INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL AND ITS MEMBER RESORTS
SUPPORT CTO FOUNDATION FOR NINTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
2008 Donation Reflects 40 Percent Increase Over 2007
Miami, FL, June 25, 2008 – Interval International and its member resorts continued their financial support of education in the Caribbean with a $25,000 donation to the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Foundation. The check was presented by David Callaghan, vice president of resort sales and service for Interval International, to Jacqueline Johnson, chairman, CTO Foundation, and Hon. Richard “Ricky” Skerritt, first vice chairman of CTO and minister of state in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports, and Culture, St. Kitts & Nevis.
“We recognize the powerful impact that education has on the growth of the tourism industry in the Caribbean. Skilled tourism professionals provide better service and a higher quality vacation experience for visitors, which in turn, supports the long-term success of the region in today’s competitive global marketplace,” said Callaghan. “Through our collective contributions to the CTO Foundation, we support the development of qualified Caribbean-based personnel who will continue to provide the excellent service that sets the region apart from other warm weather destinations.”
The CTO Foundation awards scholarships and study grants to Caribbean nationals from CTO-member countries who wish to pursue studies in the areas of tourism, hospitality, and language training. Interval and its member resorts have collectively donated $160,000 to this organization over the last nine years. Since its beginning in 1997, the Foundation has awarded 43 scholarships and 84 study grants amounting to more than $647,000.
“The CTO and its Caribbean nationals appreciate the continued support that Interval and its participating resorts provide to the education of our youth in the region,” said Allen Chastanet, CTO chairman. “Human resource development is one of our primary goals and the financial assistance that Interval offers to the CTO Foundation is crucial to the future of the region.”
The 25 vacation ownership 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 Reef Resort (Cayman Islands), The Aruban Resort and Casino at Eagle Beach (Aruba), The Franklyn D. Resort & Spa (Jamaica), and Woodbourne Resort (Bahamas).
"The CTO Foundation provides young people in the Caribbean with the necessary economic assistance to realize their dreams and secure higher level positions in the tourism industry,” said Jacqueline Johnson, chair of the CTO Foundation. “Interval and its member resorts are helping us educate the leaders of tomorrow. We can’t thank them enough for what they have done in the past and continue to do by making these tremendous donations.”
As a strategic partner of the Caribbean Hotel Association and a board member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Foundation, Interval is committed to understanding the unique needs of the Caribbean region and providing products and programs tailored to this market. For its roster of Caribbean resort developer clients and new entrants into the vacation ownership industry, Interval offers a range of services including program design, sales and marketing support, reservations, travel, and financial services.
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 over 2,400 resorts in excess of 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.
