INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL AND ITS RESORT AFFILIATES CONTINUE STRONG SUPPORT OF CTO EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Miami, FL, March 16, 2004 – Interval International, a leading global vacation exchange company, announced its ongoing financial support of Caribbean tourism education through the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Education Foundation. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Interval International and affiliated resorts have contributed to the Foundation, with more than $60,000 donated in the last four years.
“Interval International is proud to work with the CTO Foundation, an organization that has done so much to further education in the hospitality and tourism industries in the Caribbean,” said Marcos Agostini, Interval International’s region director for the Caribbean and Latin America, Resort Sales and Service Department. “Donations are already being collected and we are hoping to increase the contributions in 2004.”
Interval and resorts affiliated with its exchange network provided the sum of $30,000 to the CTO Education Foundation in 2003, representing the single largest monetary donation by the private sector. 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); Flagship Club at Sapphire Beach Resort and Marina (St. Thomas); Hyatt Hacienda del Mar (Puerto Rico); Island Seas Resort (Bahamas); Livingstone Jan Thiel Resort (Curaçao); La Cabana Villas (Aruba); Mary’s Boon Beach Plantation (St. Maarten); Ocean Reef Resort (Bahamas); Pelican Resort Club (St. Maarten); Seven Mile Beach Resort (Grand Cayman Island); The Village at St. James Club (Antigua); Westin St. John Resort (St. John); and Woodbourne Resort (Bahamas).
The company has also supported multiple research initiatives that demonstrate the positive economic impact of the timeshare industry in the region. Additionally, Interval has been an active sponsor of Caribbean industry events, including the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference, The Caribbean Tourism Conference and the Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference.
CTO EDUCATION FOUNDATION
CTO is the region’s tourism development agency for more than 30 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 serving in the region. Since its inception, the CTO Foundation has provided nine major scholarships and 27 study grants to deserving Caribbean nationals amounting to just over $200,000.
INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL
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 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 more than 1.5 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.
