ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA (May 13, 2026) — The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has confirmed Gregor Nassief as its president-elect, the first hotelier from Dominica to hold this position.
The unanimous nomination was approved during the CHTA Board of Directors meeting held May 12 in Antigua and Barbuda ahead of the start of the 44th Caribbean Travel Marketplace. Nassief, a respected hotelier with deep roots in regional hospitality, received nominations from multiple member destinations and faced no opposition.
Nassief is the chairman and CEO of GEMS Holdings Limited, the company behind acclaimed properties including Secret Bay — Dominica’s pioneering luxury boutique resort — The Residences at Secret Bay, and Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort. A software engineering and finance graduate of New York University, he has also built a successful technology career launching Cerca Technology across Latin America.
His election marks a milestone for Dominica’s tourism sector and underscores the growing influence of “Nature Island” stakeholders in shaping the region’s growth strategy.
In the recently unveiled 2026 Caribbean Travel Trends Report — drawing on Amadeus Travel Intelligence data covering air travel, hospitality and traveler behavior from April 2025 through March 2026 — Dominica led the region with 22 percent year-over-year growth, supported by improved air connectivity and rising demand for nature- and adventure-focused travel.
Dominica recorded a robust 17.6% year-over-year increase in stayover arrivals in 2025, reaching 98,724 visitors — one of the strongest growth performances in the region.
Nassief will succeed St. Lucian hotelier Sanovnik Destang and serve a two-year term as president following CHTA’s annual general meeting in December.
