Frank Comito, CHTA’s CEO, was the Keynote Speaker during the Opening Session at the Dominica Hotel & Tourism Association (DHTA) Annual General Meeting. While in Dominica he was able to visit the Coulibistrie Primary School, one of the educational institutions restored after last year’s Tropical Storm Earl brought five inches of mud and considerable damage to the island. This school is an example of the restoration work carried out thanks to the funds generated by the ‘Caribbean Hotels Unite for Dominica’ campaign, which raised USD $51,785 through the online auctioning vacation packages donated by hotels across the Caribbean region. The campaign was spearheaded by CHTA President Karolin Troubetzkoy and created in partnership with the Dominica Hotel & Tourism Association (DHTA).
Photo Caption: Stephanie Astaphan, DHTA Executive Vice President; Aurelia Benjamin, Principal Coulibistrie Primary School; Gregor Nassief, DHTA Immediate Past President; Roberta Allport, DHTA; Project Officer, 4E’s Programme; Richard Langlais, Contractor; Caretta Belmontes, PTA President .
Below is a list of the contributing Caribbean hotels:
• Anacaona Boutique Hotel, Anguilla
• Curtain Bluff, Antigua
• Hermitage Bay, Antigua
• Cocos Hotel, Antigua
• Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba
• Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa, Aruba
• Pelican Bay Hotel, Bahamas
• Ocean Two, Barbados
• Sea Breeze Beach Hotel, Barbados
• Coral Reef Club, Barbados
• The Sandpiper, Barbados
• All Seasons Resort Europa, Barbados
• Yellow Bird Hotel, Barbados
• The Crane Residential Resort, Barbados
• Peter Island Resort & Spa, BVI
• Necker Island Resort, BVI
• Scuba Lodge & Ocean Suites, Curacao
• Hilton Curacao, Curacao
• Curacao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino, Curacao
• Lions Dive & Beach Resort, Curacao
• Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort, Curacao
• Secret Bay, Dominica
• Fort Young Hotel, Dominica
• Pagua Bay House, Dominica
• Hotel The Champs, Dominica
• Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa, Grenada
• Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada
• Round Hill Hotel and Villas, Jamaica
• Hedonism II, Jamaica
• Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, Nevis
• El Conquistador & Las Casitas Village: A Waldorf Astoria Resort, Puerto Rico
• The Buccaneer, St. Croix
• Tamarind Reef Resort, Spa & Marina, St. Croix
• Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, St. Lucia
• Bay Gardens Hotel, St. Lucia
• Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa, St. Lucia
• Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa, St. Lucia
• Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia
• Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
• St. James’s Club Morgan Bay, St. Lucia
• East Winds, St. Lucia
• Coco Palm Resorts, St. Lucia
• Cap Maison, St. Lucia
• Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort, St. Lucia
• Rendezvous Resort, St. Lucia
• Ti Kaye Resort & Spa, St. Lucia
• The Body Holiday, St. Lucia
• The Summit Resort Hotel, St. Maarten
• Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, St. Thomas
• Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, St. Thomas
• Turtle Beach by Rex Resorts, Tobago
• Courtyard® by Marriott® Port of Spain, Trinidad
• Cara Suites, Trinidad
• Monique’s Guest House, Trinidad
• Emerald Beach Resort, USVI
• Lindbergh Bay Hotel and Villas, USVI
• Renaissance St. Croix Carambola Beach Resort & Spa, USVI
With these funds, the DHTA created the 4 E’s Programme, which represents the hotel and tourism sectors commitment to local community in four key foundational areas: Education, Entrepreneurship, Employment, and Environment. “Each of the four pillars consider continuity in its construction and design, and will be implemented with the help of local partners,” remarks DHTA Executive Vice President, Stephanie Astaphan. “The 4E’s Programme speaks to the importance of supporting local communities as we continue to rebuild.”
With regards to Education, and in partnership of the Ministry of Education & Human Resource Development, the DHTA has committed in excess of XCD $85,000, plus in-kind donation of desks and chairs valued as XCD $10,000, to the rehabilitation of the Coulibistie Primary School. To learn more about the 4E Program, click here.