Small, independent hoteliers scheduled to parley in St Kitts

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), in conjunction with the St Kitts and Nevis Hotel and Tourism Association, will host the Caribbean Hotels Retreat, 'Serving the Needs of Small and Independent Hoteliers', at the St Kitts Marriott Resort and the Royal Beach Casino in that country from October 1-3.

While the event's primary audience is small hotels consisting of 75 rooms or less, the conference is open to all CHTA members.

The Caribbean Hotels Retreat is an informal gathering by design, created by small hoteliers for small and independent hoteliers, intended to foster the open exchange of ideas and experiences and, most important, to provide practical, hands-on advice from industry experts that delegates can put into practice immediately. The first day will be 'Operations Day', with a comprehensive slate of related presentations devoted to hotel management in the morning, and 'round tables' in the afternoon. The second day will be 'Marketing Day' and will follow the same format. Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International is developing content specifically for the small and independent Caribbean hotelier and will draw upon their rich vein of top-quality speakers and presenters to provide a unique, hands-on, full day devoted to hotel marketing.

difficult competition

"Small and independent hotels still comprise a large percentage of accommodations throughout the Caribbean and a significant portion of CHTA's membership, but competing with large hotels with vast marketing budgets has become increasingly difficult," said Enrique De Marchena Kaluche, president of CHTA.

"This retreat is a forum where hoteliers can gather to discuss challenges and strategies, as well as how we as a group can take proactive steps to increase consumer appeal for privately-owned boutique hotels and resorts throughout the Caribbean," said De Marchena Kaluche.

"With the majority of hotel properties in St Kitts & Nevis falling within the small hotel category, it will be beneficial to our hoteliers that we host the small hotels conference this coming October. St Kitts & Nevis offers a range of product from high-end Plantation Inns to more mid-market hotels and dive resorts in our small hotels product line," said Senator Ricky Skerritt, minister of state in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports & Culture.

"As a former board member of a small hotel myself, I appreciate the peculiar challenges that small hotels face in an increasingly competitive market, but I also believe that our small hotels need to better prepare and position themselves to serve individual niche markets with a more personalised experience," Skerritt added.

tabletop display

Allied members who specialise in serving smaller hospitality operations can demonstrate their products and services at the table-top trade show. Rates for a tabletop display start at US$750 per exhibitor.

For those industry partners wishing to 'step up to the plate' and elevate their presence in front of this most vital niche market of Caribbean tourism, a limited number of conference sponsorships is available at US$4,850. American Express, Choice Hotels International and Interval International have already committed.

Registration for the conference starts at US$150 for hoteliers (US$200 after September 5) and US$275 for non-hotelier delegates (US$325 after September 5). Day passes for hotel members are available for US$100.

CHTA has arranged a special group rate of US$135 per night (single or double occupancy) at the St Kitts Marriott Resort and the Royal Beach Casino. Reservations must be made by contacting the hotel via telephone at 1-800-223-6388 or 869-466-1200; via fax at 869-466-2405, or via email at olivene.henry@marriotthotels.com. The group code 'CHA Small Hotels Retreat, October 1-3' must be mentioned at the time of booking. Taxes and service charges are not included in the group rate. The group rate must be booked by September 5, 2008.