INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL AND ITS MEMBER RESORTS PRESENT CARIBBEAN HOTEL ASSOCIATION EDUCATION FOUNDATION WITH $30,000 DONATION
Miami, FL, January 22, 2009 – Interval International and its member resorts increased their financial support of education in the Caribbean in 2008 with a $30,000 donation to the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF), which was double the amount contributed in 2007. David Callaghan, vice president of resort sales and service for Interval International, presented the check to Louise John, CHTAEF trustee, who represented Tom Pas, the foundation’s chairman, during the recent Caribbean Marketplace in St. Lucia.
“We recognize the crucial need for education and training in the Caribbean to sustain the viability of the hospitality industry,” said Callaghan. “Education has a powerful impact on the growth potential of the tourism industry in the region. Skilled tourism professionals provide better service and a higher quality vacation experience for visitors, which in turn, support the long-term success of the Caribbean in today’s competitive global marketplace.”
The CHTAEF was established in 1987 as a non-profit organization to provide scholarships and special assistance to Caribbean hospitality industry personnel and students. The requirements to apply for the organization’s scholarship include being a Caribbean national, having a high school or equivalent secondary school degree, pursuing a tourism-related education degree, and demonstrated financial need.
“Scholarship applications are received from young people all over the region and reflect a wide variety of educational interests and industry backgrounds,” noted Pas.
In 2008, the CHTAEF awarded a total of 32 scholarships totaling $130,000. Interval and its member resorts have now donated $75,000 over the past four years to the foundation.
“We are very appreciative of the generous contribution and loyal commitment to the foundation from Interval and its member resorts,” said de Marchena. “One of the primary goals of CHTA is to fortify our human resources and these funds will assist us in reaching that important goal.”
The properties contributing to the 2008 scholarship fund include: Aquarius Vacation Club at Boquerón Beach (Puerto Rico), Barceló Punta Cana (Dominican Republic), Bay Gardens Beach Resort (St. Lucia), Cayena Beach Club (Dominican Republic), Costa Caribe Resort (Dominican Republic), ESJ Towers (Puerto Rico), Grand Caymanian Resort (Cayman Islands), Island Seas Resort (Bahamas), Jolly Beach Vacations (Antigua), Jolly Harbour Beach Resort (Antigua), La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club (Aruba), Long Bay Beach Resort and Villas (Tortola), Marriott's Aruba Surf Club (Aruba), Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club (Aruba), Ocean Reef Resort (Bahamas), Oyster Bay Beach Resort (St. Maarten), Paradise Beach Villas (Aruba), Playa Linda Beach Resort (Aruba), Pelican Resort Club (St. Maarten), Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort & Hotel (Aruba), Sun Village Resort and Spa (Dominican Republic), The Aruban Resort and Casino at Eagle Beach (Aruba), The Franklyn D. Resort & Spa (Jamaica), The Reef Resort (Cayman Islands), and Woodbourne Resort (Bahamas).
Interval International operates membership programs for vacation owners and provides value-added services to its developer clients worldwide. Based in Miami, Florida, the company has been a pioneer and innovator in serving the vacation ownership market for more than 30 years. Today, Interval has a network of over 2,400 resorts in more than 75 countries and offers its resort clients and approximately 2 million member families high-quality products and programs through 26 offices in 16 countries. Interval is an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IILG), a leading global provider of membership and leisure services to the vacation industry.
