming winter season. We hope to report back with favourable news in the coming weeks.
We are pleased to welcome SouthPoint Falmouth as a new member to the AHTA. An exciting new development alongside the Antigua Yacht Club in Falmouth. You can find more details and images on our website.
We always we welcome news from our members so we can share it around so please send us any news, press releases so we can include them. Also, keep up to date with AHTA initiatives by visiting our website (link it) and Facebook page (link it).
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One More Reason to Marry in Antigua
Many couples are lured to Antigua for a destination wedding due to the island’s 365 enchanting coves and beaches. Couples now have another incentive to exchange vows on the island as 14 hotel professionals will become certified Wedding Coordinators.
The Antigua Hotel & Tourism Association (“AHTA”) recently partnered with The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (“WPIC”) to offer a wedding certification class to its members.
Of the participating hotels included staff from Curtain Bluff, Galley Bay, Blue Waters and Catamaran Hotel. WPIC’s Caribbean instructor, Sue Morris, facilitated the two-day course, at the AHTA training room where participants went through instruction on the nuances of wedding planning, inclusive of tests, group work. They are required to complete a final exam that will be proctored online before they can officially use their designation “WPICC”. On successful completion, they will join a network of over 4900 hospitality and event professionals mainly from Canada, but also including other warm weather destinations such as Bahamas, Barbados, Mexico and Jamaica. The WPIC Alumni is an active membership that allows members to exchange industry information, contacts as well as cross promote their venues and territories.
Admin Manager of the AHTA, Anthea Watkins, confirmed that the training was long overdue and that it was offered in response to the request of the AHTA membership. The next class in Antigua is expected to take place in 2015, but interested persons can attend any classes scheduled in the Caribbean at the AHTA discounted rate. Information on classes are listed on the WPIC website – www.wpic.ca/form
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The Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority Invites You to #LOVEANTIGUABARBUDA
C  aribbean Premier League (CPL) ‘Local Partner’, the Antigua Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) recently launched its #LOVEANTIGUABARBUDA social media campaign. The online campaign and social media promotions were initiated ahead of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 Antigua Hawksbills cricket games to encourage locals as well as potential travelers to share their love for the sport of cricket and for everything that represents Antigua & Barbuda.
Globally, Antigua & Barbuda is a destination renowned for its ‘Love & Romance’ and Weddings & Honeymoons product, and another attribute that the islands are also known for is spectacular cricket and famous cricketers. “The concept behind the #LOVEANTIGUABARBUDA promotion is to showcase some of the unique characteristics of the islands, while making it fun and interactive for participants and providing everyone with a chance to be a winner,” explained Marketing Manager of the ABTA, Charmaine Spencer. “The ABTA chose to use the CPL matches as the perfect vehicle because of the marketing reach that it affords, to invite local as well as international participants to fall in love with Antigua & Barbuda.”
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Industry news from Canada
ABTA Canadian Office sponsors Golf Tournaments
June 17th, 2014. Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority in partnership with the Cedar Valley Golf Club Antigua and the Trade Winds Hotel sponsored the Rotary Clubs of Newmarket and Richmond Hill Charity Golf Tournament, held at the Cardinal Golf Club. The land-only destination experience dubbed " Golfing Above Par in Antigua and Barbuda," was the featured Live Auction Prize at the tournament which was attended by over 160 attending golfers and other supporters. Antigua and Barbuda also sponsored a Par 3 Hole competition where the three closest golfers to the hole won prizes which included: the picturesque book- Little Bit of Paradise, A Bottle of English Harbour Rum and A Bottle of Susie's Pepper Sauce. Part of the organizing team and national of Antigua and Barbuda, Mr. Paul Thomas, noted that the generosity of the destination and its partners was well received by the club and its members. The ABTA is pleased to contribute to these events, as it highlights the hospitality of the Antiguan and Barbudan people and the camaraderie of our industry partners, such as the Trade Winds Hotel and the Cedar Valley Golf Club.
July 9th, 2014. The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies hosted its 26th Annual Golf Tournament on Wednesday, July 9th, 2014 at the Royal Ontario Golf Club in Oakville Ontario. The ABTA once again used the opportunity to showcase Antigua and Barbuda to the participants, most of whom were Travel Agents, Tour Operators and other Industry Partners. In partnership with the Jolly Beach Resort and Spa and Tranquility a seven night stay was offered to a lucky grand prize winner. Also in this partnership was the Cedar Valley Golf Club who offered a golfing experience for the winner and guest. Airlift is provided by title sponsor of the event WestJet.
National Bridal Show
Please note that the Canadian office will be participating in the National Bridal Show to be held at the International Centre in Mississauga on September 5-7 2014. This will be an exciting showcase of Antigua and Barbuda as the destination of choice for Island Weddings, Honeymoons or just about anything with a touch of Romance.
Member properties that specialize in the wedding and honeymoon market are invited to attend. Based on the responses and interest, we will see how best we can accommodate in a holistic manner. These properties may also be able to contribute to the making of the display space. If you are interested in attending please contact the AHTA office or Tameka Wharton in Canada.
__________________________________________________________________ Sandals Team Members Shine at Annual Prestige Awards
 The stars of Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa came out in grand style last week for the Annual Prestige Awards.
The awards night recognized and rewarded team members from departments to include Food and Beverage, Landscaping, Housekeeping, Maintenance, Accounts, Weddings and Watersports, who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.
The list of winners include Ken Merrick - 2013 Resort Team Member of The Year from Restaurants, Marcia Powell - Runner-up Team Member of The Year from Weddings, Andrea Marshall - Manager of The Year who is responsible for Environment, Health and Safety, Nikeisha Dazell - Supervisor of The Year from Restaurants, Latoya Cabral - Most Guest Nominated from Bars and Andrew Belgrave of Maintenance who received the Sandals Foundation Community Spirit Award.
Read more
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HVS, CHTA, CTO Announce Dates Of 4th Caribbean Hospitality Investment Conference & Operations Summit (CHICOS) 2014
 The 4th annual Caribbean Hospitality Investment Conference and Operations Summit (CHICOS) will be held Nov. 13-14, 2014 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and is co-hosted for the second consecutive year by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), representing over 600 Caribbean hotels, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), representing over 30 Caribbean governments, and HVS, the leading global hospitality consulting firm
"With HVS's strength in appealing to the leading investors, developers and brands in the Caribbean and with CHTAand CTO's ability to gather the region's governmental and private sector leadership, our partnership for CHICOS is truly the perfect marriage," explains Mr. Parris E. Jordan, managing director of HVS in the Caribbean and executive director of the CHICOS conference.
"CHICOS has become renowned for pulling together the key industry investors, operators and movers and shakers in the region, and thus has established itself as the official and leading hospitality and tourism investment conference for the Caribbean," Jordan added.
Read More
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Sandals Antigua receives top hotel Award
Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa is among several other properties within the Sandals Resorts International (SRI) chain that have been named to the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2014 list of Top Hotels and Resorts in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas.
The annual and prestigious Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards are judged based on the results of the magazine’s 2014 readers’ poll.
Speaking on the award for Sandals Grande Antigua, General Manager Gaurav “Mr. G” Sindhi expressed, “This is definitely a major achievement which we are all proud of and have been celebrating since we got the news. It’s not only a win for Sandals Grande Antigua but Antigua and Barbuda on a whole, especially as a tourism driven destination”.
He further stated, “This award would not have been possible to obtain were it not for our hardworking team members who go above and beyond each day to provide excellence in the services they offer to our guests. We just celebrated our Young Chef of the Year Jason Richards and this is just another indication that our team members are simply amazing. We love them and appreciate them”.
Read more..
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| CHTA Education Foundation |
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 Donations Needed For Silent Auction Benefiting CHTAEF Scholarship Fund
The CHTA Education Foundation is accepting donations of hotel stays and other prizes from allied members for its annual silent auction at The New York Times Travel Show which benefits the CHTAEF scholarship program. This year donations for The New York Times Travel Show need to be submitted earlier as the tradeshow is scheduled Jan. 23-25, 2015 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York. To make a donation, complete the donation form and send via email or fax to 305-716-9138
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Deadline extended until 31st July 2014
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