INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL AND ITS RESORT AFFILIATES SUPPORT CTO EDUCATION FOUNDATION WITH $22,500 DONATION TO CARIBBEAN TOURISM SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Miami, FL, June 9, 2004 - Interval International, a leading global vacation exchange company , and resorts affiliated with its exchange network, announced their continued financial support of Caribbean tourism education with a $22,500 donation to the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Education Foundation. The check was presented to Jean Holder, secretary general of the CTO, in New York City , during Caribbean Week May 31 - June 5, 2004 . This marks the fifth year that Interval International and its affiliated resorts have contributed to the Foundation with a total donation sum of $82,500.
CTO is the region's tourism development agency for 32 member governments and numerous private sector companies. The CTO Foundation was established in 1997 to provide scholarship opportunities for Caribbean nationals pursuing studies in the tourism and hospitality industries, as part of CTO's effort to support the development of highly-skilled tourism personnel in the region. Since its inception, the CTO Foundation has provided fifteen major scholarships and 44 study grants to deserving Caribbean nationals amounting to just over US$348,000.
" Interval International is proud to continue its commitment to the growth of the Caribbean through the CTO Foundation, an organization that has done so much to further education in the hospitality and tourism industries in that market," said Marcos Agostini, Interval International's region director for the Caribbean and Latin America, Resort Sales and Service Department. "We are very grateful to our resort affiliates who contributed to the CTO Education Foundation."
"The ongoing support that we have received from Interval International and its member resorts has allowed us to provide higher education opportunities to Caribbean nationals and has contributed to the enhancement of the quality of the tourism product in our market," said Holder. "The timeshare industry plays an important role in our region and their dedication to the Foundation is exemplary and deeply appreciated."
The Caribbean resorts that made a contribution to the scholarship fund include: Aquarius Vacation Club at Embassy Suites Hotel ® Dorado del Mar Beach & Golf Resort (Puerto Rico); Casa del Mar Beach Resort (Aruba); Grand Caymanian Resort (Grand Cayman, Bristish West Indies); Hyatt Hacienda del Mar (Puerto Rico); Island Seas Resort (Bahamas); La Cabana Villas (Aruba); Ocean Reef Resort (Bahamas); Oyster Bay Beach Resort (St. Maarten); Playa Linda Beach Resort (Aruba); Plantation Village Beach Resort (Grand Cayman, Bristish West Indies); Pelican Resort Club (St. Maarten); Seven Mile Beach Resort (Grand Cayman, British West Indies); Westin St. John Resort (St. John); and Woodbourne Resort (Bahamas).
The 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 provides specialized support and technical assistance to member countries in the areas of marketing, human resource development, research and statistics, and sustainable tourism development.
Since 1976, Interval International has led the vacation ownership industry with innovative products and the highest levels of quality, service, and value complemented by a global network of more than 2,000 resorts in 75 countries. With its headquarters located in Miami , Florida , Interval employs nearly 1,700 people worldwide and serves its developer clients and over 1.6 million member families through 26 offices in 17 countries. Interval provides its members - timeshare owners from around the world - with a variety of exchange services and year-round travel related benefits to enhance their vacation experiences. Interval International is an operating business of IAC.
