INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL AND RESORTS AFFILIATED WITH ITS EXCHANGE NETWORK SUPPORT CTO EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Miami, FL, June 21, 2007 - Interval International and resorts affiliated with its exchange network continued their financial support of education in the Caribbean with a $15,000 donation to the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Education Foundation. The check was presented by David Callaghan, vice president of resort sales and service for Interval International, to the Hon. Allen Chastanet, CTO chairman, and Jacqueline Johnson, CTC, chairman of the CTO Foundation, during the recent Caribbean Week in New York City.
“The vacation ownership industry plays an important role in our region, one that grows in significance year after year,” said Chastanet. “We appreciate the dedication of Interval and its member resorts, which has enabled us to provide an increasing number of scholarships and grants to Caribbean nationals.”
Interval and its member resorts are long-term supporters of the CTO Foundation donating $135,000 in the last eight years. The Foundation has awarded more than 80 scholarships and study grants amounting to over $500,000 since its beginning in 1997.
“We are very thankful to our member resorts since it is their generous contributions that allow us to support the education of the young professionals in the region,” said Callaghan. “This program enables them to pursue studies in tourism and hospitality at universities and colleges throughout the Caribbean, Europe, and the United States.”
The 2007 contributors to the scholarship fund include: Aquarius Vacation Club at Dorado Embassy Suites (Puerto Rico); Bay Gardens Beach Resort (St. Lucia); Caribbean Palm Village (Aruba); Grand Caymanian Resort (Cayman Islands); Hyatt Hacienda del Mar (Puerto Rico); Jolly Beach Vacations (Antigua); Long Bay Beach Resort and Villas (Tortola); Ocean Reef Resort (Bahamas); Oyster Bay Beach Resort (St. Maarten); Paradise Beach Villas (Aruba); Plantation Village Beach Resort (Cayman Islands); Playa Linda Beach Resort (Aruba); Pelican Resort & Club (St. Maarten); Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort & Hotel (Aruba); and The Sea Aquarium Resort (Curacao).
"The CTO Foundation was established to generate economic assistance for the individuals who demonstrate high levels of achievement and leadership and express a strong interest in making a positive contribution to Caribbean tourism,” said Johnson. “The scholarship fund keeps growing because of the generosity of corporations who do business in the region.”
CTO’s primary objective is to provide its members with the services and information needed for the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of the Caribbean people. The organization offers specialized support and technical assistance to member countries in the areas of marketing, human resource development, research and statistics, and sustainable tourism development.
According to the Future Timeshare Buyers: 2006 Market Profile, the latest in a series of studies that offers unique insights into the vacation habits, preferences and intentions of leisure travelers who are interested in owning vacation time, the Caribbean is one of the top international destinations of choice for prospective timeshare owners.
As a strategic partner of CHA and a board member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Education 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.
About Interval International
For more than 30 years, Interval International has led the vacation ownership industry with its commitment to providing quality exchange services and other value-added programs to its vacation-owning members and resort developers worldwide. Based in Miami, Florida, Interval has a network of more than 2,200 resorts in 79 countries and serves its clients and nearly 1.9 million members through 28 offices in 19 countries. Interval is part of IAC, which operates leading and diversified businesses in sectors being transformed by the Internet, online and offline. Other IAC companies include Ask.com, Citysearch, Entertainment Publications, HSN, LendingTree, and Ticketmaster.
