INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL AND MEMBER RESORTS
PRESENT CHTA EDUCATION FOUNDATION
WITH RECORD-BREAKING DONATION
Miami, FL, May 6, 2010 – Interval International, working with its Caribbean member resorts, has made a record-breaking donation to the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF). David Gilbert, executive vice president of resort sales and marketing for Interval International, presented a $45,000 check, the largest contribution in the foundation’s history, to CHTAEF representatives at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“Interval commends its resort affiliates for their commitment to this important initiative,” noted Gilbert. “We’re proud that the vacation ownership industry continues to support educational programs such as this one, which are critical to the long-term success of regional tourism.”
Over the past five years, Interval and its member resorts have donated US$120,000 to the foundation. Participants in the 2009 scholarship fund include:
Antigua - Jolly Harbour Beach Resort, Tranquility Bay Antigua.
Aruba - La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club, Marriott's Aruba Surf Club, Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club, Paradise Beach Villas, Playa Linda Beach Resort, Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort & Hotel, The Aruban Resort and Casino at Eagle Beach.
Dominican Republic - Barceló Punta Cana, Cayena Beach Club, Coral Costa Caribe Resort, Sun Village Resort and Spa.
“The foundation administers one of the largest scholarship programs in the Caribbean hospitality and tourism industry. Applications are received from young people all over the region and reflect a wide variety of interests and backgrounds,” said Tom Pas, the foundation’s chairman. “One of the primary goals of the CHTAEF is human resource development and these funds will definitely assist us in reaching that goal.”
The CHTAEF was established in 1987 as a non-profit organization to provide scholarships and special assistance to Caribbean hospitality industry personnel and students pursuing hospitality and tourism careers. To date, the Education Foundation has awarded more than US$1 million dollars in scholarships and grants. The application requirements include being a Caribbean national, having a high school or equivalent secondary school degree, pursuing a tourism-related education degree, and demonstrated financial need.
As a strategic partner of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association 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.
Interval International operates membership programs for vacationers 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 34 years. Today, Interval has an exchange network of more than 2,500 resorts in over 75 nations. Through offices in 15 countries, Interval offers high-quality products and benefits to resort clients and approximately 2 million families who are enrolled in various membership programs. 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.
