INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL SPONSORS CENTRAL AMERICA TOURISM & HOTEL INVESTMENT EXCHANGE
Miami, FL, April 4, 2008 – Interval International, a leading provider of vacation services, was a gold sponsor of the inaugural Central America Tourism & Hotel Investment Exchange (CATHIE) held recently in Guatemala City, Guatemala. CATHIE, which focused on hotel and tourism investment opportunities in the seven countries in the region, was supported by the Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS) of The World Bank Group.
Another important feature of CATHIE was the active involvement of the organizations that promote investment in the region. Four of these agencies, Promoting Investment in El Salvador; Invest in Guatemala; Foundation for Investment & Development of Exports; and Pro-Nicaragua were patron sponsors of the event and others are expected to join the effort next year.
“This conference provides a forum for participants to identify regional trends and investment opportunities and study key issues that impact future development in the region,” said Marcos Agostini, Interval International's assistant vice president for Latin America, resort sales and service. “This is an emerging vacation destination with diverse attractions, a stable investment climate, a vibrant private sector, and a skilled and industrious workforce.”
According to the FIAS, investment interest in the Central American tourism sector has increased significantly over the past two years and the region has experienced some of the highest tourism arrival growth rates around the world. Statistics generated by the World Tourism Organization reflect an increase of nearly eight percent in the number of visitors to Central America in 2007 as a result of a steady flow of arrivals from the U.S., Mexico, Canada, as well as more arrivals from Europe.
The program highlighted existing business opportunities, sustainable tourism development plans, and the key factors to be considered when undertaking major projects in the tourism sector. It also featured one-on-one meetings with the developers of new projects and networking opportunities with CATHIE delegates.
Conference attendees included hospitality industry executives, hotel and vacation ownership resort developers, investors, investment bankers, lenders, government and tourism officials, architects and designers, lawyers, and consultants.
Interval International is a leading provider of exchange, travel, and leisure services to resort developers and vacationers 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 more than 2,300 resorts in over 75 countries and offers its clients and nearly 2 million member families high-quality products and programs through its 28 offices in 17 countries. Interval is part of IAC, which owns and operates more than 60 diversified brands in sectors being transformed by the Internet, online and offline. Other IAC companies include Ask.com, HSN, LendingTree, Match.com, and Ticketmaster.
