INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL SPONSORS CARIBBEAN MARKETPLACE CONFERENCE AND BUSINESS MEETINGS
Miami, FL, January 19, 2009 - Interval International is a sponsor of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) annual Caribbean Marketplace conference and business meetings taking place on January 18-20 in Gros Islet, St. Lucia.
The event gives attendees an opportunity to meet face-to-face with a range of suppliers from the region, representing hotel and all-inclusive chains, boutique inns, and meeting and incentive products from many Caribbean destinations. Participants spend two days of pre-scheduled business appointments discussing existing contracts, developing packages, and contracting for future business.
“Caribbean Marketplace is widely recognized as the largest tourism marketing event of the year for the region and Interval is proud to support it,” said David Callaghan, vice president of resort sales and service for Interval International. “The conference provides a venue for tourism officials and hoteliers to meet with incentive buyers, tour operators, and wholesalers from around the world interested in promoting and purchasing Caribbean vacations.”
“CHTA acknowledges and greatly appreciates Interval, one of its long-standing Strategic Partners, for its ongoing commitment to the Caribbean hospitality industry,” said Alec Sanguinetti, director general and chief executive officer of CHTA. “It’s continued support of our programs throughout the years has been vital to our industry, and in particular, to the success of Caribbean Marketplace.”
The Caribbean has proven itself to be a very popular destination among potential owners of the vacation ownership product. According to the Future Timeshare Buyers: Market Profile 2008, the region is one of the preferred international destinations among leisure travelers interested in purchasing vacation time, as nearly one-quarter (22 percent) indicate a desire to visit during the next two years. This study is designed to provide unique insights into the vacation habits, preferences, and intentions of pleasure travelers, who are interested in purchasing some form of vacation ownership within the next two years.
As a Strategic Partner of CHTA and a Board Member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Education Foundation, Interval has been a long time supporter of the tourism industry in the Caribbean. The company is committed to understanding the unique needs of the Caribbean region and providing products and programs tailored to this market.
Founded in 1962 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, CHTA represents the entire spectrum of the hospitality industry’s private sector. From more than 850 member hotels in 36 national hotel associations to allied members, including airline executives, tour operators, travel agents, trade and consumer press, hotel and restaurant suppliers, and others. CHTA is online at www.caribbeanhotelassociation.com.
Interval International operates membership programs for vacation owners 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 30 years. Today, Interval has a network of over 2,400 resorts in more than 75 countries and offers its resort clients and approximately 2 million member families high-quality products and programs through 26 offices in 16 countries. 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.
