In delivering her pre-arrival welcome, CHTA President Nicola Madden-Greig stated that amid the uncertainty and challenges that resulted from COVID-19, “it is especially comforting to be back to this great event where we can see friendly faces, engage with current and new partners, and generate fond memories.”
She stated, “We are extremely proud of the collective efforts of both our public and private sectors and our regional and international partners who worked tirelessly to make it happen,” adding that much of the region has spent the past two years “improving our products and services and you will find refreshed accommodations, enhanced attractions, new and exciting offerings and a retrained, re-energized team of hospitality professionals ready to welcome our guests.”
“We want to assure visitors, who already planned travel to San Juan, that Puerto Rico is open and safe to travel to,” assured Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, whose team has been working tirelessly to roll out a warm welcome to delegates, following the passage of Hurricane Fiona, which impacted communities in the south, southwestern, and mountainous areas of the U.S. territory.
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Speaking from San Juan, Vanessa Ledesma, CHTA’s Acting CEO and Director General, said the majority of business operations, including hotels and restaurants, have returned to normal in the San Juan metropolitan area. At the same time, CHTA is working on mounting a response to assist less fortunate communities in other areas of the island.
Meanwhile, plans are shaping up well for not only “Marketplace”, but also the 2022 Caribbean Travel Forum & Awards Presentation, a new event focusing on the business of Caribbean tourism, to be held on Monday, October 3.
To register for the forum, visit https://bit.ly/caribbeantravelforum.