AHATA headquarters – The Host Committee for the Caribbean Hotel Association Marketplace 2007, which will take place in Aruba next January, is working energetically in preparation for the mega event.
Aruba will host CHA Marketplace 2007 after a 15-year hiatus. The good news was announced in May when the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) President Berthia Parle, Director General & CEO Alec Sanguinetti and Conferences & Events Director for the CHA, Vanessa Ledesma-Berrios, came to the island to meet local officials and confirm the island’s selection.
In view of the fact that CHA Marketplace 2007 is the largest trade event showcasing Caribbean travel products and services, a giant tent will be erected across from the Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino, at the heart of Palm Beach.
The size of the tent is two and a half times bigger than the Renaissance Convention Center. The state of the art structure, a self-contained arena with lights, carpets, air conditioning, luxury bathrooms and over 400 show booths will be the home of the conference, where tour operators and hoteliers will be able to conduct business in comfort and convenience.
The tent will be imported from Miami and erected by EventStar: Event Management Solutions. It also boasts a computerized appointment system, says Ed Malone, Special Project Director for AHATA.
Malone reveals that more than 12.000 appointments will be held in the tent, in Aruba, during the two conference days, January 15th and 16th, 2007, with more than 1600 attendees and press from 35 countries around the world.
They will all share a goal to solidify relationships between suppliers and Caribbean oriented tour operators from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Europe and Latin America.
This will be the 28th anniversary of the CHA Marketplace, which is the single most important tourism marketing event of the year.
Also on the conference program a Sunday charity Golf Tournament at Tierra del Sol. The event will raise scholarship money for Aruban students of the hospitality trade.
The CHA Board of Directors will hold its annual meeting at the Westin Aruba Resort & Casablanca Casino with all executive committee members in attendance.
Sunday night will feature a networking reception at the Renaissance Festival Plaza, following a short formal opening ceremony at the Renaissance Conference Center.
Monday evening delegates will be invited to explore ArubaÂ’s many culinary treasures on their own.
The social event committee with chairperson Wichita Villacres is also brainstorming the conception of an ultimate event, CHA’s final party, on Tuesday, which promises to deliver over-the-top food, over-the-top entertainment and over-the-top excitement, concluding the Aruba experience on a high note.
Caribbean Night, featuring Aruba, is still looking for more sponsors, says Malone, as the event is a perfect opportunity to re-launch ArubaÂ’s image and show the world what a terrific destination this island really is.
The conference, organized under a green theme, will promote environmental conservation on many levels, Malone adds, raising green environmental conscientiousness among participants and within the organization itself.
Pictured here, Ed Malone.
