US Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association

Barbados Hotelier Named President-Elect of Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association

Leading hotelier Patricia Affonso-Dass is the new President-elect of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.

The group general manager at Ocean Hotels in Barbados, Affonso-Dass was elected to the important leadership role at CHTA’s Annual General Meeting, held alongside the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum and Taste of the Caribbean at the Hyatt Regency in Miami June 2-6.

Affonso-Dass, a graduate of Florida International University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, serves as president-elect for the next year before taking over the presidency of the travel trade association next summer from current incumbent Karolin Troubetzkoy, executive director of the renowned Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet resorts in St. Lucia.

After the appointment, Affonso-Dass said, “I am thankful for the vote of confidence from our members and look forward to serving CHTA with distinction and excellence, both as president-elect and president in the years ahead.”

Karolin Troubetzkoy, CHTA President, thanked Affonso-Dass for accepting the task to serve the association at a higher level. “We have benefited from Patricia’s talents on our board of directors, and are proud to have an exceptional woman from the region lead our association into the future.”

Affonso-Dass has been the president of both the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana and the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association and runs the Ocean Hotels group, a family-owned company located on the south coast of Barbados, with three unique hotels: Ocean Two Resort & Residences, the four diamond oceanfront venue on Dover Beach; Sea Breeze Beach Hotel, the all-inclusive hotel on Maxwell Coast Road; and South Beach Hotel, the chic boutique hotel near Rockley Beach.

She will serve the association as president for two years after Troubetzkoy’s tenure ends in a year’s time.

Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Statement on Climate Change

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, a federation of 32 private sector-led organizations throughout the Caribbean basin, reiterates its previous position to join with the nations throughout the Caribbean in supporting the adoption of the Paris climate change agreement.

The Caribbean is one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to the escalating effects of climate change. The socio-economic consequences from rising sea levels and temperatures, increasingly violent storms and severe droughts, oil spills, mismanagement of waste and coral bleaching are having mounting consequences, and left unchecked threaten the very viability of the region’s economies and societies, and the health and welfare of Caribbean people.

Countries and businesses throughout the region, particularly tourism-related enterprises, are increasingly adopting policies and practices aimed at preserving, protecting and enhancing the environment. This is important to the Caribbean’s own self-interests and also those of the world, with millions of visitors enjoying the incredible natural beauty the region offers.

CHTA urges the region’s countries, businesses and residents to do their part in supporting sound environmental practices. It is important to ensure that the Caribbean remains a safe, secure and viable partner, benefiting its neighbors and major trading partners.