MIAMI (July 27, 2017) – The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is deepening its partnership and outreach to hoteliers and tourism partners in the Dominican Republic. As part of a new agreement, a center of tourism information planned by the National
Association of Hotels and Restaurants in the Dominican Republic (ASONAHORES), will share with CHTA and its members research on tourism’s broad economic impact and linkages to various industries and areas of economic activity in the country.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the two bodies – signed during CHTA’s board meeting in Miami last month – also allows ASONAHORES to access reports from CHTA’s data partners, including STR, MasterCard, KPMG, ADARA, Travelzoo, the Caribbean Tourism
Organization, the American Resort Development Association and the World Travel and Tourism Council.

CHTA will arrange in-country workshops and presentations for ASONAHORES’ members to review data and reports and to provide them with greater insight and tools useful for destination, organization and property planning. The two organizations agreed such information sharing will strengthen ASONAHORES’ advocacy efforts with both the Dominican government and the business community.

In addition, CHTA will engage the group in discussions with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as the institution reviews extending the Caribbean Hotels Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Action (CHENACT) program to member hotels.

CHENACT has compiled detailed investment-grade audits in more than 150 hotels. In addition, demonstration projects were conducted with tools and guides to support greater efficiencies. As a result, participating hotels are realizing significant savings in electricity and water costs.
CHTA has discussed with the IDB the feasibility of conducting a third phase of CHENACT with the Dominican Republic being one of the beneficiary countries.

Recognizing the potential for the region to further develop health and medical tourism, CHTA and ASONAHORES agreed to develop a strategy for the development of medical tourism in the region and to recognize the desire of the Dominican Republic to play a leadership role in this rapidly growing sector.

In addition to the priority areas of focus, the two organizations will continue to explore other opportunities for collaboration, including sustainable tourism, tourism investment promotion, regional tourism marketing, capacity building of local destination marketing organizations, regional air connectivity, cruise tourism and human resource development.

About the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is the Caribbean’s leading association representing tourism interests for national hotel and tourism associations. For more than 50 years, CHTA has been the backbone of the Caribbean hospitality industry. Working together with 1,000 hotel and allied members and 32 National Hotel Associations, CHTA is shaping the Caribbean’s future and helping members to grow their businesses. Whether navigating new worlds like social media, sustainability, legislative issues, emerging technologies, data and intelligence or looking for avenues and ideas to better market and manage businesses, CHTA is helping members on matters that matter most.

For further information, visit www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.