CHTA Conference places new emphasis on "Going Green"

The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference – set for 6-8 May at Trinidad & Tobago's brand new Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Port of Spain – has unveiled its conference programme, and is placing new emphasis on going green.

After introductory events on the evening of 6 May, speakers for the conference will include:

• Warren Jestin, Senior Vice President & Chief Economist, Scotiabank;
  
• Simon JS Townsend, Partner, KPMG Corporate Finances;
  
• David Larone, Director, PKF Consulting; and
  
• Duane Vinson, Vice President, Smith Travel Research

A primary issue of concern will be exploring and addressing forecasts for the Caribbean economy, tourism sector, and hotel industry. In keeping with thrusts toward increasing "green practices" in regional tourism and hotel industries, the Caribbean Hotel Association will also be presenting break-out sessions on the financial aspects of environmentally friendly hotel and tourism operation.

The added green focus of the conference is a welcome inclusion, as recent media reports – both from bloggers and in the traditional media – have drawn attention to the urgent need of Caribbean nations to manage their natural resources as a matter both of social and economic necessity, for the long and short terms.

Insightful blog posts this week have included Dennis Jones on the region's carbon footprints, and gallifury on the importance of protecting our coral reefs.