Willemstad, 11 April 2022-Last Friday, the Curaçao Hospitality and Tourism Association (CHATA) held its annual general meeting (AGM), where members of the association voted for new board of director members. The meeting took place at CHATA member Avila Beach Hotel, at the Octagon Plaza, and a total of 3 candidates were positioned for the 2 available seats in the board.

Elections                                                                                                                      Every year during the AGM the association members get the opportunity to elect members for the Board of Directors. This year members voted for 2 vacant positions in the Board of Directors, both representing the accommodation sector. The accommodation candidates running for the board elections were: Arriën Lekkerkerker (Villa Tokara),Jaime Osma (Kontiki Beach Resort Curaçao) and Maylin Trenidad (Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao Resort). After counting the votes, the new CHATA board members resulted to be Jaime Osma (Kontiki Beach Resort Curaçao) and Maylin Trenidad (Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao Resort).

Together with the current CHATA board members, Hans Slier (Papagayo Curaçao), Mark Nooren (Curaçao Marriot Beach Resort), Omar van der Dijs (Licores Maduro), Peggy Croes (Curaçao AirportPartners), Robbin Vogels (Avila Beach Hotel), Edward Suares (Corendon Hotels & Resorts (Livingstone),Mimi Luttge (LionsDive Beach Resort), Rick van der Pluijm (TUI) and Rolf Sprecher (LionstoneDevelopment), CHATA once more has a board of directors consisting of 11 members. CHATA also thanked the outgoing board member, Arriën Lekkerkerker, for his dedication and contribution to CHATA in the last year.

Presentations                                                                                                          Mrs.Maria-Helena Seferina-Rojas, Managing Director of CHATA, gave a presentation to the members and highlighted the association’s focus and achievements in 2021, such as the travel code yellow in the Netherlands, collaborations with MEO, advocacy efforts for a Level Playing Field, work force challenges and government aid programs. In 2022 CHATA will continue to be the voice of the sector and focus on advocacy efforts and lobbying for the workforce, product and destination development, air service, and supporting destination marketing. Furthermore, Mrs. Seferina-Rojas gave an update on the state of the industry, emphasizing the sector recovery. Room inventory will grow with 33% in2022and double in the next 3 years, bringing back the sector’s confidence. Mrs. Seferina-Rojas emphasized on the work to be done to overcome the workforce challenges. “This is by far the biggest challenge the sector faces at this moment. CHATA islaser- focused to invest in people with training and education and attract new tourism workers, to give the man income to provide for their families”

Secondly, the CHATA Chairman, Mr. Hans Slier, gave his final remarks on 2021. “The tourism sector demonstrated to be resilient and Curaçao is undoubtedly dependent on tourism”, according to Mr. Slier. However, we must invest and dedicate more towards laws and regulations, education and our own mindset to ensure a sustainable growth benefitting the entire country. With a shrinking and aging population and a growing tourism with e.g., 30% increase in room inventory, the industry work force challenges are an inevitable reality. For this reason, Mr. Slier, emphasized the importance to invest in training and education, improving the industry image and growing the population through acombination of adjusting labor laws and regulations and opening the market. Hereafter, Mrs. Wichita Villacres from ECO Destination Management Services, gave a presentation on the resilience of tourism. She shared that current international travel provides a unique opportunity to rethink tourism and propose alternative sustainable and resilient models. This is essential for the post-pandemic recovery, as tourism is a powerful driver of sustainable development, intercultural.

dialogue, and mutual understanding. Tourism should be in harmony with the environment, promote the safeguarding of cultural and natural heritage, protect livelihoods, and benefit local communities.

 

LAGA UN KOMENTARIO

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