#Miami, FL, September 16, 2019 – USA – From Aruba to Jamaica and The Bahamas to Bermuda, hotels and resorts have joined with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) to launch an online action to help support the long-term recovery of the northwestern islands of the Bahamas.
Lovers
of the Caribbean as well as those who are looking to fall in love with the
Caribbean for the first time will have many destinations and hotels to choose
from as they shop and bid on vacation options, while helping those in need,
according to CHTA’s President, Barbados-based hotelier Patricia
Affonso-Dass.
She thanked
hotels and resorts throughout the Caribbean basin, and a resort as far
afield as Austria for donating room stays which the travelling public can
bid on through the Charitybuzz online fundraising portal.
The
public is urged to shop, bid and show their support by visiting www.charitybuzz.com/CaribbeanHotelsForBahamas.
“We
are thankful for the contributions of our hotel and resort partners to assist
the people of The Bahamas during this very difficult period,” said
Affonso-Dass, who also invited the public to support the cause and enjoy
the opportunity to travel to the Caribbean, including parts of The Bahamas
which were unaffected by Dorian.
Hurricane
Dorian unleashed unimaginable destruction to The Abacos and Grand Bahama,
destroying critical infrastructure, thousands of homes and businesses, and
uprooting the lives of tens of thousands of residents, who are now
homeless.
“The
recovery will be long and painful,” said Frank Comito, CHTA’s Director
General and CEO, who noted that many hoteliers have come together to
offer an array of accommodation options to one of the world’s most
desirable travel destinations. “Whether you are shopping for a romantic
escape, a family gathering, a business retreat, a personal getaway or a holiday
gift, there’s much to choose from – all while helping to support people in
need,” he said.
“Caribbean
Hotels Unite for The Bahamas” is a joint fundraising initiative between
CHTA and the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) to bring relief to
the people of The Abacos and Grand Bahama, who have been seriously impacted by
Hurricane Dorian. The funds raised will be made available to meet the most urgent
needs identified by CHTA and BHTA.
A
former Bahamian resident, Comito, who was Executive Vice President for BHTA for
over 10 years and served in a similar capacity before that with the Nassau
Tourism Development Board, reminded the traveling public that most of The
Bahamas escaped serious damage from the hurricane.
“Nassau,
Paradise Island, The Exumas, Eleuthera, Andros, Cat Island, Bimini,
San Salvador, Rum Cay, Long Island, Acklins/Crooked Island, Ragged Island,
Mayaguana and Inagua each present great travel options for the public as do
more than 30 other destinations throughout the Caribbean,” added
Comito.
“The
best way to help The Bahamas is to travel to The Bahamas,” he said.
Bidding
on hotel stays is open to the public at:
www.charitybuzz.com/CaribbeanHotelsForBahamas
CHTA is still accepting donated room stays. Hotels interested in pledging a 3- to 7-night vacation package to be auctioned through Charitybuzz, can email information@caribbeanhotelandtourism.com or call +1 305 443-3040.
For details on other ways people can help, visit the following sites:
http://www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com/hurricane-resources
https://www.bahamas.com/relief .
About
the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)
The
Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is the Caribbean’s leading
association representing the interests of national hotel and tourism
associations. For more than 50 years, CHTA has been the backbone of the
Caribbean hospitality industry. Working with some 1,000 hotel and allied
members, and 33 National Hotel Associations, CHTA is shaping the Caribbean’s
future and helping members to grow their businesses. Whether helping to
navigate critical issues in sales and marketing, sustainability, legislative
issues, emerging technologies, climate change, data and intelligence or,
looking for avenues and ideas to better market and manage businesses, CHTA is
helping members on issues which matter most.
For further information, visit www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com
Release: CHTA