U.S. Forecasts Active Season for Hurricanes - IS YOUR HOTEL PREPARED? (Source: The New York Times)

Officials from the National Hurricane Center in Miami predict 6 to 9 hurricanes in the Atlantic or the Caribbean this year, making 2003 the stormiest year since 1999.  They warned coastal communities not to be lulled by the relative calm of recent seasons.  Cool Pacific waters and a warm Atlantic "are more conducive to hurricanes over the Atlantic and stronger ones, as well," said Dr. Richard J. Pasch, a meteorologist at the NHC.  Dr. Pasch added that those conditions would probably be most strongly felt in the deep tropics, where the most potent hurricanes form.  "Being prepared for hurricane season is key in reducing the loss of life and property," Michael D. Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said in a statement. "Knowing what to do when a hurricane strikes takes planning."   This is the time to meet with your key staff to review and update your current emergency management plan - or draft it if you don't have one.  The "Hurricane Preparedness Manual" is an excellent resource.  Produced by CHA's Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST), in conjunction with CTO, and the support of American Express, USAID, and the International Hotel & Restaurant Association - the exhaustive 140-page publication is free of cost to CHA member hotels only.  Contact CHA's membership department at mgonzalez@caribbeanhotels.org

CHA and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) sign three-year agreement
to work together to exchange relevant economic data and research, and promote the cause of travel and tourism.   The agreement was signed by WTTC President Jean Claude Baumgarten and CHA President Simón Suárez during the 7th Annual Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference, held at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel, in Bermuda.   As part of the agreement, a working committee will be formed to formulate specific proposals for joint CHA/WTTC action. One area of particular interest is industry research in the Caribbean. "WTTC has an impressive track record conducting research to raise awareness of the powerful impact that Travel & Tourism has on employment and the economy. CHA and the national hotel associations across the region are looking forward to working with WTTC to ensure that the impact of travel and tourism is understood and reflected in policy-making," said CHA President Simón Suárez.

Source: CHAdvance May 1^st 2003

Trinidad Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Association,

P.O. Box 243,  Port of Spain, Trinidad.,
Tel:  (868) 634-1174/5 fax: (868) 634-1176 ,
e-mail: info@tnthotels.com
Website:  www.tnthotels.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

28^th May – 1^st June 2003
Promotional tour from Suriname.

8^th June 2003 –
Culinary competition, TTHTI

16^th – 20^th June
 Caribbean Road Show

22^nd – 25^th June
CHIC, Dominican Republic

TTHTI IRON CHEF COMPETITION

A SUCCESS!!

Congratulations to Selwyn Wickham and his team of organizers at  the Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute(Trinidad Campus) on the excellent execution of the first annual Iron Chef competition and Exhibition. 

Students competed with great enthusiasm for prizes in Iron Chef, Service, Pastry, Ice Carving, Butter Sculpture, Bartender categories.

Sincere thanks to our members who supported the venture by donating prizes, food items for the competition, participated in the exhibition, and assisted in judging the various categories. 

 Here are the winners!!

Iron Chef of the Year – Marva Samuel

Best Service – Avril Cook

Best Pastry  Chef – Sandra Branch

Best Ice Carver – Amit Raval

Best Butter Sculpture – Jameel Donawa

Best Bartender – Danielle de Labastide

Most creative drink – Brendon Toussaint

Most Innovative Dish – Fazil Bacchus (Tobago Campus)